"Jennifer Hudson at ’One Night Only’"

"Jennifer Hudson at ’One Night Only’"

Review by Mike Diamond

From EDGE PUBLICATIONS 1/1/07

The hand painted ceiling of the Hammerstein Ballroom. 75 feet high, is adorned with a beautiful fresco: clouds, blue sky, and angels singing. On the stage below, just before midnight, another angel appeared, and let loose a voice that shook the rafters and electrified the crowd.

Jennifer Hudson, breakout star of the movie Dreamgirls, and fan favorite from American Idol third season, is that rare performer who not only meets one’s expectations, but actually exceeds them. As the floor lights went dark and the stage curtains parted, the crowd rushed forward to get closer to this newly minted diva on the rise. Standing alone in front of a microphone, Hudson’s ample curves were lovingly wrapped in a sparkling sequined cocktail dress, accented with simple silver jewelry, soft brown waves of hair cascading over her shoulders. She was radiant in the spotlight, basking in the love from the crowd. And then she sang.

Opening with the title song from ’Dreamgirls’ Hudson’s powerful voice tore through several numbers from the film, including I Love You, I Do, Move and I am Changing. Her skills as a performer brought these somewhat calcified show tunes to life, giving the evening the feel of a tent church revival, the crowd of star struck queens throwing their hands in the air with abandon.

Interspersed with the songs - along the way Miss Jennifer also had her way with Respect and Weekend in New England- her larger than life personality was in full force. Riffing on everything from getting booted from Idol to her nerve wracking three auditions for Dreamgirls, Hudson came across as funny, charming, confident with out being arrogant. She’s a natural; from hand on hip sassiness to glamorous young diva to down home country gal, Hudson has that quality that truly reverberates; realness.

The penultimate number of the night was, naturally, One Night Only, powerfully sung and deeply felt. The song then morphed into a shiny disco number complete with sexy, half naked go-go boys, old school voguing, and dancing drag queens (including Kevin Aviance sporting a neon red Mohawk wig). Before turning the night over to uber-DJ Junior Vasquez and his cult of stomping muscle boys, Hudson belted out the Donna Summer classic Last Dance. Her gaggle of bouncing, gyrating club kids behind her, Jennifer stepped off the stage to touch hands, give the queens in the front a moment to sing on the mike, her smile beaming, her hips swaying in that glittery, skintight garment.

Hudson came across as fun loving and genuine; she repeatedly spoke of how blessed she felt, and how much she loved performing for her (rapidly increasing) fans. She’s been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Effie White and in November of 2006, she signed with J Records, becoming music master Clive Davis’ latest protégé. Seeing Jennifer Hudson in One Night Only was truly like watching a star being born; this girl has the whole package - incredible talent, sex appeal, stage presence and charm to spare. She left the stage glowing and smiling, the lights dimmed, and the party people danced, Hudson’s powerhouse voice a clarion call to welcome in the New Year.