Sharon Robinson Performance Review by Harriet Kaplan
Accompanying herself on keyboards primarily throughout a recent hour-long, 10-song set at Hotel Cafe, Grammy-award winning songwriter, record producer and vocalist Sharon Robinson gave an understated, lovely and elegant performance.
Photo Credit - Dominique Issermann
Michael Gold, Sharon’s son, played piano on one number as did trumpeter JJ Kirkpatrick offering texture, nuance and color. Clearly, it was a show for those who appreciate mature and intelligently written lyrics that convey the emotions and situations people can relate to going through their life and finding love, losing it and dealing with the outcome.
The songs have a poetic sensibility about them that feel fresh and original, and familiar at the same time. Thus that could be said about the melodies as well. The set list included “Strong For Me,” “In My Secret Life,” “Driftwood,” “Safe,” “Boogie Street,” “The High Road,” Alexandria Leaving,” and “Everybody Knows,” “Caffeine” and “Lucky.” Robinson has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Cassandra Wilson and Sade Adu. Melting R&B, soul and downbeat genres together, Sharon Robinson powered the material with her own unique rich, soulful alto vocal style that exudes warmth and passion.
- by Harriet Kaplan of Punch Records US