And I can say it was worth the cheap ticket and then some. Here's what he played:

On The Jungle Floor
Blues Five Spot prelude (I think)
Dust (He said it was from his "new" album, which confirmed he was "influenced" . . .)
Highlights (Great rendition)
Character
Suspicion
Being A Girl (another nice rendition)
Hot Stage Lights
Dancing Machine (funny . . . but they broke it down into a little house-tempo groove for a minute)
Ride Ride Ride

He definitely has an ease on stage and ability to connect with the audience. His band is very capable, and fluid. I hope they stick together.

On my way out, the band was standing out front, and all of them were gracious.

Good musicians, good peoples, backing a very promising artist.

I enjoyed it thoroughly.

namepeace said:

I´ve heard so many positive opinions on this guy but I´ve yet to hear him.

He´s one of those promising new RnB artists out there and proof that the music scene is not as dead yet as people think, I mean, despite Clear Channel and all the ongoing bullshit in music, there´s still hope....Erykah Badu, D ´Angelo , Maxwell,Amel Larrieux, Jill Scott ( though her last one wasn´t really my cup of tea, but the first one and the live one were great)....

You seem to dig good music, and I have been a bit out of touch lately due to some important tasks I had to finish, so my question is whether there are any other new musicians of the RnB/Soul genre that you might recommend...?

Any info is highly appreciated , thanks in advance..

only thing he's missing is star quality and instrumental skills...add those and he'd be somethin to watch..

KoolEaze said:

The compliment is much appreciated.

Without knowing your tastes, I'd say, other than Van and the one's you mentioned . . .

Dwele
Ledisi
Les Nubians
Res (currently MIA)

I hear wonderful things about Rashaan Patterson and Kenny Lattimore.

There are others who make enjoyable music, but maybe don't have the artistic chops, like Amerie, Justin Timberlake, Jon B.

prettymansson said:

You know, you're probably right.

Thanks, I will check them out ....I´m starving for new music.
Of course I know Kenny Lattimore and Jon B but I never really bothered to go and buy an album of them but I´ve always liked two or three songs on the radio so maybe I should listen to their new stuff.

I hadn´t heard about the other ones though..( well, except for Justin Timberlake of course....some of my friends dig him, I guess it´s because of the people that work for him, like Pharell etc.)

Rashan Patterson...heard him on the radio, never thought about him when I looked for new music at the store.

Thanks.
[Edited 5/1/06 13:05pm]

namepeace said:

thank you for not being offended its how i really feel. u are kool !!!

prettymansson said:

Wow...very well put and dead on the money. Most folks today aren't even hip to "star quality" let alone noticing when a cat doesn't have it. People think that just because your video is on BET, then you're automatically a star. Nah, doesn't work that way. U either "have it" or u don't.

blackguitaristz said:

you know the deal !!!

[Edited 5/2/06 1:57am]

i saw his set on KCRW Morning Becomes Electic




he looked and sounded like a right wanker wannabe, reformed pimp.

i turned the sound down to see if i liked it better- nope. just not my thing i guess.

i think he's got star quality, or at least a nice voice, don't know if he plays his own instruments....the melodies on that new album stink tho, as do the lyrics

blackguitaristz said:

I was wonderin' how good a musician he really is - a lot of cats like to trump that "multi-instrumentalist" tag. Brian McKnight has always made sure to point that out about his albums (I saw him try and play the guitar solo to "Everytime you go away" on the CBS late show - wasn't that great) and Lenny K, of course. I was hoping to see him really go off on guitar when he "jammed" (and I use that term very loosely) with P-funk but I don't think he's an improviser at all. Teddy Riley used to say that, too...Not saying that one has to be a virtuoso on every instrument, but when you put it out there like that, it would be cool to be able to back it up...

namepeace said:

he's a flash in the pan.

and i liked some of the first album, but he doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve to keep me interested.

JesseDezz said:

THANK U !!! If you aint gonna tear shit up...ala..hendrix..prince...stevie...ect...move out the way and let a real playa step in !!!!

I saw that episode also with "Cryin'" McKnight trying to play lead guitar. I was like.."Uh bruh..give it up..give the axe to someone else". Never saw what was so great about him.

SPYZFAN1 said:

His first album was really good "Never Felt This Way" & "Is the Feeling Gone" are amazing! But from the second album on he became the most formulaic muthafucka on the planet - total bore, no effort, shitty "office-friendly" music. I can't stomach him anymore... AND he got a pack of hot dogs on the back of his neck

CalhounSq said:[quote]

SPYZFAN1 said:

LAWD have mercy !!!!!

What impresses me about Van Hunt is that he manages to sound fresh and new but at the same time it's obvious who his influences are. He also manages to avoid all the modern ill's of R&B, namely oversinging and production. His two albums are better than anything Prince has done in the last 10 years.

JesseDezz said:

OKAY ?!?!
Paul McCartney, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Wonder & Prince
fucked up the "Multi-instrumentalist" game.
Now , Er'body & dey moms claim that title just caused they switched keyboards ?
Prince supposed to play "27" different instruments ?!?!
there's only 3 ? basic food groups : strings, woodwinds/brass, and percussion
Piano falls under percussion, btw..
And, I don't remember Prince playing a Horn.

"HYPE KILLS"

FalseSetto said:

Who said Prince plays horns?

sextonseven said:

What ?!?
Scratch that....

"SARCASM KILLS"

FalseSetto said:

I can dig where u are comin from...

prettymansson said:

Thanks, Homie !
Folks trip waaaaay too hard on these boards sometimes.

wavesofbliss said:

It happens. You dig what you dig.

He doesn't come across like that in person, though. He and his band seem like some cats and kittens that just try to play.

FalseSetto said:

Sometimes? Most times, player.

prettymansson said:

But you know that kind of stage presence does not come overnight. Prince's first show wasn't that good when Warners decided he wasn't ready for a tour, he didn't start off with the kind of stage presence you saw in the Sign O The Times film. Van's stage act is somehting that may improve with time. I hope.

Meloh9 said:

Point taken..
but, that ain't Van's 1st show OR his 1st cd.
the 2nd coming of _____ just ain't gon happen.

FalseSetto said:

I just meant maybe he will grow into a better stage performer.. not that he is the second coming of P.

Meloh9 said:

Damn, man ...No Dis-respect, Meloh9
but you didn't READ that right.
You totally mis-understood what I was sayin'
My statement was made in relation to EVERYBODY
waiting on the NEXT "King" of whatever.
Just like how folks tripped about D'angelo when he dropped in '95
since then? it's seems like every week MF's is riding HARD
about the NEW so & so....or the NEXT _____ !
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER PRINCE !
or JIMI HENRDIX or MILES DAVIS or SLY STONE or
"Whoever" the fuck, son!

If there TRULY was another one ? THAT one ? Y'all would KNOW !
MF's be trying to convince themselves & er'body else
that _____ is THAT ONE !

Again, "No Dis-Respect"
not sayin that YOU do this, just in general... this is what I've noticed
[Edited 5/2/06 13:41pm]