Roots Celebration From Jamiroquai

Despite Jamiroquai’s obvious debt to the ‘70s-era soul/pop/funk of Stevie Wonder, the English quintet’s concert on Friday at the Hollywood Palladium was more about celebrating its roots than worshiping the past. Frontman Jason Kay’s hip-hop attire and mannerisms gave the nearly two-hour performance a ‘90s sensibility, and his lyrics addressed such au courant subjects as cloning and legalizing marijuana. Furthermore, the young audience’s enthusiasm showed that the group’s chief influence is timelessly appealing.

Strictly musically speaking however, Jamiroquai displayed only flashes of original thought in a set that emphasized material from its current album, “Travelling Without Moving,” with a sprinkling of older favorites. The 10-piece touring band blended in trip-hop accents, and it occasionally stirred up a restless, almost punk undercurrent, escalating tight jamming into equally controlled frenzies of horns, didgeridoo, keyboards and guitar.

Kay’s remarkably Wonder-esque vocals and didgeridoo player Wallis Buchanan’s earthy vibrations adapted well to both danceable anthems and spaced-out jams. If the pacing was a little slick, with the spaciness carefully rationed lest anyone wander too far into the ether, the set was mercifully short in needless noodling as well.

Although the show was polished and energetic, it reflected more imitation than innovation. The band inadvertently reinforced this feeling when it followed up its own “Cosmic Girl,” which strongly recalls Kool & the Gang’s “Ladies Night,” with a rollicking version of the latter’s “Hollywood Swinging.” Jamiroquai may have the funk, but it needs a stronger musical identity.