Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Even though it was indoors, the air-conditioning and acoustics of the Arie Crown Theater felt fantastic for Live Nation Urban’s “Summer Block Party,” a required occasion for any R&B lover given the fact it featured Jodeci and SWV together on tour for the first time since the 1990s.

Both acts redefined the landscape back then and continue to be the basis for setting trends today, plus each act followed a similar trajectory of taking lengthy hiatuses prior to re-forming throughout the 2000s, in turn, finding out demand to see them on stage has steadily grown during every passing year.

DeVante Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci and JoJo, better known as the entirely original line-up of Jodeci, took the closing position, characterized by loads of harmonies, a bit of hip-hop and all the attitude that crowned them “The Bad Boys Of R&B.”

The guys focused primary on their chart-topping prime, delivering “Come & Talk To Me,” “Stay,” “Love U 4 Life,” “Forever My Lady,” “Cry For You” and “Freek’n You” with the expected excellence, while always managing to erase the decades between then and now.

In fact, as the one ballad or groove flowed into the next, it became apparent just how many others Jodeci influenced across an illustrious career, which includes samples or shout-outs from The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Drake, J. Cole, Mariah Carey, Bruno Mars, Cardi B and a bunch more.

In the starting slot, SWV, or Sisters With Voices, showed exactly how they help paved the way for Destiny’s Child and the countless girl groups who followed, thanks to soulful harmonies and envelope-pushing rhythmic recipes.
 
Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons connected with renewed chemistry as they confidently worked their way around the breakthrough album, “It’s About Time,” and the next few follow-ups in honor of their 30th anniversary.

That added up to “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here” (featuring Michael Jackson’s signature “Human Nature” sample), “Weak,” “Anything” and several others as the trio embraced the essence of the seasonal celebration and proved to be just as enduring as Jodeci.

For additional information on Jodeci and SWV (Sisters With Voices), visit Jodeci.com and Facebook.com/SistersWithVoices.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Arie Crown Theater include Atif Aslam (Sept. 30) and Sweetest Day Comedy Jam (Oct. 20-21). For additional details, visit ArieCrown.com.

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