Description
D’Angelo – Live At The Jazz Cafe, London: The Complete Show – Double Vinyl Records
Recorded at the Jazz Cafe, London, September 14, 1995
D’Angelo’s Live at the Jazz Café, London: The Complete Show captures the nascent spark of neo-soul’s most electrifying voice in an intimate club setting. The original Live at the Jazz Café EP was recorded at London’s Jazz Café on September 14, 1995, during D’Angelo’s first major European tour in support of his Brown Sugar debut. Issued exclusively in Japan on June 30, 1998, it featured seven tracks drawn from that performance, showcasing D’Angelo’s fluid vocals and virtuosic command of the Rhodes keyboard amid a tight backing band
In March 2014, Virgin/UMe released Live at the Jazz Café, London: The Complete Show, presenting for the first time all twelve pieces from that night in their original running order. The announcement highlighted previously unreleased material, including three cover performances of artists who shaped D’Angelo’s musical vision and a longer rendition of his breakthrough hit “Lady”
The expanded twelve-song set opens with an Introduction before barreling into a funk-rock reinterpretation of Mandrill’s “Fencewalk” and the Ohio Players’ soul-funk staple “Sweet Sticky Thing.” D’Angelo then pivots to original compositions—“Jonz in My Bones,” “Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine,” and the defiant “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker”—each extended with spontaneous grooves and call-and-response interplay. Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin’” and Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine” appear as deep-soul homages, leading into an eight-minute “Lady” that unfolds with gospel-tinged climaxes. A brief Announcement by D’Angelo segues into his smooth cover of Skip Scarborough’s “Can’t Hide Love,” and the show closes on a thirteen-minute odyssey through “Brown Sugar,” blending lyrical improvisation with searing instrumental solos
This performance is defined by its raw immediacy and the chemistry between D’Angelo and his ensemble. Abe Fogle’s drumming locks into complex pocket grooves, Jerry Brooks’s bass lines pulse with both weight and bounce, and Norman “Keys” Hurt’s Hammond organ accents deepen the soul atmosphere. Guitarist Mike “Dino” Campbell adds tasteful licks and rhythmic comping, while backing vocalists Angie Stone, Karen Bernod, and Debbie Cole weave rich harmonies that elevate D’Angelo’s lead lines. The live mix preserves club-room intimacy—crowd responses and stage banter remain audible, underscoring the communal energy of the show
Beyond its value as a document of D’Angelo’s early artistry, Live at the Jazz Café, London: The Complete Show stands as a milestone in the neo-soul movement. Its full release allowed fans and scholars to trace the evolution of D’Angelo’s performance style—his seamless melding of funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop sensibilities—at a time when those genres were rapidly converging. The complete set gives a fuller picture of his interpretive depth, from transforming classic grooves into fresh canvases for improvisation to forging an intimate rapport with audiences that would become a hallmark of his live legacy.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Introduction
Fencewalk
Sweet Sticky Thing
Jonz In My Bones
Me And Those Dreamin’ Eyes Of Mine
Shit, Damn, Motherfucker
Cruisin’
I’m Glad You’re Mine
Lady
Encore
Can’t Hide Love
Brown Sugar
