Eddie, Gerald Levert Span Generation Gap With Soul, Hip-Hop

With all the sexy dancers, African drummers, battery of stage lights and flashy costumes, the teaming of father Eddie and son Gerald Levert onstage Friday at the Universal Amphitheatre could have ended up a bad Las Vegas revue.

But the heartfelt singing and sharp precision of a tight eight-piece band enabled the Leverts to connect with the audience on a strong emotional level.

With similar physical features and voices, the pair--in their first tour together--traded verses on songs from their recent album, including “I Got Your Back” and “For the Love,” with a chemistry that usually takes years to develop.

While the crowd remained responsive throughout, the real highlight came when the elders outshined the youngsters. Eddie’s group, the O’Jays, kept the audience on its feet with rousing renditions of ‘70s hits such as “Give the People What they Want” and “Love Train.”

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Gerald’s group, Levert, was also impressive, but didn’t have the storehouse of hits to connect with the same intensity.

When both groups joined for “Family Reunion” and “You Got Your Hooks in Me” near the end of evening, it was special indeed. Two generations of voices melded, the old soul and the new hip-hop, showing the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The concert was opened by singer Faith Evans.