India.Arie Brings Message of Love to Monterey

Tuesday September 20, 2011

from Monterey Herald

India.Arie Brings Message of Love to Monterey Jazz Festival

If Saturday afternoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival was about going to the nightclub, Sunday afternoon was all about getting spiritual and feeling harmony through music. Traditionally, Sunday afternoon is taken over by youth bands, youth vocal groups and a showcase for the festival’s high school all-star big band, with a smattering of “adult” acts.

Several years ago the festival began booking big-name non-jazz acts to help bring audiences into the arena Sunday afternoon, usually the slowest show of the jazz festival weekend. Artists have included such crossover artists as “smooth jazz” group Spyro Gyra, R&B singer Al Jarreau, world music star Angelique Kidjo and pop-jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. This year that slot was taken by Grammy Award-winning pop/R&B artist India.Arie, perhaps best known for her infectious 2001 hit “Video” from her multi-platinum debut “Acoustic Soul,” and she brought a strong measure of spiritual uplift, positivity and harmony to the main arena.

Arie was joined by Israeli singer-songwriter and pianist Idan Raichel in a program called “Open Door,” the title of the duo’s new collaboration, with music written by Raichel and lyrics by Arie.

“Pay special attention to the lyrics because that’s a big part of why we’re here,” Arie told the near-capacity crowd on another rare sunny day in Monterey.Songs such as “Get Up,” “Just Keep Singing,” “This Wind,” “Melody for You,” “LInes & Circles,” “Gift of Acceptance” and “You Are a Star” all served to deliver Arie’s heartfelt messages of peace, love, harmony and the power of positivity. “Gift of Acceptance,” in fact, neatly wrapped all those positive affirmations into one song, which she said had “everything in it that I’ve always wanted to say.” Singing the songs in a rich, expressive voice, Arie, who was dressed in her familiar headdress and a flowing African-print dress, was warmly received by the crowd. She and Raichel were backed by a topnotch band, William “Blue” Mueller on guitar, Yankale Segal on bass, ud and sitar, Gillad Schmuelli on drums and two backup singers, Chantae Cann and Ametria Dock.

Arie finished her set with the stirring “You Are a Star,” that had the audience up on their feet clapping and singing along with her, which prompted a cheery “See you next year!” from the artist. Does she know something we don’t?

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