REVIEWS

Musician's Review of the FASHION AWARDS

New York City, June 7

"Anyway, I played the CFDA Awards again with the Ben Waltzer trio in June, it was a lot of fun. We opened the show backing Fantasia (yes, fresh from American Idol) on Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind". I must say, she has some serious pipes, and knows how to use them. What a great singer. She is a musician's musician and was very sweet, humble, and cool to work with. Needless to say, I am relieved that she won and I feel honored that I got a chance to play with her and hear the proof live.

FASHION AWARDS

New York City, June 7

No one was more pumped up at this year's Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards than Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who boogied onstage before picking up his trophy for best menswear designer. "I am living the American dream--but Ralph (Lauren), you're still the sexiest man on the planet!" declared the normally supercool Combs. Other big winners at the gala: fashion icon honoree Sarah Jessica Parker and American Idol's Fantasia Barrino, who wowed the crowd with a rousing rendition of "New York State of Mind." PEOPLE .COM

Salt Lake City, UT (July 14)

@ the Delta Center

1) Winner Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London are clearly the class of the bunch vocally. Fantasia was strong on Stevie Wonder's “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,''

2) Fantasia Barrino lived up to the hype as the third edition of the American Idols Live Tour got under way Wednesday. Fantasia made her entrance, the last of the first act, with "Idol" favorite "Summertime," and saved her single, "I Believe," for the end, but it was her in-between performances that showcased her range and ability to connect with an audience. Wrapping up the Prince tribute that included a bit of Usher's "Yeah!" mixed in to "When Doves Cry," Barrino took on "Purple Rain" and earned a standing ovation before she even really got into the song.

Everett, WA (July 17)

@ the Everett Events Center

1) Or pretty much every time "Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino commanded the stage.

Certainly, Barrino was the queen of this night, extinguishing any lingering doubt that she is the most talented and deserving singer of the bunch. The crowd-pleaser first appeared in a swingy red dress and gold heels to perform her signature and haunting rendition of "Summertime," then abruptly changed gears for the bouncy Stevie Wonder hit, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." Later, she again showed off her unique voice — and sophisticated fashion sense in a brilliant white suit — during a sultry and well-chosen cover of Prince's "Purple Rain."

2) As energetic and fun to watch the other performers were, Barrino, the winner of the third season, upstaged them all with her irresistible smile and remarkable voice. She ended the first part of the night with two songs, including a soulful rendition of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" that showed off her made-for-Motown pipes. Other songs that were Idol-ized included: Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," K-Ci & Jo-Jo's "All My Life," Aretha Franklin's "Since You've Been Gone." A tribute to Prince started the second half. It began with "When Doves Cry" and ended with Barrino powerfully belting out "Purple Rain."

3) Indeed, the talented Fantasia alone may be worth the $37-$47 price of admission

Milwaukee, WI (July 22)

@ the Bradley Center

A cold front may have been moving through outside, but Fantasia Barrino kept things steamy in the Bradley Center Thursday as her version of "Summertime" highlighted a performance by the 10 finalists from the third season of "American Idol." Barrino demonstrated why viewers of the Fox show picked her out of the crowd of young performers to win the title this spring. On stage Thursday, the others did some of their best work backing up the 19-year-old from High Point, N.C., who takes possession of every song she performs. She led the pack in Prince's "When Doves Cry" and blew away much weaker duet partner John Stevens in "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

Indianapolis, IN (August 1)

@ the Conseco Fieldhouse

Fantasia Barrino, might be the best pure vocalist who's ever extracted a compliment from Simon Cowell. On Sunday, she made a slow-burn success of "Summertime." Barrino's brassy vocal tone easily tamed the Gershwin standard. She then joyously steamrolled a rendition of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." While Stevie Wonder songs are as predictable in the "American Idol" universe as catty exchanges between Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, Barrino can be forgiven because she sang this tune so well. Beyond doubtless proof that Barrino deserved her big win, the concert provided a chance for audience members to shuffle the final phoned-in results to fit their own personal tastes. She's a dynamite singer.

