TORONTO -- A lot has happened to 21-year-old R&B-soul phenom Alicia Keys since I last saw her perform at the Air Canada Centre in October as opening act for neo-soul star Maxwell.

Most significantly, Keys picked up six Grammy nominations -- third only to U2's eight and India.Arie's seven nods -- after already winning a pair of American Music Awards.

So it was with great anticipation that the New York-based artist returned for her first headlining show last night in front of a sold-out audience at Massey Hall.

Not that she was about to share any new material no matter how much she claimed to love Toronto: "There's something in the air that feels really good," Keys explained. Like her earlier ACC performance, the singer-pianist stuck mainly to songs from her impressive debut, Songs In A Minor, although her covers of Donny Hathaway's Someday We'll All Be Free and Sting's Fragile were welcome departures.

The main difference last night was a larger ensemble of performers joining her -- a 12 piece band, a DJ and diminutive but flashy MC and three dancers -- a slicker, more confident and choreographed performance from Keys and let's not forget that New York brownstone apartment backdrop that literally gave you a real sense of her street cred.

POWERFUL VOICE

Although given the power of Keys' voice and piano playing -- best demonstrated during the lively opener Rock Wit U, similarly funky The Life and Jane Doe, the more defiant Girlfriend and A Woman's Worth, and the low key and lovely Troubles, Butterflyz and Caged Bird -- I could have done with less theatrics and more straight out performance.

She's a formidable presence just sitting at her piano and belting out a song as the soulful delivery of her breakout hit, Fallin', more than proved.

As it was, a phone booth was trotted out during an overlong version of How Come You Don't Call Me and her band faced off against the combo of DJ I-Rock and MC Freak Nasty during a 10-minute break that saw Keys leave the stage. The so-called "challenge" had its moments but, ultimately, was nothing more than a silly diversion.

The always stylish Keys, in her trademark cornrow braids, initially made a dramatic entrance after the band struck up the opening chords of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

A vision in a patchwork of denim and red, flowing robes and fedora, she announced: "I'm ready to light this place on fire." Keys certainly gave as good as she got when a male fan begged her to "take off your coat!" early in the 100-minute show. "Naughty, naughty, naughty," she responded playfully. "I got a whole show to do. I can't give it to you all at once."

Opening for Keys last night was rising Toronto R&B artist Glenn Lewis, whose debut World Outside My Window, just got a mention in Entertainment Weekly's "Guide To 2002" issue.

The magazine compared him to obvious predecessors Maxwell and D'Angelo, saying he "fuses '70s soul with contemporary R&B."

He'll, no doubt, be returning home on his own headlining tour someday soon given the huge push he's about to get following the March 12 release of his album.

Just look what happened to Keys.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5

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