Concert Review: Scott throws groove-filled 'block party'

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The FedExForum performance billed as "Budweiser Superfest Presents Jill Scott's Summer Block Party" showcased the artist's fun side.

With her spoken word poetry flourishes and hippie jazz leanings, the music of neo-soul singer Jill Scott has always seemed something more worth admiring than enjoying, more chill out than shake your booty.

She clearly set out to change that perception on her new release, Light Of the Sun, a record of lively celebration coming off of an eventful four-year, record-less period during which the Philadelphia singer had a child, broke up with the father, and struggled to establish herself as an actress.

The same vibrant spirit shone through Wednesday night at the FedExForum as she headlined the non-stop R&B dance party billed as “Budweiser Superfest Presents Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party.” When booking an actual block party, Scott may not be at the top of your wish list, but the shapely powerhouse, performing before an audience of about 5,800, delivered with a groove-filled 90-minute concert that never abandoned any of the qualities that make her so unique.

For instance, the song “Quick,” a wry break-up number from the new album selections from which dominated the night, deftly integrated Scott’s spoken word and acting skills into a lean, infectious beat. Elsewhere, the versatile performer revealed unsuspected talents. Bringing out Doug E. Fresh, who with record spinner DJ Jazzy Jeff was charged with keeping the audience moving between acts with a retro dance party, Scott rapped over the ’80s rappers’ amazing beatbox rhythms before segueing into their ragtime-tinged Light Of the Sun collaboration, “All Cried Out Redux.” Later, another of her partners from the record, opening act Anthony Hamilton, came out to recreate their erotically charged duet “So In Love.”

Scott did not need to depend on guests to keep the party going, however. She deftly led the band from stripped down jazz of “Rolling Hills” to the hip-hop bounce of “Golden.” And on the drawn-out crowd favorite “He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat),” she showed an almost operatic vocal control, ending on an upbeat Latin groove before coming back out for an encore of the Light of the Sun anthem “Blessed.”

Playing before Scott, North Carolina soul man Hamilton had the most fun with the evening’s block party theme, transforming the stage into “Hamilton Street,” complete with streetlights and front stoop. The backdrop created a surprisingly intimate setting as the wiry vocalist delivered an energetic and astoundingly varied — if technically marred — performance that careered between the Percy Mayfield funk of kickstarter “The News,” the reggae feel of “Everybody,” and the gospel-fueled “Please Stay.”

Rounding out the night was Minneapolis R&B band Mint Condition, a relatively minor act from ’90s who in their short half hour set nevertheless impressed with muscular and versatile musicianship on old school hits “What Kind Of Man Would I Be” and the rousing set closer “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes).”

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