Sunday, September 1st, was a night of R&B Nostalgia in Oxon Hill, Maryland, at The Theater At MGM when Jodeci, the Bad Boys of R&B, performed. I was fortunate enough to see Jodeci twice when they supported the legendary New Edition on their 2021 Legacy tour, but unfortunately, I missed the group’s Las Vegas House of Blues Residency.
Following an enthusiastic set from the group’s DJ, Jodeci members Kci, Jo Jo, and Mr. Dalvin took the stage. While there was no mention of why DeVante and Jo Jo had to bow out early due to not feeling well, Kci and Dalvin entertained the crowd with finesse. Dalvin was the hype man, while Kci handled the vocals.
“Xs We Share” kicked off the night before the group transitioned into the iconic “Come & Talk to Me” and “Stay” from their 1991 debut. As R&B fanatics know, Jodeci’s bread and butter are slow jams and ballads, and the crowd, filled with emotional connection and nostalgia, sang word for word to the following two songs, “Love U 4 Life” and “Forever My Lady.”
Mr. Dalvin then surprised the audience with a shout-out to a concert attendee who happened to be the DJ that broke their debut single “Gotta Love,” an up-tempo number with a bit of New Jack flavor. This unexpected interaction added a unique touch to the concert. While not everyone in the audience knew the song, some hard-core Jodeci fans in my section were dancing. Following a lovely rendition of “What About Us” and “U&I,” Kci dipped into his solo catalog.
After a heartfelt testimony about his stroke and recovery, Kci performed “Life” and his cover of “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” This emotional moment resonated with the audience, showing a more personal side of the performer. However, it was the next set of songs, “My Heart Belongs to U,” “Cry for You,” and “Feenin,” that I was waiting for, which all appeared on the group’s sophomore album. The night ended with a one-two punch of “Freek’n You” and “Get On Up.”
My only compliment for the night was omitting “Lately” and “I’m Still Waiting” from the set list. Additionally, I would’ve loved to hear snippets of the group’s soundtrack efforts like “We Can Fly” and “Let’s Go through the Motions”. Nevertheless, despite only having two members, Jodeci delivered an enjoyable night of R&B.
Final Grade: B+.
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.