Chicago, IL (August 5)

@ the United Center

Surprisingly, Season Three winner Fantasia Barrino played a slightly background role, with runner-up Diana DeGarmo getting more mic time and Jasmine Trias out diva-ing her when it came to oversinging. the show's three best singers, "Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London and Chicago's Jennifer Hudson Barrino's voice, meanwhile, is an acquired taste, and she sang "Purple Rain" like she was trying to kill it, but she did have ample presence and was probably the rightful winner.

>Omaha, NE (August 7)

@ the Qwest Center

A definite exception is this year's winner, Fantasia (now being billed by just her first name), who has a sparkling personality to match her impressive stylistic range. During Saturday night's show, she smartly handled everything from George Gershwin's sultry "Summertime" to Stevie Wonder's sassy "Signed, Sealed, Delivered. And then, near the show's close, out came Fantasia to sing her first No. 1 song, the inspirational ballad "I Believe." As she hit the first in a series of big notes, the entire center section of the audience rose as one in sincere appreciation. So here's show-biz lesson No. 1 for these young "Idols": If a performer is truly moving, the fans will indeed get up on their feet - without being ordered to.

Grand Prairie, TX (August 10)

@ the Nokia at Grand Prairie

Review: American Idols tour is entertaining, but she's clearly the star Fantasia, on the other hand, will have no problem in that department. The newest American Idol winner not only lived up to her title, she also proved she is more than the title. Singing songs as diverse as "Summertime," "Purple Rain," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and her hit single "I Believe," she did what true stars do: She evoked emotion from the crowd, which smiled, clapped, whooped and hollered. The audience approved. Still, it was clear whom the crowd came to see. It didn't matter whether she was doing a solo or was part of the group: When it was Fantasia's turn to sing, everybody stood up.

North Little Rock, AR (August 13)

@ the ALLTEL Arena

Show winner Barrino brings house down with performance Fantasia Barrino is perhaps the first Idol winner who is a singer who both belts and feels. No matter what the song, she gave it her stamp and blew the audience away with the power and emotion she imparted to it. It was no surprise that some of the best moments of the over two-hour-long show involved Fantasia.

Atlanta, GA (August 15)

@ the Philips Arena

Ultimately, Fantasia, who now just goes by her first name, proved why she could anchor her own show, minus the other nine. She turned Philips into her own personal gospel church. Whether she was crooning her signature "Summertime," emoting through "Purple Rain" or revving the audience through "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," Fantasia mesmerized. "I connected with her during 'I Believe' in a way I couldn't do watching her on TV, " said Aishia Rogers, a 20-year-old rising junior at Spelman College who was still wiping away tears after the final group song "Someone to Watch Over Me." "She has so much energy," Rogers said.

Jacksonville, FL (August 18)

@ the Veterans Memorial Arena

Barrino, alone, will one day become a significant artist. Her voice can be fragile and gentle, or it can reach for those low, angry notes. It's clear, but it surrounds itself with texturizing raspiness. She left the crowd with I Believe, a song penned by Idol alumni Tamyra Gray. It's a typical pop song -- the kind that has grown out of style with the passing of the good girl Mariah Carey; it's the kind of song that Gloria Estefan would have written in the early '90s after she had that horrible accident. But somehow, Barrino rescued it. She stomped her little feet and she threw herself to the floor, and she belted it out with enough feeling that the tackiness, the dated nature of it, didn't seem to matter. And there came the biggest lesson of the night: This whole thing isn't about the song you choose; it's not about how good you look; it's not whether or not you can dip two octaves in one phrase. It's simply about whether or not you believe enough in that dream to bare your whole soul.

Columbia, SC (August 20)

@ the Colonial Center

Friday night during American Idols Live at the Colonial Center, Fantasia threw down. She did what an “American Idol” champion is supposed to do. Fantasia is a showstopper, and whenever she did her signature stutter-step twirl, the 7,000 in attendance knew she was about to go off. On Prince’s “Purple Rain” and “I Believe” — her first single, which debuted at No. 1 last month — she brought the crowd out of their seats with her ad-libbed “yeah, yeahs.”

