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Alicia Keys rocked London’s 02 Arena with a career-spanning performance laden with political and self-uplifting messages that at left audiences feeling like they’d drank a cup of ‘feel good juice’. Twenty minutes after the audience had been warmed up deliciously by Melanie Fiona, Alicia Keys descended onto the stage in a cage and 'emancipated' herself while performing the introduction to her latest album, Element of Freedom. The opening stage set was the most elaborate throughout the night, and for the duration of the performance the stage design was somewhat plain. However, there is no doubt that the lack of ostentatious pyrotechnics, stage designs and other proverbial bells and whistles typical to large-scale shows was deliberate - the focus was solidly on Alicia and the music.

michael_olatuja There are lovers of music and there are lovers of music. There are those who harbour a healthy interest and others who embody music as an entity, oozing its essence from every pore. I suspect Michael Olatuja belongs to the latter group. One only has to observe the way he is completely at one with his bass guitar and the rapturous expression on his face as he plays. This was my conclusion after attending Michael’s album launch gig at the Jazz Café last night. Supported by Brendan Guyatt, Anna Omak and Alicia his wife on vocals, as well as young veteran Troy Miller on drums, David and Oliver Rockberger on guitar and piano respectively, Olatuja came prepared to bring the goods.