The genre of Soul has a vital place in music. It is a full, intense, and emotive style, which we see influencing artists time and time again. Jordan Rakei is no different with his funky, neo-soul twist on a classic genre. He returned to Manchester to play at the Albert Hall just a few months after the release of his latest album The Loop he graced the crowd with a gripping, delicate performance.
Support came in the form of talented vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dhruv, who catapulted into the spotlight back in 2019 after his sleeper hit ‘double take’. Dhruv was a soft, gentle choice for support, and blessed the crowd with an intimate and beautiful set lasting a little over an hour – an act more than capable of preparing the crowd for the much-anticipated Jordan Rakei.
Soon after – as the lights dimmed and the stained glass shimmered around the audience, Rakei emerged. He took his place behind a double tiered piano, adorned with a bouquet of flowers. A soft glow emanates from a number of 70s-style lamps located around the stage. The set up – completed by a deep red rug – created a cosy and inviting atmosphere, almost as if he was inviting the audience into his home, anchoring him into a moody ambience. As the first few notes of the soaring, classical ‘Learning’ sounded out, the venue rang with the reverberations of strings. It was the perfect opening. His vocals were sultry: raspy yet smooth, with a distinct jazz-soul tone, that imbued the performance with a sense of slick, intricate production.
The Albert Hall was a fantastic venue, complementing Rakei’s vocals and musical talent excellently, the solid brick bouncing his music around the hall. The expansive views from the venue’s balcony inviting and including the audience, allowing them to admire Rakei from above.
Rakei’s set was smooth, fluid. The choreography of the lighting playing its part, alternating between erratic flashing, slow moving strobes, and fixed spotlights, each combination reflecting the nature of each song. This technicality was best showcased during the song ‘Friend or Foe’. While the intensity of the song rose as the song progressed, the lighting grew ever more frantic to match, creating a choreographed masterpiece both visually and audibly.
Having produced a total of 5 albums, Rakei has spent years refining and perfecting his craft, amongst the contemporary neo-soul and jazz scene. His talent was plain throughout the entirety of the set, as he switched effortlessly between instruments. The crowd, too, were captivated, swaying as one throughout the performance, their voices raised along with Rakei until the very end, a palpable atmosphere of togetherness and appreciation.
Each Member of Rakei’s band had their own solos throughout the set, with Eliza Oakes (pianist and backup singer) captivating with her breath-taking vocals, Imraan Paleker’s bass solo in ‘Friend of Foe’ thumping into the crowd, after Rakei “unleashed” him. An immensely talented bunch.
Soon, the encore had been and gone. The audience trickled, reluctantly, through the grand Albert Hall doors and into the night, some still dazed, all moved. Rakei gave a stunning set, epitomising all that is good with the modern era of soul, the ‘New Guard’ of heartfelt, silky smooth, cool-Jazz pioneers.
