Monday, July 16, 2007

Femi Kuti may never escape his father's colossal shadow, but after an animated set at the 9:30 club Friday, the son of Afro-beat originator Fela Kuti proved himself worthy of some other tags: Boisterous bandleader. Sultry sax man. Aspiring sex therapist?

The Dr. Ruthisms didn't come till later in the performance, well after the Nigerian singer-saxophonist had blasted through his most popular tunes. (No coincidence that most selections were culled from Kuti's new retrospective disc, "The Definitive Collection.") Didactic ditties "Stop AIDS" and "Do Your Best" escalated from tight, simmering verses into chaotic choruses, with Kuti convulsing along in polyrhythmic tantrums.

His 11-piece backing troupe served up plenty of dynamic cadences, but the overzealous horn section frequently out-muscled the rest of the group. The best horn player onstage was Kuti himself, toggling between elongated drones and fluttery trills, creating a steamy counterpoint to his band's clattery march.

"Beng Beng Beng" was the most promising, and most disappointing, number of the night, with Kuti boasting about his bedroom prowess over a salacious groove. The band played it fast and loose, but Kuti killed the tune's momentum when he hushed his ensemble in order to rattle off a little sex advice. Sure, the X-rated banter was intended to spice things up, but it felt more like groovus interruptus.

-- Chris Richards