And Teedra Too

Jazz Cafe, London
The Guardian: Monday June 6

Teedra Moses may have penned pop tracks such as Christina Milian's Dip It Low, but her solo album, Complex Simplicity, boasts more substantial fare. Not for Moses the radio-play-driven R&B backed by big-name producers; rather soul-soaked soundscapes supplied by nu-soul savant Raphael Saadiq and relative newcomer Pauli Pol. The stripped-back spirit of her debut, redolent of a mid-1990s Mary J Blige record, allows Moses's impressive voice and waggish wordplay to do the talking.

With the PR machine pumping, the 28-year-old New Orleans-born singer draws a capacity crowd keen to see if the hype is to be believed. It is. Tonight's performance is an emotive event, which is not surprising considering her father's recent and "really fucked up, but shit happens" death. You imagine, though, that she usually supplies a super-charged set, with her insistent melodies and strident sentiments being of a particularly crowd-pleasing nature. Small in stature but boasting a large set of lungs, Moses splatters her vocals unsparingly about the Jazz Cafe, leaving trails of lovelorn lyrics in their wake. You'll Never Find is billed as a ghetto torch song, the sexually charged Backstroke leaves little to the imagination, and the fantastically frank You Better Tell Her is similarly straight-talking. Her band of five do the simplistic yet swaggering rhythms great justice; particularly on the brain-battering beats of Outta My Head and the arresting acoustic closer No More Tears. A former stylist for Gwen Stefani, Moses's mix of downtown glam and tiny hot-pants adds to the appeal as she swishes about with great vigor.

Occasionally, her effusive stage-play feels a little forced and if she relaxed a bit it might be more effective. Still, the 60-minute show is an involving experience. She's already drawing comparisons to Blige and Cherrelle, so let's hope Moses sticks to R&B and keeps pop as a side hustle.