Pop Music Reviews : Kidjo’s Delivery Makes Difference

Angelique Kidjo counts on emotional delivery to overcome the communication gap that comes from singing to an American audience in several African languages. The Benin-born, Paris-based singer’s two 45-minute sets at LunaPark on Saturday proved the wisdom of that course. Kidjo’s vibrant stage personality was abetted by a cosmopolitan musical mix that looks to the international dance floor as a meeting ground.

Her five-piece band revolved around the drums-percussion duo of David Fall and Jaco Largent--too much so in the early going, when the rhythms overwhelmed everything except Alain Bonnin’s keyboards. Rushed tempos also hurt some early songs, but Kidjo always seemed to have an answer--be it choreographed dance routines with her two backing singers or enthusiastically received sing-along segments.

The sound and performance began to jell during “Ekoleya,” which blends a gospel chord progression with an almost hip-hop bridge. Fittingly, the breakthrough came on an old African song, “Malaika,” where Kidjo’s supple voice got its first real opportunity to soar and the audience chanted the chorus.

When she followed with “Batonga’s” syncopated funk grooves topped by Bonnin’s Arabic keyboard melody, the night and the audience belonged to Kidjo.