ESSENCEFEST

Latest news and updates for the 2009 Essence Music Festival

Alicia Keys tops the list of newly announced performers for this summer's Essence Music Festival, July 2-4 in the Superdome. The contemporary R&B singer, songwriter and pianist is spending much of the spring and early summer on the road in North America and Europe promoting her current CD, The Element of Freedom. She is a two-time Essence veteran, having... Full story »

Only Frankie Beverly and Maze could follow Lionel Richie on Sunday. Beverly and company nearly sat out the 2009 Essence. Initially, his representatives were unable to come to terms with the festival. Eventually a deal was brokered. To mark the 15th anniversary of the Essence Fest and Maze closing it, a video retrospective preceded Maze's performance. The musicians, clad... Full story »

With three words, Al Green caused a Superdome full of fans to fall out: Love. And. Happiness. The latter-day Al Green often forgets to sing. Instead, he distributes roses, mugs and hot-foots around the stage. On Sunday at Essence, he was also chatty. He and his band, he noted, flew in from Canada to perform. He cited the advantage... Full story »

Teena Marie would not be denied. On the main Essence stage Sunday, the R&B/funk songstress kept chipping away until she finally won over the crowd. Only constrained by a guitar on a handful of songs, she served as her own cheerleader. She wailed and held ever-higher notes. She rendered decades-old hits such as "Ooo La La La" and "Lovergirl"... Full story »

Mid-way through his Sunday night set in the Superdome, Lionel Richie announced his intention to "do something different" at the Essence Music Festival. With that, he called out guitarist Thomas McClary and bassist Ronald LaPread for what amounted to half of a Commodores reunion.  Full story »

The McDonalds McCafe Mocha Superlounge has some very comfortable leather chairs in it, but no one could stay seated for long during Zap Mama's closeout set. The Belgian Afrobeat group kept up an engaging, interesting and downright groovy show that got everyone dancing. People with fresh plates of food from the nearby concession stands would sit down, begin to eat... Full story »

There's something undeniably sweet about a bunch of couples all singing and dancing to songs about the joys of matrimonial lovemaking. So it was during R&B singer Raphael Saadiq's performance in the Lincoln Superlounge, where he brought out "It's Our Anniversary," a hit from his days in the Oakland-based R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone! in the early 1990s. "I've only... Full story »

The Essence Music Festival wrapped up its 15th 'party with a purpose' Sunday in New Orleans.  Full story »

The Essence Music Festival wrapped up its 15th 'party with a purpose' Sunday in New Orleans.  Full story »

Blues-pop singer/songwriter Dan Dyer is performing his last song in the Lincoln Superlounge, and the crowd, which consisted of only a couple dozen people a half hour ago, has expanded tremendously. What's unclear, however, is whether the swelling is due to the appeal of Dyer's music or the popularity of the next act up, soul singer and former Tony!... Full story »

Maxwell owns a watch, a very nice one at that. It was plainly visible on his wrist. Perhaps it does not work. At 1:15 a.m. Saturday night/Sunday morning -- fifteen minutes after his Essence set was scheduled to finish -- it had not yet begun. The preceding act, Anita Baker, ran late, contributing to a domino effect. But the... Full story »

Anita Baker made herself right at home. She luxuriated in the camera flashes that greeted her arrival on the main Essence stage, thanked other performers, kicked up her high heels, leaned into her microphone stand and basked in the fabulousness of "Sweet Love." She also spent a lot of time - a LOT - greeting/gushing over famous faces in... Full story »

Want to suck the air out of a full-on Essence party? Bring up prostate cancer. On the main stage Saturday, former Gap Band frontman Charlie Wilson had just romped through "I'm A Star." The medley nicks Morris Day & the Time, even as Wilson borrows a trick from Day and checks his appearance in a mirror offered by a... Full story »

The folks at Lincoln apparently cheery-picked their current crop of spokesmen from past Essence rosters. On Friday, comedian Steve Harvey plugged Lincoln during a brief turn on the main stage. On Saturday, multi-year Essence veteran Brian McKnight strolled out between acts in a cream suit. He dutifully stated the praises of Lincoln's latest rides, with none of Harvey's discomfort.  Full story »

Charlie Wilson must have a closetful of hats. Specifically, sharp-brimmed black fedoras festooned with a spray of silver glitter on one side, and his initials in a swoopy, sparkling script on the other. I say this because he wears one on the cover of his new album, February's "Uncle Charlie." He strutted onto the Essence main stage tonight wearing... Full story »