Jamie Woon Returns with a Night of Soul
It’s November, 2015 and Jamie Woon is just getting stuck into his European tour at Scala, the intimate venue in King’s Cross, London. Less than a week ago, the London singer released his new album Making Time, his first LP in over four years. The difference this time, compared to Mirrorwriting, is that he’s putting a bigger focus on his live performance, where he’s assembled a close-knit band for a more soulful comeback.
A venue filled with tons of character, Woon’s presence on stage is exactly that. He starts off the show with “Lament,” one of his new tracks with the chorus: “We could never stand the dulling of a feeling.” Right from the off, he sets the mood for the night. Woon isn’t the most confident when it comes to interacting with the crowd, or people in general, but there’s a welcome charm that makes up for that. Songs like “Movement” and “Skin” dive into content from his new album and show how easily he can go from silencing the crowd to getting people to dance along with purpose. There’s a sense of wonder whether he will play much of his old material, but he delivers with an equal taste of both worlds.
Performances of older work include longtime favorites “Night Air,” “Shoulda” and easily the most anticipated of the show, “Lady Luck,” a song that defined him in an R&B and electronica bracket with the help of Burial. In the middle of his set, he breaks out into a cover of “Try Again,” the classic Aaliyah hit from 2000. The crowd is quick to appreciate the tribute with a sing-a-long and you can tell Woon is having fun with it. Not only for sound but a visual standpoint, one of the defining factors is the strength of his two backing singers, except they aren’t really “backing” at all. Woon gives the soulful pair the freedom to shine right beside him at the front of the stage, who assist in soft whispers and dancing freely to the music.
Despite no appearance from Willy Mason, “Celebration” feels like a triumph of togetherness regarding his return, while the album’s closing track “Dedication” is played as a tribute to Jono McCleery, the should-have-been supporting act who couldn’t make it due to the recent birth of his daughter. One of the night’s highlights is the arrival of “Sharpness,” where the sold out audience overrules Jamie and sings the chorus even louder than he does.
Towards the end of his set, Woon gives props to members of his band, who each perform solos as the crowd erupts with applause. This is something that D’Angelo, one of the inspirations for the new album, did at his show at the Roundhouse earlier this year. Jamie is a soul brewed with age, and based on his new material and live show, it’s pretty clear he’s doing it for the love of meaningful music. He could have so easily drifted away, but he’s returned with urgency.
Jamie Woon – Making Time [Album Stream]