D'Angelo: Live Voodoo & Beyond

D'Angelo's Voodoo World Tour and the Soulquarians' Electric Lady jams forge the collaborative, improvisational sound of 2000s neo-soul for artists like Bilal and Common.

Tracklist

  1. Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo
  2. Didn't Cha Know — Erykah Badu
  3. Spanish Joint — D'Angelo
  4. The Light — Common
  5. Soul Sista — Bilal
  6. Workinonit — J Dilla
  7. Greatdayndamornin'/Booty — D'Angelo
  8. Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Evening's here — let's set the mood.

We've got a story to unfold — let me set the frame before we drop into the music.

Untitled (How Does It Feel) — D'Angelo

Untitled (How Does It Feel) by D'Angelo — this is where the thread starts.

Didn't Cha Know — Erykah Badu

D'Angelo's influence on the early 2000s neo-soul sound extended beyond his own albums. He co-wrote and co-produced this track, embodying the collaborative spirit of the Soulquarians collective that shaped his live sound.

Spanish Joint — D'Angelo

That collaborative energy exploded on D'Angelo's 'Voodoo' World Tour in 2000. With his supergroup The Soultronics, tracks like "Spanish Joint" became platforms for extended, improvisational jams, stretching out with intricate basslines from Pino Palladino and Questlove's drumming.

The Light — Common

The Soulquarians collective was D'Angelo's creative family, with members like James Poyser on keys contributing to Common's 'Like Water for Chocolate.' This studio synergy, built on extensive jamming at Electric Lady Studios, directly translated to the live band's improvisational ethos.

Soul Sista — Bilal

The Soulquarians' genre-blending R&B created a fertile ground for artists like Bilal. His debut album embodied the vocal dexterity and adventurous spirit that flowed through D'Angelo's circle, setting a high bar for live musicianship and collaboration in the 2000s.

Workinonit — J Dilla

J Dilla's distinctive, off-kilter production was a foundational influence on D'Angelo's 'Voodoo' sound. Okayplayer noted, "With D'Angelo's ear and J Dilla's mind for messy, inventive rhythms pointing the way, Voodoo's musicians pushed each other out toward r&b parts unknown."

Greatdayndamornin'/Booty — D'Angelo

D'Angelo's live performances transformed studio material dramatically. During the 'Voodoo' tour, the "Booty" section of "Greatdayndamornin'/Booty" was often re-arranged into a hypnotic, groove-heavy jam, showcasing the band's relentless funk and improvisational prowess.

Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo

The band's ability to re-contextualize familiar songs was a hallmark of D'Angelo's 2000s live shows. While this 'Voodoo' track showcased expansive arrangements, his performances later evolved toward more acoustic, vocal-centric presentations, prioritizing harmonic depth over production polish.

And with that, our exploration of D'Angelo's transformative live sound concludes. Thank you for listening to OffStereo; may his fearless evolution resonate in your own creative spirit.

Related