Photo by Nina Lincoff/RESPECT.

Though the 60’s and 70’s were turbulent times, they paved the way for a very powerful and moving musical tradition: soul. Aloe Blacc is the direct heir of soul and channels it beautifully. Yesterday afternoon, he showcased his talents before a lunch crowd at the MetroTech Commons for the 18th BAM music festival. Interestingly, despite the hurt and passion that soul is known for, Blacc’s set was laced with optimism and hope.

Backed by his band, The Grand Scheme, Blacc emerged with a gleeful grin and began his set with “Politician,” an engaging political song that oscillates between melancholy and hope. The melancholy, which mostly emanated from the lyrics, was powerful, but trumped by the dual combination of the band’s sanguine sounds (particularly the guitar and the trumpet) and the optimism radiating from Blacc’s ever-present smile.

That smile was a staple throughout his set, even when songs were gloomy. Of course he smiled during “You Make Me Smile” and “Green Lights,” songs highlighting those evanescent moments when life unexpectedly works out. But when he smiled during “I Need a Dollar,” you really got the feeling that maybe we can have those moments more often; maybe we actually have them all the time and just don’t notice. Perhaps this is what Blacc meant when he told the audience, “This is a different type of birthday cake.” What we celebrate once a year can actually be celebrated everyday. Alternatively, he could have just meant that his music is different from Rihanna’s.

Photo by Nina Lincoff/RESPECT.

The highlight of the set was “Good Things,” the title track from his 2010 LP. Acknowledging the good that resulted from a bad relationship, Blacc cheerfully details the past and extols the present that that past enabled. The lyrics moved the song along smoothly, but the real source of the song’s potency was the The Grand Scheme’s subdued support, particularly from the keys and bass.

All in all, the performance was more than memorable. The synergy between Blacc, The Grand Scheme and the informal nature of the open common area just made it a soulful hour.

Blacc will be performing at Damrosch Park this upcoming Sunday, August 12. You better be there.

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