On Thursday night (Nov. 11), Harlem was in for a treat as Alicia Keys graced the stage at the legendary Apollo Theater for a one-night-only concert. As part of SiriusXM and Pandora’s Small Stage Series, the 15-time Grammy Award winner delivered a dazzling exhibition, taking fans on a trip through her robust catalog.
At 8:45 p.m., Keys sauntered through the theater with an army of performing artists. The dancers were as sleek as the superstar herself, with the men donning tuxedos and the women appearing in gold feathery outfits. Clad in a black, blue, and gold dress, Keys ignited the crowd with a stirring rendition of “Empire State of Mind.” Mesmerized by the crowd’s energy, Keys upped the ante by bringing out revered rap duo Jadakiss and Style P for a jazzy remake of “We Gon Make It.” With Keys on the piano, the Ruff Ryders tandem came through stylish, donning sunglasses and suits. “We gonna transport tonight,” declared Keys. “I want you to be free.”
Keys quickened the pace by later revisiting her 2016 hit “In Common.” Encouraging fans to stand up and dance, Keys and her live band reveled in the crowd’s energy as she skated her way through the tropical song. The R&B superstar, who’s also preparing to release her new project, Keys, on Dec. 10, gave fans a hearty sample of what’s on the way. The double album will include new original music along with “unlocked” versions of those same songs. To warm the crowd up, she played piano-laden renditions of “Skydive,” “Is It Insane,” and “Only You.”
