4U – A Symphonic Celebration of Prince made a stop at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, on Saturday, September 8th. The essence of Prince was alive and well throughout the night as an Orchestra paid tribute to the artist and his legendary catalog.
Curated by Questlove (drummer for the legendary hip-hop band, “The Roots”), 4U – A Symphonic Celebration of Prince features musicians who played with Prince throughout his legendary career. Upon announcement of the show, fans might have been a bit skeptical of the show, as Prince’s music is as close to perfection as you can get, and it is often hard to duplicate.
However, knowing that Prince’s estate approved the show, as well as Questlove’s music knowledge and love for musicianship, I didn’t have any fears. Before the show began, Questlove let the audience know that the show contains two parts. The first portion of the show would focus on the album tracks and lesser-known material, while the second half of the show would feature the hits.
As a music fanatic, I would have been happy to only hear the hits. However, as a Prince fan, I was elated to know that I would get a chance to listen to rarities from Prince’s catalog. Brent Fischer, who has worked with Prince in the past, is the show’s arranger and served as the conductor. The first half of the show opened with “Controversy” from Prince’s same-titled 1981 album. “Something In The Water Does Not Compute” and “Automatic,” from Prince’s fifth album, 1999, were also performed.
I must say the lovely arrangement of one of my favorite songs, “Venus DeMilo,” from 1986’s Parade album was my favorite of the night. The first half of the show closed out with a rousing rendition of “1999”, which had the entire venue on their feet.
After a brief intermission, the musicians returned to the stage to perform the more popular songs in Prince’s catalog. It would not be a Prince Tribute show without hearing “Little Red Corvette” or songs from the iconic Purple Rain soundtrack. “Let’s Go Crazy,” “The Beautiful Ones,” and my personal favorite “Baby I’m A Star” were a part of the setlist. My favorite performance of the night had to be “Baby I’m A Star,” which I didn’t think could sound funky with an orchestra arrangement.
It has been two years since we lost Prince, but the music lives on. Questlove and Prince’s estate have created a show that both casual Prince Fans and fanatics can enjoy. While the show does not feature any singing, I was so impressed with the orchestral arrangement, and it did not matter. I highly recommend checking out 4U – A Symphonic Celebration of Prince.
Final Grade A+
Usher, one of the R&B kings, is preparing to hit the road with his sixth concert tour, “Past Present and Future.” I’ve had the chance to see all of his solo tours since 2002’s “8701 Evolution Tour.” Following his recent BET Lifetime Achievement Award, it was only fitting to revisit his OMG Tour, which I attended in the winter of 2010 at Washington D.C.’s then-Verizon Center.
On Sunday, June 23rd, the Eaglebank Arena in Fairfax, VA, hosted “The Love Hard Tour,” an unforgettable night of love songs and memories. Initially scheduled for spring, the show was postponed to the summer. The Love Hard Tour, brought to you by the Black Promoters Collective, features R&B sensations K. Michelle, Trey Songz, Jaheim, and headliner Keyisha Cole. I’ve enjoyed seeing all of these performers on previous tours. However, given the consistent success and promptness of the promoters at concerts since their formation, I made it a priority to experience this show.
R&B music fans and couples packed Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, VA, on Sunday, February 18th, for the R&B Super Jam. Urban Vibe Entertainment hosted the event, which featured nineties R&B acts. The artists on the bill were Shai, Mya, Ginuwine, Dru Hill, and headliner Monica.
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