Patrice Rushen and Sparklmami

Patrice Rushen is an incredibly talented woman. From her own compositions, to the abundance of instruments she plays skilfully, right through to her work as a musical director, she is at the top of her game with every craft she tries. Seeing Rushen in concert is exciting: you never quite know what you’re going to get. Will it be an urban clarinet piece, or a R&B track singing at the keys. No matter what she performs though, you will be blown away.
The concert that I was lucky enough to see was simply magical, Rushen was on top form and blew everyone away time and time again. She started by sitting at the piano, and playing the audience through one of her new songs, which was a really special moment. On a recording, it’s difficult to appreciate the degree of her talent, but as she switches from one instrument to the next, and crosses over multiple genres, it shocks and excites.
She played through some of her older tracks acoustically, and then for the bigger soul and R&B numbers, she invited her band to the stage, who were also fantastic. It was a real showcase of raw and genuine talent, and Rushen made it personal, interacting with the audience. Definitely my favourite concert of the year so far.