‘Love’ Tour Turns the Atmosphere Sultry

Warming up the chilly air with sweet romantic heat, R&B; singer WillDowning and his “Rhythm of Love” tour companions celebrated devotion and playfully showed off their considerable vocal power at the Greek Theatre on Sunday.

Since the rhythm of love should be slow and sweet, veteran crooners Downing, Chante Moore and Phil Perry, along with alto saxophonist and Downing collaborator Gerald Albright, naturally emphasized tender ballads, but they included funkier numbers that helped raise the temperature.

The same eight-piece band backed all four acts, giving the three-hour show a brisk pace while allowing the artists plenty of opportunity to show their stuff.

During his hourlong headlining set of smooth boudoir soul, Downing emphasized faithfulness and satisfaction in a warm, deep baritone that perfectly suited his mission.

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Much to the audience’s delight, he snuggled sexily with Moore while teaming on his new single, “When You Need Me,” and even more provocatively on a steamy ballad with a backup singer.

He also displayed a giddy sense of fun, engaging in musical antics with Albright that lightly mocked such R&B; conventions as ever escalating vocal pyrotechnics.

He was generous too, giving more time (perhaps a little too much) to Albright’s slick instrumental stylings in the middle of his set, and closing the show with a sweeping rendition of Paul Davis’ 1977 hit “I Go Crazy” that included everyone on the bill.

Still, Downing was nearly upstaged by Perry, whose 30-minute set got the evening off to a roof-raising start with his fine-tuned emoting and acrobatic falsetto on bittersweet ballads and bedroom funk.

Moore also easily held her own out front, reaching airy, breathy heights during an a cappella display but also swaggering boldly during her hit “Chante’s Got a Man.”