Introduction
Robert Glasper performed live at Leverkusen Jazz Age Forum, Germany, on November 9, 2016. The concert was selected for review because the melody, rhythm, and instrumentals were perfect. The lead singer and keyboard player, Robert Glasper, was excellent, from the vocals to the instrumentals. Band members included Mike Severson (guitar), Burnis Travis (bass), Marc Colenburg (drums), and Casey Benjamin (saxophone, vocoder) (Muzline, 2016).
The lead artist wore a casual vest and fedora hat, unlike others who wore casual shirts, with the pianist donning a beanie. Songs performed by the artist included “No One Like You,” “Find You,” You and Me,” “How Much a Dollar Cost,” and “Tell Me Bed Time Story,” in that order.
Concert Review
No One Like You
The song “No One Like You” began with the pianist playing a high-tempo tune, followed by the drummer in a sequence of melodic tunes. Robert Glasper weighed in with a smooth and soothing vocal to give it a perfect start. The song contained a romantic melody with the bass and saxophone alternating in rhythm. The steady melody was a high tempo throughout the song, with the pianist and lead singer occasionally tuning down the beat. The drummer did a great job in this part as the drum was more prominent, raising the tempo of the performance.
Find You
The second song, “Find You,” began on a low tempo, with all the instruments combining into a steady melody. Notably, the piano was the more prominent instrument at the beginning of this song, raising the tempo sharply up to the climax. All the instruments reverberated to a crescendo, culminating with a bang at the song’s peak before the dynamics shifted to a slow and soothing rhythm. The intensity of the saxophone helped the song get the necessary intensity at the climax, motivating the audience to fall into the rhythm with applause at the end. The romantic vocals, bending notes, flawless improvisations, and perfect rhythm make it the best hit performed in the concert.
You and Me
The third song, “You and Me,” began with a slow and soothing melody, followed by the lead singer’s smooth and melodious voice. It was a romance song from the first note, starting with a gentle crescendo and ending in an equally gentle crescendo. The lead singer’s voice was smooth and melodic, adding to the song’s romance. Besides, the chorus was marvelous, blending into the sharp tunes of the piano and the saxophone. It was the second-best song in the concert, with all instrumentals perfectly matching the vocals to give it a romantic theme.
How Much a Dollar Cost
The fourth song, “How Much a Dollar Cost,” started to have an even softer tempo and remained throughout the song. The instrumentals started slow but briefly picked up speed, with the saxophone adding new notes to the melody. Notably, the drums were more prominent in these songs, raising the tempo and controlling the rhythm. The vocals were low, but the fans were amazed at how the drummer played, with sporadic applause between the songs. Anyone would give it to the drummer on this part because the beats were unique, perfect, and entertaining.
Tell Me Bed Time Story
The final song, “Tell Me Bed Time Story,” started with a low crescendo but picked up a high tempo a few seconds into the song. Again, the pianists played amazing tunes, shifting the tempo from high to extremely low. Notably, the pianist played some unique tunes, which added to the song’s melody, sometimes changing the rhythm to a softer theme. Accolades also go to the drummer, who maintained the rhythms despite fewer vocals.
Conclusion
In summary, the audience seemed to be made up of adults, attending the concert for a good performance and a good time. From applause to mixed excitement and appreciation, the audience seemed mature, enjoying every moment of the performance, even without the dancing. A little singing was involved in the concert, with instruments dominating most of the performance. Nevertheless, the way the instrumentalists played embodied extreme skills and perfection. The performance was outstanding, starting with low tones within the harmony and accompanied by some intensity and a combination of saxophone and drums to produce a perfect melody.
References
Muzline. (2016). Robert Glasper experiment live at Leverkusen Jazztage 2016. YouTube. Web.