• EVIEW By Vinette Pryce

JONATHAN BUTT FR, NAJEE 8,/ at The Pantages, Los Angeles

Currently criss-crossing the country so she chose to concentrate on the debut LP, the South African-born on nationala trek billed as "The Good newer material from her recent Capitol musician's forte lay in his dexterity as Friends" tour, this lineup of talented debut LP, Intuition. While the tunes a guitar virtuoso. However, it's his acts is one of the best packages to be considerable vocal talents that have presented in while.a really won Jonathan acclaim with Somebody had to open and the lot international audiences and a fell to distinctive songstress Angela comparison with George Benson is Bofill, returning to mainstream almost inevitable, particularly since performing after a brief hiatus. Once Jonathan has a soulful edge that is again, the importance of punctuality occasionally reminiscent of the late for concert-'goers was underscored. Donny Hathaway, something he shares Yes, we know 8:00 frequently means with Benson. With focusa on his latest 8:30, but when you have three major Jive/RCA LP, More Than Friends, the attractions on the bill, one would diminutive performer was particularly assume that audiences would consider effective on the 's title cut, on the importance of timelya arrival. That "Sekona," harkening back to his South not being the case in L.A., Ms. Bofill African roots, and on "There's One Born performed a good portion of her set Every Minute (I'm A Sucker For You)." to a filling house. But this Joined back on stage by Najee for circuumstance did not diminish her the instrumental "Seventh Avenue," stylish performance—the highlights of Jonathan removed all doubt that his which included older items from her skill as guitarista has suffered for his repertoire such as "Tonight GiveI In To The Feeling" and the always soulful "I Try."

ALL PHOTOS BY KASSA aren't for the most part as strong as her formidable earlier material, Angie's version of the Gino Vanelli hit, "I Just Wanna Stop" was well received by an audience duly primed for newa Bofill era on newa label. Najee has been building a nice following for himself through his two for EMI and his set demonstrated that his live performances are stronger than ever. Warm and personable, the saxophonist featured material from both his eponymous debut and from his latest LP, Day By Day, as well as including emphasis on vocalizing—although it a new piece that Najee promised to would be nice to see him avoid the feature on his next LP. Highlights trap that George Benson has included versions of two EW&F occasionally fallen into by classics, "Can't Hide Love" and "That's concentrating practically all of his The Way Of The World" as well as the attention on singing. The hit, "Lies," in-the-pocket, "Najee's Nasty Groove" drew appropriate response from the Time restrictions prevented Angela during which the talented musician crowd and Jonathan completed his set from focusing on more of the Bofill roamed the auditorium as he played. with "True Love Never Fails," spiriteda classics (such as "This Time I'll Be For music fans who first became gospel-oriented number that did Sweeter" and "Angel Of The Night") aware of Jonathan Butler through his showcase his dynamic vocal presence.

PAGE 40 APRIL/ 7. 1989 By Dmid Nathan