Winston-Salem, NC (August 21)

@ the LJVM Coliseum

As the show went on, it was easy to see why Barrino is a performer and most of the others are simply singers. Barrino captivates her audience and brings a stage presence and emotion to her music The show was a two-and-a-half hour celebration of Fantasia Barrino

Washington, DC (August 22)

@ the MCI Center

Fantasia Barrino, whose powerful version of Prince's "Purple Rain" was one of the strongest songs of the night. Barrino's heartfelt delivery of her single, "I Believe," which begged for the support of live singers rather than the coldness of a karaoke tape.

Worcester, MA (August 24)

@ the Worcester's Centrum Centre

Fantasia Barrino. Barrino appeared amidst a cloud of smoke to do a reprise of her show-stopping number "Summertime." the real star of the night was Barrino. She brought the same level of passion whether she was singing lead or backup. With a commanding stage presence, she easily outsang all her fellow performers. Even Simon would have been proud. Barrino is a true diva, changing costumes more than many of the other cast members combined, and delivering her numbers with an over-the-top drama that grew grating. "I Believe" was performed as though she were at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater instead of in front of a crowd of Central Massachusetts middle-schoolers and their parents.

Philadelphia, PA (August 27)

@ the Wachovia Center

Barrino simmered with passion, both slow ("Summertime") and funky ("Signed, Sealed, Delivered"). Whether dancing and singing as if possessed on "I Believe," teamed with John Stevens for a flirty, big-band take on Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," or with the cast for "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," Barrino proved why she won.

Hartford, CT (August 28)

@ the Continental Airlines Arena

1) Sure, Diana DeGarmo is plucky and has a strong voice, but Fantasia Barrino is out of this world; her version of "Summertime," sung in the hot season setting, was the indisputable show high point. The Civic Center crowd was a lot like the one that made "Idol" the No. 1-rated TV show of the year - lots of young people but also some grandmas. And like a TV audience they loved to sit, getting on their feet only when it was demanded of them from a singer - usually the take-charge Barrino.

2) Finally, 2004's American Idol Fantasia Barrino took the stage, but failed to inspire with a serviceable take on Gershwin's "Summertime" and an exuberant, but still average, rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." La Toya London led version of "Don't Have to be Rich to be My Girl," and Fantasia Barrino's mercifully decent rendering of "Purple Rain." Finally, Fantasia Barrino turned in a truly stellar performance with her current soulful hit single, "I Believe."

E. Rutherford, NJ (August 29)

@ the Nassau Coliseum

The trek, a reunion of the top 10 finishers on the most recent season of the talent show/exercise in masochism, affirmed viewers, who voted Fantasia Barrino this year's American Idol. The North Carolina singer not only turned in the evening's most spectacular solo performance - belting "I Believe" with an intensity that did Aretha proud - she made the rest of the AI crew look and sound like Gong Show rejects on the Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love."

Albany, NY (September 2)

@ the Pepsi Arena

Fantasia Barrino is by a significant margin the best artist to come out of the pop factory that is "American Idol." She may not have the loveliest voice in terms of pure tone, but Barrino, winner of season three of "American Idol" earlier this year, is so interesting and distinctive a singer that she deserves every bit of fame and acclaim that comes her way. As was made clear during Barrino's appearance Thursday night alongside her fellow top-10 finishers at the Pepsi Arena in the "American Idols Live" concert, musical intelligence like hers is rare. Barrino's the real deal, which cannot be said about at least half of the rest of the bunch, who are as lucky as they are mediocre. Barrino sang her heart out on the inspirational "I Believe" (composed by "AI" alum Tamyra Gray), a wowing performance that by all rights should have been the end of the show. Even on that song, Barrino distinguished herself. Long may she shine. Highlights: Everything by Fantasia Barrino

