Piano prowess keys Alicia's Hub arena gig

In her quest for stardom, Alicia Keys has been advised to “shake it” and “take it off.” But the classically trained pianist said she opted to do something a little more memorable with her music, and the choice was a wise one.
Keys did shake it ever so slightly at the TD Banknorth Garden last night to a three-quarter capacity crowd, but the only time she took it off was to slip from one fitted metallic top into another backstage.
In bumping her show up to the arena level, she’s drawn on many of the staples that define a tour of this magnitude: wardrobe changes, video interludes and a stable of backup dancers.



But any artist can dance and almost be drowned out by their band and backing tracks. And many artists can do it better than Keys. What differentiates the Harlem native from the pack is her prowess behind the piano, and she was best when she was showing off her skills.
Keys began her nearly two-hour set front and center, surrounded by a flock of writhing dancers to the reggae-inspired “Ghetto Story” and then “Waiting for Your Love.” The effect was less powerful than it could have been for a performer of Keys’ caliber, if only because her greatest assets had yet been untapped, but the energy built throughout the night.
Keys got her girl group on with “You Don’t Know my Name” and soon took to her grand piano for “Sure Looks Good to Me” and “How Come You Don’t Call Me,” which ended with the singer air-yelling at an unseen male who’s obviously stopped calling.
It was these moments - with just Keys’ voice and her piano skills on display - that she was at her best, but as Keys eased from the stripped-down “Superwoman” back into working-the-stage mode, the momentum remained, peaking on the triumphant “Go Ahead.”
True, with piano-driven hits such as “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” it was easy to want Keys to stay, well, behind the keys, but “No One” was a great reason to move from piano to center stage and back again.
Ne-Yo emerged looking like r & b’s answer to the Penguin, sporting a tuxedo, top hat and cane. The crooner’s voice translates well live and much of the set served as a meet and greet with female fans while the singer stroked his songs with just the right amount of intensity.
The four women twirling and crouching and the overtly sexual vibe were a distraction, though, as Ne-Yo was at his best when the attention was on him alone, as he played the lovesick loser on “Do You” and got heads nodding on “Sexy Love.”
Opener Jordin Sparks proved she’s been well-prepared by “American Idol.’ The 18-year-old “Idol” winner was both poised and bubbly throughout her brief set as she played setup for the big leaguers and shined on “No Air,” making a strong case that she won’t be holding the opening slot for long.