RHYTHM 'N' ROOTS; LAURYN HILL MIXES STYLES IN LIVELY SHOW.Byline: Fred Shuster Daily News Music Critic Noun 1. music critic - a critic of musical performances critic - a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art Hip-hop diva Lauryn Hill commanded the Universal Amphitheatre stage Friday like she's been doing it all her life. The 23-year-old Hill - fresh from breaking records at the Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Annual awards given by the Recording Academy (officially the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences). The first Grammies (the name is a dimunitive of “gramophone”) were given in 1958. by winning five trophies including album of the year - put the packed venue in a party mood with a lively, good-natured show that celebrated r&b's past and present. Fronting a crack 16-member band that included three backup singers, three horns, two keyboardists and onetime Bob Marley & the Wailers member Al Anderson People named Al Anderson include:
Following a 45-minute opening set by popular Atlanta rappers Outkast, the headliner head·lin·er n. A performer who receives prominent billing; a star. Noun 1. headliner - a performer who receives prominent billing star , wearing a Jamaican-style skirt, hit the darkened dark·en v. dark·ened, dark·en·ing, dark·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make dark or darker. b. To give a darker hue to. 2. To fill with sadness; make gloomy. 3. stage after recordings of Marley's ``Redemption Song'' and a gospel number played through. Touching on soul, reggae, gospel and blues while retaining the hip-hop flavor she's known for, Hill emphasized music over show biz and the result was a gig that brought to mind legendary soul revues of the '60s. The low-key set design consisted merely of three high-school lockers placed in the background, a reference to the between-song skits of her multimillion-selling solo debut, ``The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.'' On the opening date of three sold-out Universal shows, Hill offered retooled versions of the eclectic album's tunes, such as a ``Superstar'' charged with gospel fervor and a ``Lost Ones'' that evolved into a reggae-tinged rap-funk jam, along with quotes from immediately recognizable songs by classic soul acts the O'Jays and Stevie Wonder and current rap stars Eminem, Jay-Z and Nas. Hill left the stage at one point to change clothes while DJ Leon Higgins Leon Higgins (born June 27, 1968) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans in the AFL. A left footer, he was usually seen at the half forward line. Before playing league football he played at Tocumwal, a club whom he now coaches. gave an enjoyable seminar in hip-hop turntable A playback machine for vinyl phonograph records, which were a major music distribution medium throughout the 20th century. The turntable contains a rotating platter to hold and spin the disc and an arm that holds a cartridge and needle (stylus). magic - juggling vinyl records in the air while skipping and scratching beats on the wheels of steel. That led to a demonstration of rhythmic prowess by Hill's drummer, who took solos on his kit, a set of timbales Timbales (or tymbales) are shallow single-headed drums, shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned. The player (known as a timbalero and finally on a trio of plastic buckets. When the singer returned in a new outfit, a 20-minute old-school ``battle'' ensued between the musicians on Hill's side and the turntable artists and rappers on the other, using snatches of songs by the Jackson 5 as well as rap hits and underground classics. Several charged bars from Jay-Z's ``Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)'' sung by Hill brought a roar from the audience. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Lauryn Hill was in command Saturday night. John McCoy/Daily News |
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