4 crooners, 1 soulful night at Charter One

For two decades the Budweiser SuperFest summer concert series has hosted some of soul and R&B's legendary acts.

Friday night the tour rolled through Chicago's Charter One Pavilion featuring Raheem DeVaughn, Jaheim, KEM and Anthony Hamilton.

The four crooners each brought their individual stamps to the venue, before an amped cheering, stomping and screaming crowd.

Sporting a casual white shirt and pants singer Raheem DeVaughn laid his soulful imprint with his hits, Guess Who Loves You More and Woman. But it was his cover of Prince's Adore that confirmed me East Coast singer is a student of classic soul music.

His 30-minute set was just an abbreviated version of his solo show, which is a musical feast for the ears. DeVaughn launched into the cautionary Bullet Proof from his current release. The Love and War Master Peace. He exchanged witty doubleentendre banter with his female back-up singer during the sexually-charged B.O.B. DeVaughn closed with his chart-topper Customer, and jumped in the audience as female fans met him with hugs.

The cheers started long before soul artist Jaheim appeared onstage singing his smash single Just In Case. The New Jersey native has refined his image. A close-cropped fade replaced his signature corn rows. He looked dapper in a black shirt and pants as he sang the hits U>oking for Love and Woman First. The crowd really piped up when he performed the slow-jam Finding Mv Wav Back from his album. Another Round.

The crowd participation took him by surprise ("YaIl really liked that?"). The richness of his vocals were a standout as he belted out renditions of A House is Not A Home and Close The Door. Jaheim got upclose with females while walking through the arena and handing out roses. He even shed his shirt exposing his tattooed arms and chest and ended his set with the midtempo / Ain 't Leaving Without You.

Universal/Motown singer/songwriter KEM's set was a smooth alternative compared to earlier performances. He performed with a full band, as he is often compared to singer Al Jarreau - though KEM as carved out his own sound.

The crowd responded favorably as he took to the piano and performed Share My Life from his just-released album Intimacy: Album III.

While singing his hit, / Can 't Stop Loving You he took a break to talk about how censors wanted him to omit the portion of his show when he thanks God for delivering him from drug and alcohol abuse.

With that, instructed the audience to cheer if they believe in God. KEM's breakout single. Love Calls ended his 40-minute set.

Singer Anthony Hamilton had enough energy to fill Charter One Pavilion. Running onstage performing his soulful hit, "Mama Knew Love," but he's reworked it with vocoder accompaniment.

Among the four acts, the North-Carolina native is the only one who doesn't have a current release. He is still able to breathe new life into his past recordings. His hot - rendition of Tevin Campbell's Shh! is a welcomed departure from his previous gospel-influenced tracks. Determined to put on a show, the singer danced ala pop-lock style on stage.

The highlight of the evening would have to be die instrumental jam-session complete with tambourines and knee-slapping. The mastery interpolation of the Chi-Lites classic Have You Seen Her? with his ode Charlene.The ballads continued with Cool, Can't Let Go, and The Point of It All. Hamilton closed his high octane 45-minute with an extended version of his hit, Quit Yo Worryin'.

The Budweiser SuperFest concludes on Sunday in Dallas.

[Author Affiliation]

by Keisha Price

DEFENDER CONTRIBUTING WRITER