Photo Provided by Viktorija Pashuta

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For the first time in a long time, “Soul Train” dancer turned Shalamar singer and solo artist/songwriter/producer/model/entrepreneur Jody Watley returned home to Chicago, bringing along more than three decades of R&B, soul, disco, pop, hip-hop and house treasures. Setting up shop at the upscale South Loop club The Shrine, the fashionable hitmaker didn’t just put the focus on her many individual talents, but also brought along Shalamar Reloaded to revisit those often overlooked beginnings.

Even though the set list was stocked with mostly key flashbacks, the always evolving entertainer also made sure to demonstrate her current capabilities by sampling 2014’s groove-saturated project “Paradise” (marking a return to original recordings for the first time since 2001).

Photo Provided by Albert Sanchez

Accompanied by singers/dancers/choreographers Rosero McCoy (Usher, Beyonce) and newcomer Nate Allen Smith, Ms. Watley sounded ageless, also demonstrating impressive resilience in the wake of her longtime guitarist suffering a heart attack mere hours before this particular show. Nonetheless, the troupe soldiered on with live drums, bass and keys to help give retro gems like “Take That To The Bank,” “A Night To Remember,” “The Second Time Around,” “This Is For The Lover In You” and “Dead Giveaway” an extra jolt of energy, especially after spending way too much time on the shelf.

Following the fellas’ departure, the rest of the night revolved around the hoop earring-adorned headliner’s own material, including freshened up favorites “Looking For A New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me” and “Friends” (featuring Watley rapping Rakim’s original part). The 56-year-old star also stripped it down for the ballad “Everything,” which instantly drew the couples in the crowd closer together and further displayed her lyrical relatability.

Even though the set list was stocked with mostly key flashbacks, the always evolving entertainer also made sure to demonstrate her current capabilities by sampling 2014’s groove-saturated project “Paradise” (marking a return to original recordings for the first time since 2001). Not only did the peace-promoting “Sanctuary” earn an equal reaction to any of the aforementioned, but it picked right back up where the trendsetter’s streak of 19 Billboard Top 20 Dance hits left off.

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