Singer D’Angelo Half-Heartedly Celebrates Romance

As celebrity host Mary J. Blige pointed out when introducing headliner D’Angelo on Saturday at the Wiltern Theatre, the seventh annual KKBT-FM-sponsored Holiday Cooldown event was chiefly a present for the ladies, what with several bedroom-oriented male R&B; acts crossing the stage.

The yuletide decor reflected the season, but in contrast to last year’s Cooldown, none of the featured performers essayed holiday tunes during the three-hour show. Indeed, the 20-minute sets by R&B; singer-songwriter Eric Benet and vocal quartet Ideal seemed less in the spirit of giving than of getting some.

Then again, one must give in order to receive, and D’Angelo--widely hailed on his arrival in 1995 but largely out of sight since then--worked for the love the capacity crowd bestowed during his 80 minutes on stage. Singing, playing keyboards and breaking into exuberant dances with the vocalists in his 12-piece band, he blended elements of ‘80s-era Prince with the classic styles of Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Marvin Gaye.

Offering such early hits as “Brown Sugar” in addition to selections from D’Angelo’s forthcoming album, “Voodoo,” the group shifted smoothly from upbeat funk to mid-tempo ballads, favoring sprawling ensemble grooves over succinct hooks or individual solos. Bolstered by his flirtatious charisma (not to mention his shirtlessness), the singer appeared manly yet sensitive, neither as poetic as Seal or Maxwell nor as lascivious as R. Kelly.

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The songs went beyond mere seduction to offer a range of romantic themes, from celebrating an unforgettable love to plotting revenge on a best friend caught two-timing with his woman. But he never probed these emotional situations too deeply, and despite the band’s ebullient playing, the heart of the music felt hollow. D’Angelo may be adept enough to score hits by drawing from his influences, but his interpretations didn’t do much to advance their legacy.