The Marvalus View » 2008 » August

I went to work yesterday, in an attempt to stave off my high anticipation of going to this concert. I don’t think I need to explain my love for Ms. Jill, but I will anyway. In 2000, when Jill’s album came out, I was going through my divorce…not a very high point in my life. And there was something about this woman’s soothing voice and soul-stirring lyrics that got me through. I burned through 3 copies of that CD, “Who Is Jill Scott?” and I’m not ashamed to say it (back in the day when I actually bought and paid for CDs). Ms. Jill kept me hopeful, I guess…that everything was going to be okay and that I could be who I am and be okay.

I actually had a little family drama that showed up late yesterday afternoon that threatened my attendance at this concert…I called my auntie and told her that I had tickets and she took over. That is why I love my family; their support is unmatched. The show was set to start at 7:30, and I arrived at the venue at 6:00 (yeah, I know I was early…so?). I got a good parking space and walked to the box office and was a little disappointed that the crowd waiting was small. Of course, I met up with the hustlers trying to buy tickets, but there was no way in hell that I was giving up my Orchestra seats. So I waited. I met some fellow fans, and stood and talked to them and laughed and commented on outfits and shoes…small talk until they let us in at 6:30…

The gates opened and I went in to my seat. There were vendors there selling pictures against a Jill Scott background, and t-shirts…I bypassed all that. I just wanted the show. I had an hour, so I went and got me a polish sausage and glass of water (I hadn’t eaten since lunch and knew it would be a long night) and went and sat down. The music blaring over the speakers was good…a little Al Green, a little Ray Charles, a little Arehta Franklin…the crowd slowly began to fill in and I sat a people watched. It is funny to watch people and the way they dress and act at a concert. This was an outdoor event so there was a lot of flesh showing…a LOT.

Then came the opening act: Bilal. He stood on the side of the stage wearing a blue t-shirt and a pair of long black shorts. No one seemed to notice that it was him…he looks different without his locs. But he came to the mic and gave us about 5 songs, most of which are from his mysteriously absent CD, “Love For Sale”…if the other portion of the CD sounds as good as the tracks that he sang on stage, we were ROBBED!!! He did grace us with “Sometimes” and the crowd went nuts…I don’t think many of us (including myself) were familiar with the “Love For Sale” stuff, even though it was fantastic.

It took about 20 minutes after Bilal left for the stage to be prepared for Ms. Jill…by then the sun had set, and a nice breeze had settled over us…the mood was right. Then the musician’s came out and I think my heart started beating faster. The music began playing…and then she strolled out. Don’t think me crazy, but I have wanted to see her in concert for so long, and have loved her for so long, that I teared up. And I knew that I was in for a journey; not just musically, but spiritually.

This concert was just magical for me…the songs were mostly from “The Real Thing,” with a couple of songs thrown in from “Who Is Jill Scott?” for good measure. What I liked most was the fact that the crowd was totally into it, singing along and waving their hands and shouting out at Jill…she soaked all of that up. I love that she stood in the middle of that stage, and just sang her ass off. Ms. Jill looked and sounded marvelous, and had the crowd in the palm of her hand. My favorite portion of the concert was “Whenever You’re Around”…most of the ladies in the audience were standing and singing along. She sang a new song about making love (sorry, can’t remember the name) and then went into “Crown Royal” and the crowd went ballistic. She was on that stage for I don’t know how long, and when she said goodnight, we wanted more…and she came back! Then it was a straight party! She went into “It’s Love” and “Golden” and then introduced us to her keyboardist, Justin Time…that boy! Damn! Then she went into “He Loves Me” and brought the house down. She bid us goodnight once again…but there was more!

Once again Ms. Jill returned to the stage with a song she said she had been carrying around with her for a couple of months, one that had woke her up in the middle of the night. It was a song about believing in your purpose…and that message went straight into my heart. This was the spiritual part for me. I went to this concert by myself, because I couldn’t get any of my girlfriends to go with me, and I wasn’t going to miss it. And with all the craziness in my life behind me, the message of this last song felt like it was delivered straight to me. I’m sure there were others who felt that way, but I knew there was a reason for me to be in that place, at that time, listening to what I was hearing…

I don’t go to many concerts, but I love music. I love musician’s who realize their art and talent, and use it for good. Ms. Jill is one of those people…she has risen to “do no wrong” status in my eyes. This was just one of the best nights I have had in a long time. My words have done it no justice…it was something that you have to experience for yourself.