POP MUSIC REVIEW : Seductive Singing by Vandross

In a way, the two leading Luthers in black pop follow a similar premise: Their songs are designed to stir hormones into action.

Luther Campbell, leader of beleaguered rap group 2 Live Crew, has placed a burden on the First Amendment with rap songs that reduce sex to an exploitative, mechanistic linkage of body parts.

Luther Vandross’ music also is geared to serve as a prelude to more than a kiss--Vandross said as much on stage at the Celebrity Theatre in Anaheim, where he opened a sold-out, six-show stand Thursday night.

But the aphrodisiac that Vandross offers is romantic love, not raw sex. His concert was a gentle and suave seduction delivered by one of the most accomplished and purely listenable male voices on the current pop scene.

Vandross is naturally suited to deliver the big romantic statement. His voice is smooth, flexible and effortless, capable of fluttering aloft to convey rising passion, or dropping deep down in a display of husky ardor. Like fine, polished mahogany, Vandross’ voice has a well-defined grain to it, giving his singing exceptional body, contrast and warmth.

His main limitation seems to be one of temperament, rather than talent. Vandross brings heat to his ballads, but he just isn’t disposed to the raucous and rocking, hot-blooded, funky and explosively physical side that would help him be a better-rounded performer.

Within his limits, though, Vandross was able to unfold a reasonably well-paced 90-minute show that included enough songs of briskly percolating rhythm to keep the set from bogging down.