Fans expecting Alicia Keys to deliver a low-key concert from the piano bench were in for a surprise at Scotiabank Place on Friday. The Grammy-winning Princess of Soul made a Britney-like entrance in a cage that was strung with chains and surrounded by a lighting rig that looked like the walls of a prison, the barbed wire outlined in white lights.

Her hair long and wild, Keys gyrated in sparkly silver pants and when she broke free from the cage, there was no mistaking the message of empowerment. The splashy intro settled into Love Is Blind, and clearly reflected the theme of her fourth and latest album, The Element of Freedom. (Read more… )

This year’s Cayman Jazz Fest broke all records for attendance as more than 5,000 people saw the event climax on Saturday night.

Multi–million selling artist Alicia Keys brought it to a close with a performance of many highlights including an outstanding performance of enormous hit No One as patrons cheered and danced.

Keys was a first–time visitor to Cayman, but although the singer was only able to stay for a single day on this occasion, she said that it would not be the last time.

“I would love to spend some vacation time here,” she said. “The people I’ve met have been so lovely. It’s gorgeous and the energy is great. I came in, went to sound check, then went to my room, sat on my balcony, the waves were crashing and I watched the sun set.” (Read more… )

“I know I’m losing control,” Alicia Keys sang in “Love Is Blind,” the song that started her set at the Nokia Theater on Tuesday night. But she wasn’t, not for an instant.

Through her set Ms. Keys measured every note, every bit of between-song patter, every motion and every vocal inflection, even when she was making her voice sound tearful or imploring or driven. In a career as one of this decade’s most dependable hit makers, that underlying poise has been her strength. Her message, particularly to women, is to endure and prevail. But that same steadfastness has also emerged as a shortcoming — onstage more than in the studio, where the sound of her voice is persuasive.

Ms. Keys writes and sings about heartache and sorrow, usually on the way to overcoming them. She promises devotion and calls for determination through every struggle. Her craftsmanship and equanimity are a comfort, a demonstration of what she counsels. But they are also a barrier. She doesn’t let loose. (Read more… )

Tonight I had the opportunity of seeing the amazing Alicia Keys at “Elements of Freedom – The Lecture and Performance Series” at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. It was a question and answer session and 7 song performance all rolled in to one night.

The event started out with Sway Calloway of MTV being announced as host/moderator for the night. He came out on stage and said a few words about Alicia and then a video montage was shown of all she has accomplished in her career. The music video to Alicia’s song “Doesn’t Mean Anything followed and then Sway introduced the women of the night.

Alicia came out to a thunderous applause by the audience and then her and Sway both sat down for the question and answer portion of the night. Alicia told Sway she had a question for him and handed him a card which he read and responded with his answer being “strawberry kool aid.” Neither of them told us what the question was.
(Read more… )