Sweat’s Pleadings Highlight Jamizon

Nobody begs like Keith Sweat. Luther Vandross comes close, but even he is a mere pretender to the throne. No, when it comes to romantic, soul-drenched pleading, Sweat has it down to a science, and he proved it Saturday night at Jamizon, the R&B-urban; answer to Lollapalooza ’97.

The concert, staged at the Universal Amphitheatre by sponsors including Magic Johnson and Vibe magazine, showcased four vocal acts. Mark Morrison was a no-show, but it’s hard to imagine anyone in the audience feeling shortchanged.

Comedian Bo P, a regular on Black Entertainment Television’s “Comicview,” kept the pace moving between sets, and headliner Sweat was easily the night’s big standout. During a career that has spanned a decade, he’s accumulated the most hits, so that meant the energy level never lagged. On Saturday, he did work up a sweat. His fans did too in their zeal to keep up with him.

SWV--Sisters With Voices--hasn’t yet been in the business for 10 years, but the trio was Sweat’s closest rival in terms of showmanship. It was quite a sight when group member Cheryl Gamble pulled a man up to the stage for “It’s All About You,” stripped him to his briefs, spanked him with his belt--and then proceeded to lead him across the stage using the belt for a leash. Oh, the demands of groupie-dom.

Not quite as flamboyant was another female trio, Brownstone, which really does possess some of the greatest new voices in black pop. Unlike SWV, the group doesn’t have a mighty repertoire of songs with which to show off those voices. Aside from “Grapevine” and “If You Love Me,” these women’s powerhouse pipes were sinfully wasted on weak fare.

Opening act Shades, recently signed to Motown, did some of its best singing a cappella. But let’s not be naive. Judging from all the wolf whistles from the male contingent of the crowd, the dance moves the women executed in their clingy metallic jumpsuits were the big factor in their appeal.