A Vegas stop by Raphael Saadiq—the former Tony! Toni! Toné! member who has been releasing quality solo records for the past two decades (most recently August’s excellent Jimmy Lee)—would be cause for celebration on its own. But there’s an even more compelling reason to attend Brooklyn Bowl’s January 24 concert: opener Jamila Woods.
In a year packed with deservedly praised recordings by women—Lana Del Rey, FKA twigs, Billie Eilish, Angel Olsen and many more—Woods’ sophomore album, 2019’s Legacy! Legacy!, stood with the very best. “I am not your typical girl/Throw away that picture in your head,” the Chicago-raised, Brown University-educated vocalist and songwriter announces during opening “Betty,” before reeling off a dozen more tracks conveying her message of strength and pride. From standout cut “Giovanni”: “A hundred motherf*ckers can’t tell me/How I’m supposed to look when I’m angry/How I’m supposed to shrink when you’re around me/Permission denied to rearrange me/I am the kingdom, I am not your queen.”
Such words resonate loudest when delivered with a powerful voice woven into inventive compositions, and the 30-year-old Woods succeeds on both counts. Her human instrument flows with conviction and confidence, and her songs—the sort of jazz/hip-hop/soul blend that should appeal to fans of Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean and Solange—live as more than simple backing tracks.
She’s an artist just getting started on a thought-provoking journey, and for one night, it brings her here.
JAMILA WOODS opening for Raphael Saadiq with DJ Duggz. January 24, 7:30 p.m., $20-$35. Brooklyn Bowl, 702-862-2695.
