A Grammy-nominated solo star, but apparently not one to steal the spotlight, India.Arie tonight proves that a great performance doesn't necessarily rely on an ego and a back-catalogue of hit singles. Instead Arie's show shines with uninhibited improvisation, musical chemistry, and most of all, her having a good time.
Making a rare live appearance in the UK a year since the release of her acclaimed debut album, 'Acoustic Soul', it's to almost explosive anticipation that Arie walks on stage. Taking her place on top of a small raised platform, she sits alone, cross-legged, with nothing but her guitar.
Initially drowned out by screaming, Arie finally manages to silence the 2,000-capacity crowd with a simple solo introduction - a dedication to her 'musical ancestors': Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Minnie Ripperton and Ella Fitzgerald.
But tonight's show really kicks into gear when Arie's seven-piece band fill out the stage. Although indisputably a solo star, it's obvious from this point on that her band is as much a part of the live show as Arie herself. Constantly moving with the rhythm and clearly loving the way they make a living, it becomes impossible not to catch the dancing bug. Even the middle-aged suits - who make up a notable proportion of tonight's audience - have a hard time resisting a little head bob here and there.
An interactive gig from start to finish, Arie is never afraid to let herself go. Be it trying out a new song (to which she nearly forgets the words), or experimenting with a miniature harpsichord under glaring spotlight, the emphasis tonight is not on churning out the familiar but on sharing a passion for music with a band and an audience she clearly feels at ease with. New track, 'Beautiful Surprise', proves a good example of her ad-libbing; "This is a song I wrote very, very, very recently" she explains, before pausing to remember the chords. Elsewhere, a much heavier version of hit single, 'Brown Skin', receives rapturous applause before it's even got going, while tracks such as 'Promises', 'Strength, Courage & Wisdom', 'Natural' and cover versions of Sade's 'Sweetest Taboo' and Terence Trent D'arby's 'Sign Your Name' provide perfect sing-a-long fodder for the baying crowd.
In keeping with the rest of tonight's show, Arie spends the last 20 minutes of the main performance properly introducing her band and allowing each of them a good few minutes in the spotlight, once again reiterating the point that this is by no means a one-woman show. After a brief encore that showcases Arie's lyrical tribute to hero Stevie Wonder ('Wonderful'), and a sobering solo performance of album ballad, 'Ready For Love', the now familiar band return to stand behind her. Lining up on the stage like the cast of a West End musical, they take a final victorious bow before disappearing into the night.
