TALIB KWELI and HI TEK present "REFLECTION ETERNAL" at the Blue Note, Mar 11, 2009
MAR 11, 2009 -- W. VILLAGE: Though this show was not jazz in the most explicit sense, it embodied some of jazz's core elements, and above all else, it was an amazing show. So deal with it.
Rapper Talib Kweli and producer Hi Tek are each individual creative forces collaborating with many and selling creative hit records across the board. When together, they are known as Reflection Eternal, and their only record, 2000's Train of Thought, is regarded by many, including myself, as one of the greatest contemporary hip hop albums of all time, breaking new ground in terms of delicately balancing conscious lyrics, with gripping melodic beats and a positive energy that is void in much of hip hop, especially on the commercial scale.
After the release of Train of Thought, Talib Kweli and Hi Tek rarely performed together, so the announcement that they would be performing as Reflection Eternal for four shows only at the Blue Note drew out the big crowds. Every night was sold out, and I was lucky enough to see the final set of the run. Despite the significance of Reflection Eternal finally performing again, the show was relaxed and was rooted in intuition, allowing the music to be at the absolute forefront.
It's a shame hip hop isn't presented in small clubs with great sound more often, because the potential dynamics with in the music is often sacrificed in exchange for a grand performance, for the biggest possible crowd, at a bass heavy DJ spinning beats at the loudest possible volume, with the most people on stage as possible. Those efforts work towards the greater good of the party, and there is definitely something to be said for that type of show, but this show was different. Those elements were sacrificed, in exchange for a modest size seated audience (though most were fighting all urges to kick over the chairs come up dancing), a great sounding band (keys, electric bass, guitar, drums and Hi Tek on the Akai MPC) playing at a reasonable volume, and versatile Talib Kweli leading the show, bringing the sensitivity and aggression out of his voice throughout this dynamic performance.
Song highlights included thumping renditions of "The Blast" and "Move Somethin," two hits off of Train of Thought, but the most exciting moments were the spontaneous ones. Hi Tek would often improvise drum patterns on his MPC beat machine in between songs, giving Talib a chance to welcome various guests to the stage, including the vocally smooth Res, a Philadelphian who has contributed vocal to work to every one of Talib's albums, and Graph Nobel, a fiery rapper and singer from Toronto. Together, they are one of Talib Kweli's current side projects, titled Idle Warship, and though I would normally groan at any departure from the Train of Thought era music, they were damn good.
Mos Def was in the building, which took things to a whole new level, reviving the famed partnership with Talib Kweli that is Blackstar, if only for a night, to hop on stage and freestyle a verse over what was potentially a new work in progress, with the tremendous chorus lyric "my flow's so butter you could spread it on your toast." The piece began with banter between the two bannered headliners, with Hi Tek describing the beat he wanted to hear, beginning by humming a bass figure which the keyboardist soon jumped on, and eventually the whole band was murdering the beat. Maybe they knew it all along, or maybe it was improvised, but it didn't really matter either way, the on-the-spot energy was prevalent and it fueled the room, so that by the time mighty Mos appeared and hopped on stage the entire room exploded.
The rock solid backing band brought the beats to life as Talib Kweli's voice ebbed and flowed, a truly instrumental effort, earning him serious points in a venue that is known for instrumental efforts. Talib opened the set with a joke about how the Blue Note staff wasn't prepared for their epic hip hop guest list, which was funny and true, but I commend the Blue Note for taking a break from their somewhat stuffy current programming for such a great night of music. Let's hope to hear more eclectic sounds coming from that stage in the future.
