Carlitta Durand

Wine Up

April 29, 2010

The Deal: After backing up the Grammy-nominated, The Foreign Exchange, Durham native Carlitta Durand steps into the solo spotlight in one of Charlotte's most soulful rooms.

The Good: She was cheery, personable, jazzy and soulful. Keep her set moving without it feeling rushed. Her backing band, Fat Snacks, was dope but she managed to build an instant rapport with a saxophonist on-stage she'd never worked with before who added touches to her songs that her (and the crowd) seemed to enjoy. While her originals were cool, she shined in covering Andre 3000's "Prototype" and Jill Scott's "He Loves Me."

Geeks will appreciate the social media touches as she live streamed the show on UStream via iPhone.

The Bad: Crowd participation was spotty. Whether it was chatty women talking about their day over glasses of wine or the guys racking up on the pool table, the show had it's fair share of distractions. Backing vocals seemed louder than the main mic early on, a problem that was sured up after a few songs.

The Verdict: Not quite North Carolina's answer to Jill Scott but definitely a talent you'll appreciate more after seeing in person.

Setlist:

Flashing Lights (Cover)

Out of Love

A New Life

Thinking of You

Her

Falling

Always (My Lost Love)

Prototype (Cover)

Alright

He Loves Me (Cover)

American Boy (Cover)