{"id":11,"date":"2011-06-06T20:12:32","date_gmt":"2011-06-06T20:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theukcorner.co.uk\/?p=11"},"modified":"2011-06-06T20:28:39","modified_gmt":"2011-06-06T20:28:39","slug":"the-uk-corner-concert-review-eric-benet-indigo2-by-fiona-mckinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetalentshow.co.uk\/theukcorner\/2011\/06\/06\/the-uk-corner-concert-review-eric-benet-indigo2-by-fiona-mckinson\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK Corner concert review: Eric Ben\u00e9t @ Indigo2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jeans, blazer, waistcoat, shirt, tie, shades; smart and sophisticated was the dress code for Eric Ben\u00e9t at this appearance at the Indigo2. Usually a resident at the Jazz Caf\u00e9, Ben\u00e9t transferred his intimate show to a larger venue without losing any intimacy. His falsetto alone can command attention in any environment. With the Furious Five as his backing band (John Rich \u2013 musical director\/keys, Afton \u2018AJ\u2019 Johnson \u2013 bass, Johnny Johnson \u2013 guitar, John McVicker \u2013 drums\/background vocals), Ben\u00e9t effortlessly entranced the audience singing hypnotic songs such as When You Think Of Me.
\nWith charm and wit, the mesmerizing audio-induced trance was broken intermittently when a talkative Ben\u00e9t shared his musings even hinting at his initial meeting with his ex-wife Halle Berry. Laced with love, his set was the perfect backdrop for couples in the audience who embraced and danced to the romantic grooves.
\nChocolate Legs from the Love and Life album got the whole crowd excited as Ben\u00e9t joked about the fans that had questioned his selective song title. He assured them that it was inclusive not exclusive referencing the array of chocolate available from caramel to butterscotch to Latin flavoured chocolate and Wasabi flavoured chocolate!<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/a>

Eric Ben\u00e9t just getting started!<\/p><\/div>\n

The sweetness and diversity of Ben\u00e9t\u2019s vocal ability can rival any type of confectionary. Many of the ladies in the audience would happily forfeit chocolate for Ben\u00e9t. There is one lady besides his fianc\u00e9 Manuela Testolini who perhaps was the envy of all for she shared the stage with him. Leah Labelle was the sole backing singer. The Bulgarian star of American Idol took the reigns to sing the lyrics made famous by Tamia on the Grammy nominated wedding favourite Share My Life.
\nMilwaukee, Wisconsin native Ben\u00e9t continued his stellar performance going back to his first album True to Myself with the funky Spiritual Thang before bringing things up-to-date with the melancholy Sometimes I Cry and the haunting Never Want To Live Without You.
\nAs a prelude to songs from his latest album Lost in Time which is tinged with seventies soul, Ben\u00e9t, 40, denounced the heavy reliance on modern technology and auto tune and praised the value of music which hits the heart \u2013 relying on real instrumentation and vocal ability. He preached to the converted who echoed his advocacy of passion over profit. Responsive, he not only took off his shades he was also open to requests. Jumping off the stage to shake hands and take photos it was at times hard to see the star but he kept shining.<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/a>

Ben\u00e9t the star...<\/p><\/div>\n

It wasn\u2019t all jazzy slow jams; Ben\u00e9t knows how to party and the energetic Feel Good, with Labelle taking Faith Evan\u2019s part, and Weekend Girl, were the perfect soundtrack for the fiesta. The party threatened to end early when Ben\u00e9t left the stage but the audience demanded an encore not least because two of his most popular tracks from his second album A Day In The Life had yet to be sung.
\nThe screams and applause were rewarded with the Latin infused Why You Follow Me which exceeds it\u2019s infectious nature live. The party was in full swing now complete with steamy salsa dancing from Ben\u00e9t and the lucky Labelle. Georgey Porgy gave Labelle another chance to step into Evan\u2019s shoes as she took her vocals but his time the duet became a threesome with the crowd enlisted for the chorus having warmed up with scales earlier! The temperature dipped a little when Ben\u00e9t revealed a little too much about one of his band members during their introductions. But if it was a bad move to get too personal it was a better move to pay homage to the King of Pop with a rendition of Michael Jackson\u2019s Billie Jean. He may have ended with borrowed material but for 90 minutes Ben\u00e9t was unashamedly his soulful self. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/a>

Just Ben\u00e9t, just his way!<\/p><\/div>\n

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