Sometimes evolution is so over-rated.

For instance, R&B could have stopped progressing in 1980, when Chic was releasing the last of its amazingly funky singles. At that point, soul still had its purity and perfection.

After watching The Philosopher Kings perform before 1,200 fans last night at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, I'd suspect the Canadian group would be inclined to agree.

Though their music is decidedly old-school, it was in no way old hat or old-fashioned, judging from the largely twentysomething crowd who were wild for sounds they didn't have the chance to enjoy the first time around.

Backed by a three-piece string section and a three-piece horn section, the five-piece Kings were able to glide from Philly-soul to P-Funk and Thelonious Monk (as the performances of drummer Craig Hunter and keyboardist Jon Levine were firmly rooted in jazz).

They played slinky funky that made you shake your groove thang, then turned it down, sweet and low, for the sort of uptown makeout music that's Teddy Pendergrass' stock- in-trade. All that was missing was candles, incense and a bottle of wine.

The musicianship was tasteful, fiery and impeccable, though the mix was at times harsher than what was probably intended.

Gerald Eaton's dreamy falsetto was just the icing on the cake, though begging his fans to throw their bras onstage smacked of a certain desperation that didn't exactly jibe with his smooth-talking, ladies' man schtick.

Besides, many fellows like the band, too, and for good reason -- in recent years, only Jamiroquai and The Style Council have so deftly handled the sounds, the feel and the attitude of classic soul.