Pittsburgh, PA (September 9)

@ the Mellon Arena

Fantasia Barrino closed the act with her fine version of "Summertime," American Idol's integrity performance for the season. It's powerful and good and it works just fine, even in an arena. She followed it with an exciting "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," and Stevie Wonder fared much better in her hands. Barrino made "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" palatable and "Purple Rain" fresh. The show closed with another Barrino solo spot. While not shy on histrionics, she delivered "I Believe" with enough gospel fervor to give agnostics pause. This was followed by the encore, a mercifully truncated "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by the full ensemble. Bringing talent like Barrino and Hudson to our attention makes a good case for the value of interactive voting.

Reading, PA (September 9)

@ the Sovereign Center

Headliner Fantasia grabbed the audience's attention with her rendition of “Summertime.” A soulful and sexy song, “Summertime” For her last solo of the night, Fantasia sang “I Believe,” written by first-season Idol finalist Tamyra Gray, to a very pleased crowd.

Providence, RI (September 12)

@ the Dunkin Donuts Center

Barrino's classy performance of "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess was one of the highlights. Then she closed out the first half of the show with Stevie Wonder's "Signed Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)." Barrino did another solo turn near the end of the concert, with a pull-out-the-stops performance of "I Believe." The song could have used a touch of restraint, but there was no mistaking the genuine emotion pouring out of the singer. The show probably should have ended there

Ottawa, ON (September 15)

@ the Corel Centre

1) Save for moments when truly talented winner Fantasia Barrino was on stage, piercing through the haze with her overly powered pipes, it was hard to stay awake last night at the Corel Centre show.

2) With nine performers on the bill, Fantasia Barrino (or just Fantasia, as she now prefers) was the main attraction. Fantasia, in case you're hopelessly out of the loop, is the big-voiced, 19-year-old single mom from High Point, North Carolina, who walked off with top honors at the American Idol 3 showdown in May, beating out the other 70,000 initial contestants. Closing out the first half of last night's show with Summertime and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Fantasia worked the stage well, her dance moves slick and her vocals Idol-worthy if a tad overblown.

Toronto, ON (September 16)

@ the Air Canada Centre

If it wasn't for American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, the two-hour concert would have been a complete disaster. But Barrino's strong vocals and comfortable stage presence during Summertime and Signed, Sealed, Delivered stole the show. But Fantasia Barrino stole the show again with a near spine-tingling version of I Believe. Twirling around the stage barefoot and singing as if possessed by Mary J. Blige, Barrino ended the song kneeling near the lip of the stage. The evening ended with all nine singers doing Ain't No Mountain High Enough. For Fantasia though, the sky's the limit.

St. Louis, MO (September 19)

@ the Savvis Center

Quirky-voiced Fantasia showed why she won the singing contest with her take on the traditional "Summertime" and the update she brought to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours."

Fresno, CA (September 25)

@ the SaveMart Center

Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino came off as a sassy, likable powerhouse, but she succumbed to over-the-top syndrome. She hammered the Gershwin standard "Summertime," but she was effectively boisterous for Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours The second half kicked off with a terrible Prince tribute, including an ensemble "When Doves Cry," with each vocalist fighting for a lyric line. Barrino's pump-it-up approach sunk any possibilities with "Purple Rain."

Honolulu, HI (September 28, 29, 30)

@ Neal S. Blaisdell Arena

1) This first of three sold-out concerts showed why there are first, second and third places in the television show with American Idol champ Fantasia Barrino easily outshining the other performers. Barrino, a North Carolina native, is as comfortable on stage as a seasoned performer, never substituting rapport with the audience for talent. Her impossibly high-pitched voice never wavered in the most punishing of notes that several times silenced the diverse crowd of grandparents and preteens who may not have believed what they were hearing. Singing "Purple Rain" to start off the second half, Barrino's emotions and bursting yet almost symphonic volume had you almost forgetting The Artist Known as Somebody, who sang the original.

2) Fantasia Barrino offered the best work here.