Sade, and an Altogether Legendary Night at the Rose Garden
There was a whole lotta love in the Rose Garden last night, when the horny amorous masses turned up for R&B/smooth jazz legend Sade’s first Portland show in a decade. The band, fronted by Sade Adu, charmed and enthralled audiences in a two-hour-plus set that cast the Nigerian/Brit chanteuse’s greatest hits in an oft-times exquisite multimedia stage setup helmed by longtime collaborator (and video director) Sophie Muller.
Almost supernaturally radiant at age 52, Adu ascended from the floor — clad in body-skimming black with sequined cuffs, stilettos and signature giant hoop earrings — to the title track of her latest (and just sixth) studio effort, 2010′s Soldier of Love. And while she appeared to have initial pitch problems (most likely a monitors issue on certain bass-heavy numbers), the dulcet-voiced diva soon found her sonic footing, sauntering through her three-decade career (“No Ordinary Love,” “Sweetest Taboo,” “Stronger Than Pride,” “Paradise,” “Your Love is King,” “By Your Side”), and a handful of elegant, sensual outfits and stunning visual backdrops.
A diaphanous, stage-encompassing curtain rose and fell throughout the evening, images of stark barren trees and desolate road scenes projected onto it, Sade illuminated from behind. Behind the band, a 23’ x 52’ high resolution LED screen monumentalized the singer in larger-than-life scenes of Estee Lauder Pleasures-ready field frolicking (“Kiss of Life”) and as lasso-wielding post-apocalyptic temptress (“The Moon and the Sky”). “Smooth Operator” got the film noir treatment, complete with hard-boiled animated mini-movie prologue and New York City-scape. So too did “Jezebel,” which pared the spectacle down to Adu, a spotlight, sax player Stuart Matthewman and austere black-and-white cinematography.
That’s to say nothing of the encore, in which Adu returned to stand — nay, shimmy — atop a prop skyscraper as it rose from the stage, inhabiting the projected skies of the Big Apple to “Cherish the Day.” Put on a pedestal much? Yes, and deservedly so. All in attendance knew a queen was in their midst, albeit a gracious, witty and humble one. And though in-between song banter was limited, Adu mentioned their last Portland appearance, and the three-week stay in this “beautiful city” that made her band and crew want to stick around.
Like her “special guest,” neo-soul crooner John Legend — who brought the house down with a rollicking hour of sexy gospel boogie (opening with a few bars of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep”) — Adu has the envious ability to find the middle of a note and bury herself there, effortlessly and warmly. By the time she took the stage for a haunting solo number about “Women in Somalia,” her voice grew stronger, more melismatic by the measure. Twenty-five years into seducing audiences with classy, grown-up jams, Adu is hitting her stride, in more ways than one. One wouldn’t think to use the word “belt” for a voice as soft and sultry as hers, but she killed it, to goosebumps-inducing effect.
Her nine-strong band — including longtime members Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman and Andrew Hale — shone throughout the set, which deftly balanced the samba sounds of her ’80s heyday (Diamond Life, Promise) with the darker trip-hop, electro and dub flourishes that have marked more recent efforts (Lovers Rock), including The Ultimate Collection, a new 28-track, 2-CD set featuring a “Moon and the Sky” remix with Jay-Z. Consummate professionals all, these are players at the top of their game, accomplished, comfortable with each other and the audience and genuinely feeling the groove throughout. “Flow,” indeed.
Of course, critics discuss Sade’s tried-and-true (down)tempo M.O. — fans, too, for that matter. But Monday’s masterful show bears witness to a deceptively simple formula, at once utterly refined and organic. It takes work, and a true artist, to make an evening like last night seem so damned unforced and incomparable. Sure, Sade does one thing, and well, but that’s as true a statement as it is insufficient.
Besides, what’s so terrible about an enduring beauty with an enduringly beautiful voice making enduringly beautiful music — and presenting it in beautiful fashion that will, yes, endure for audiences fortunate enough to experience it?
Nothing. Nothing at all. Long live the queen.
Add to Google
i was there in portland too – amazing! i feel that sade has worked very hard to create the beauty that they emanate and that work is paying off again. this was my first time seeing the band, but i’ve listened to all their albums hundreds of times each (for real) and i think i like the newest stuff the most, so i’m really excited to see what they can do in the near future. hopefully, we can go see sade again in the next year or two with another masterpiece album to showcase. much love!