Well last week I flew out to Philadelphia (her hometown) to visit a friend for a few days, before catching the super-fast Acela train on Friday to witness one of the most amazing shows I’ve seen in YEARS!

Jill Scott, the quintessential singer, songwriter, actress and poet performed to a sold-out crowd at D.C.’s Constitution Hall. And I tell you I am completely ruined for any other concert! She has “officially” set the bar. Again, like Raheem DeVaughn (her opener), she started promptly at nine pm, jumping right into “Let It Be” the intro from her latest cd, The Real Thing, hitting every vocal range from opera to r&b to rock. Even singing the damn song acapella. I literally got chills! It’s said that she has “a very rare facility to hit notes in the sixth and seventh octave.” Reminiscent of the late singer Minnie Riperton as well as R&B divas Deniece Williams and Mariah Carey. I heard it firsthand; it’s insane.

Nevertheless she continued on with “Gimme” from her live cd, Experience 826+, and then to “Cross Your Mind” from her third cd, Beautifully Human. The most unique thing about Jill is that she has this uncanny ability to make you feel instantly connected with her. From the moment she steps out on stage, you want to embrace her full force. She talks to you as if you’re sitting in her living room, talking casually about life, love, sex, whatever. She’s the consummate performer, artist, always wanting a deeper, closer connection. She’s raw, hella funny, extremely sexy, unapologetically honest, and absolutely exhausting. I so mean that in the best possible way!

Throughout the two-and-a-half hour performance (yes!) she spoke on her feelings of being newly single, how devastating her divorce was emotionally and mentally. And she even divulged that we “actually” found out about the divorce long after it had happened. So in the making of The Real Thing, it was cathartic for her, giving her time to heal, time to deal. The lyrical content on the cd showcases those feelings. She then sang “Honey Molasses” from her first cd, Who Is Jill Scott and “All I See” from her latest as well the shortest yet the most sensuous track on The Real Thing, “Crown Royal.” We sang every damn lyric; it was so hot. By this time, she had us completely transfixed as she went into “Long Walk” and “Only You.” I’m hear to tell you, Jill Scott is a GROWN ASS WOMAN; as she states “grown and nasty.” She’s hugely flirtatious, very voluptuous. Men and women have crushes on her (admittedly, I do!)

On a side note, that night I was so sick. I had an upset stomach from out of this world however once Jill came out on stage, her voice, her words, her presence really soothed me. It was weird. Anyway, she continued on with “My Love” and “Wanna Be Loved” from The Real Thing, as well as “The Fact Is (I Need You)” from Beautifully Human.

As like Raheem DeVaughn, Jill Scott had a surprise for us too. Making an impromptu appearance was the godfather of go go, Chuck Brown. This man had to be around seventy but the moment the first “Wind it up Chuck” chant started, people were up and out of their seats faster than I could say go go. Me, being from Houston and knowing about go go but not “knowing” go go, had no idea what was going on. So when in Rome…I jumped in and rocked it too. Upset stomach and all.

One would think that was the grand finale. Nope. She then left the stage bearing gifts from a few fans, but as with any true concert goer knows–if the house lights don’t come up, the show ain’t over. Minutes later she reappeared, and proceeded to blast off her most uplifting songs, “Golden,” from Beautifully Human and her most intense track from Who Is Jill Scott, “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat).”

And then she started getting real. She began talking about those family members and friends who hate on you because you at the show, you rocking new clothes, you got a new car, you got money in the bank. By this time the audience was testifying. “Hell yeahs!” was going through the crowd, people were clapping and stomping. And before launching into “Hate on Me” she goes, “You know what I say to those people?” Everybody was like “What?” She goes “F**k ‘em.” After that, it was a wrap. She shut it down.

And as I was on the train back to Philly that night, I knew I needed to be around that type of energy everyday. Around people just like Jill Scott. People with energy, with fire, with passion. So with that said, I’m in the process of relocating to Philadelphia. Just like that, all for the love.

More to come.