Charles Bradley, Screaming Eagle of Soul, flaps his wings

If you missed Charles Bradley at Turner Hall on Friday, you missed out on one of the most dynamic performances at the venue this year. Backed by his band, The Extraordinaires, it’s no wonder his first album, No Time For Dreaming (Daptone Records) was declared one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s 50 best albums of 2011.

Decked out in a two-piece suit and his signature screaming eagle belt buckle, the soul singer took full advantage of a packed house, showing off a variety of classic stage moves reminiscent of his musical hero, the late James Brown. After seeing the Godfather of Soul perform in 1963, Bradley caught the fever. As an adult, he spent nearly two decades performing in a tribute to Brown as his alter ego Black Velvet. At 63 years young, Bradley has stepped out of his predecessor’s shadow and into the limelight.

Part of Bradley’s incredible stage presence can be credited to his tough life. He spent much of his life travelling, splitting his time between cooking and performing. His hard work and perseverance have paid off, and are glaringly apparent in his music.

The honesty of Bradley on stage was as endearing as it was heartbreaking. Beneath dramatic blue and red lights, he moved with conviction and skill. Sweat collected and dripped down his face, mirroring the sparkle of his black and gold speckled suit. He stomped across the stage in a gospel-influenced way, strutting and flapping his proverbial wings while working the microphone like a long lost love. Bradley borrowed a page from the legends, and got down on his knees to croon songs of love, sorrow, and everything in between.

Bradley’s sound is very much his own, but is complimented by the skilled backing of the Extraordinaires. Starting off strong with a play-on worthy of a Baptist preacher, the boys held their own for the better part of the night. All technically proficient, my only concern with the performance was the emotionlessness with which many of the musicians carried on. Only the tight horn section held their own through the course of the show, but the band made a comeback during the solo sessions toward the end.

Soul music is beginning to see a resurgence in our time. Given the way Adele cleaned up at the Grammys, I’d like to think it’s here to stay. It was an incredible experience to witness a legend in the making, and Charles Bradley is in top form and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

To me, soul is as much an experience of feeling as it is a sound.