Dressed in a sharp all black outfit, Leslie Odom Jr. performed under Eastman’s glistening chandelier on Friday evening. Odom Jr., who captivated hearts for his role of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” has also starred in several movies, written two books (available in the College Town bookstore), and just released a heartwarming album, “When A Crooner Dies”, last fall. The audience consisted of cute elderly couples, weary college students, and “Hamilton” enthusiasts. Nestled perfectly in the balcony, I had an unobstructed view of the awe-inspiring performance.
Odom Jr. covered songs such as “L-O-V-E (For the Way You Look at Me)” and “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music. He indulged the crowd with not just one, but three songs from “Hamilton.” His songs mainly consisted of smooth, rhythmic pieces to showcase his vocal prowess. As I sat mere hundreds of feet away from someone I had previously watched on the screen in my living room, I felt captivated in the way only live music works its magic.
Odom Jr. spoke of his beginning days as a struggling artist, scraping together money and begging elementary teachers for donations towards his first album. He sang a song from his new album, “When a Crooner Dies,” that was dedicated to his love for his children. My favorite aspect of his performance, however, wasn’t his voice at all, but his remarkable conservation of it. Odom Jr. was hardly ever in the center of the stage — he sat on a stool next to his bandmates. He stood in the shadows during the cello solo and explicitly chose songs that featured the skill set of his band. Repeatedly, he acknowledged his talented team and gave them opportunities to shine. It was this selflessness that made the concert — dare I say it? — ever better.
The performance ended after about an hour and forty-five minutes. In that time, I added four new songs to my Spotify playlist, took several videos for my mom that she probably didn’t watch, and flawlessly recounted the lyrics to “Wait For It” with hundreds of other people.
