"Men of Soul" Lineup Entertains Lively Indianapolis Crowd
Vocalists, band members, background vocalists and host Ramon Jackson pose for a photo after the “Men of Soul” concert. (July 11, 2021)
Image: © 2021 Miss Ari Photography
For over one year now, the pandemic has limited concerts, crowds and live performances - but not even Covid-19 could stop the prowess of dedicated musicians and their nature to create.
On Sunday evening, four incredibly talented male vocalists converged on Indianapolis’ historic District Theatre for the “Men of Soul” concert. Singer and songwriter Ramon Jackson is to be credited with hosting the event and bringing together the likes of Russell Taylor, Bashiri Asad and Chaz Shepard.
“Act like you haven’t seen each other in over a year,” Jackson joked with the crowd to begin the evening. “We’ve been locked up for over a year now - let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Jackson set the tone for the evening, opening the show and providing various moments of crowd interaction throughout the night.
Indy native Bashiri Asad got the crowd moving with upbeat rhythms and many affirmations to women between songs.
“You all (women) have so much power,” Asad reminded the crowd. “Use it accordingly.”
Well-known for his original vocal styling and his success both in the states and in Europe, Russell Taylor took to the stage next. Taylor offered the audience more than anticipated, crooning the predominate female audience with ballads, narratives of love and sounds of heartbreak. He was accompanied by the smooth sounds of soul singer Harmonie Soule.
While most recognize Chaz Shepard from his acting roles on television (Moesha, The Parkers), the big screen (Set it Off), as well as his role on Broadway, as Harpo in “The Color Purple” - Shepard has made waves in the music industry for some time. His range as a vocalist and stage presence are out of this world. The Philly native closed out Sunday’s show with various covers and his original music.
The District Theatre provided an intimate venue for audience members to get up close and personal with the vocalists.
“We’re only getting started,” Jackson promised.
