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RAPHAEL SAADIQ ASTOUNDS LOS ANGELES CROWD WITH GOSPELDELIC ARRAY OF MUSIC AND SPECIAL SURPRISES FOR LIVE ALBUM TAPING July 10, 2003 -- Last week at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Grammy® winner Raphael Saadiq captivated a sold-out crowd with a two-hour musical feast as he and his 10-piece band recorded a live album which will be released in October on his Pookie Entertainment label. A DVD of the show will be released early 2004 on Pookie. Raphael incorporated songs from his critically-acclaimed and Grammy® nominated INSTANT VINTAGE album into the set along with a few older Saadiq classics such as “Get Involved” and “Ask Of You.” A few of Raphael’s friends even came along for the ride. Highlights included: A long-awaited Toni Tony Tone reunion brought the crowd into hysterics for "Still A Man," "Lay Your Head On My Pillow," "Whatever You Want," "It Never Rains In Southern California," "Anniversary" and "Let's Get Down" (which also included an appearance by DJ Quik). Joi (formerly of Raphael’s side project Lucy Pearl) performed her own sexy song, "Missing You," which served as a brief intermission for Raphael. Leslie Wilson of Newbirth joined Raphael for "Uptown" (which he also sings on INSTANT VINTAGE). Skyy joined him for "Skyy, Can You Feel Me" (which she also sings on INSTANT VINTAGE). New artists Goapele and Ledesi joined him for "Different Times" (which T-Boz from TLC originally sings on INSTANT VINTAGE). Devin The Dude joined him for "Just A Man." To top it all off, D'Angelo helped end the show with an extremely energetic rendition of the Grammy® nominated "Be Here" from INSTANT VINTAGE, which had D'Angelo stage diving into the ecstatic crowd. It was quite an event to behold. Steven Mirkin of the Daily Variety captured the night’s essence in a rave review: “Rail thin, with a honeyed tenor combining Donnie Hathaway's yearning and Stevie Wonder's irrepressible melodic invention, Saadiq blossomed onstage performing the ‘gospeldelic’ material from his 2002 solo debut INSTANT VINTAGE. A preacher with a streetwise edge, he seduces with liquid phrasing and a courtly restraint…The concert included a full complement of guests, but none of them, not even the reunited Tony! Toni! Tone!, overshadowed the star's understated charisma. He holds the stage with the easy confidence of a man who knows a pale, dove-colored tuxedo stands out among the flashier red, white and black. Even Leslie Wilson's astounding, pulpit-pounding turn during ‘Uptown,’ a performance that left the aud wrung out but cheering, couldn't dim the spotlight on Saadiq.” Stay tuned for news about more tour dates and a final CD and DVD release date. ### CONTACT: Amanda
Cagan
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