This past weekend, four-time Grammy Nominee Ledisi seduced sold-out crowds at Yoshi's Jazz Club with her authenticity, confidence, and stunning talent.  With a mix of what she described as "booty songs" and "church music," she successfully blended romance, freedom, and a journey of self-discovery into her performance, while still managing to connect with her audience on a level deeper than that of many other artists.

A friend of mine  who was at the event stated that Ledisi's 7:00 pm performance on Sunday, January 23rd, was hands-down the best concert she had ever experienced.  She was fascinated by the way in which Ledisi was able to connect with her audience, suggesting that it was Ledisi's connection to a higher power that gives her this ability.

However, another trait contributing to Ledisi's persona is her undeniable star-quality.  She is not merely passionate about her work, she is also able to pull her audience into each piece she performs, using body movement, facial expression, a vocal range that is rarely heard, and incredible jazz-influenced scatting when words are too limiting.  

What is most evident and appealing to me in Ledisi's performance style, however, is the way in which she radiates self-love, which she admits has come after a long journey.  

At the end of her performance, Ledisi said, "I'm cute and I can sing!  I'm not being vain; I'm just walking in my calling.  . . . It took me a long time to say that: I'm cute and I can sing."  This acceptance and love of her present self, her past, and her overall journey is what I believe coats Ledisi in an aura of freedom, which truly speaks to all of her adoring fans.

From the beginning of her performance, we knew we were in for a treat.  Only two songs into the evening, she said, "Some of y'all new--I can tell!  . . . But you should've known by the hair when I walked out: This gon' be different!"

True to her words, "different" she was.  Not only was her locked, reddish-colored, Mohawk-shaped hair unique, but so was her performance.  

Instead of simply walking on stage at the beginning of the evening, she came from a side entrance, prancing through the crowd, beaming that radiant smile across the dimly-lit room, and greeting her family members (mother, niece, and nephew) who were seated in a booth.  

Next, though Yoshi's reminded the audience that no photography would be allowed during the show, Ledisi invited everyone to take as many pictures as they wanted during the first song, jokingly threatening to leave if the photography continued beyond that point.

Ledisi performed a variety of slow, upbeat, groove-worthy, and Grammy-nominated songs, including "Higher Than This," "Goin' Thru Changes," "Get Outta My Kitchen," "Joy," and "Knockin'".  She prefaced the song "Alright" by acknowledging her mother, whom she said had been to every single performance that weekend.  

Later, she also explained that she was fortunate that it was her mother who had been there for her during her lowest moments. She briefly described one such moment, when she was struggling in New York, lying on the floor in distress about her career and nearly ready to give up her pursuit of her dreams.  

Ledisi explained that perhaps if she had turned to someone other than her mother at this pivotal moment, she might not be where she is today, singing her Grammy-nominated songs to sold-out audiences.  

A different person might have told her that she was right to consider changing directions and walking away from her dreams, but her mother encouraged her to keep pushing. Ledisi said about her mother: "I'd give her the world, 'cause she put me back on track to finding my purpose," again, acknowledging her understanding of her personal journey, which absolutely contributes to her artistry.

Several times throughout the show, Ledisi genuinely thanked her audience for their support.  To conclude the evening, she offered this advice:

1. Have faith.
2. Love yourself.
3. Be careful of who and what you allow in your personal circle, because not everyone deserves your presence.

After those moments of advice-giving, she dazzled the audience with her charm one final time, leaving us with: "My name is Ledisi . . . . But you can call me PEACHES!"

About Saumirah McWoodson

An artist and entrepreneur, Saumirah McWoodson is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dance Daze (DanceDaze.org), a new dance studio and community dance program operating out of the East Bay Area. Saumirah received a B.A. in psychology from the University of the Pacific in May of 2009, after spending a year studying and working in Europe. When she is not busy running Dance Daze, Saumirah blogs about "art, culture, and life after college" on her personal blog, SaumirahLikesArt.com.