"We may be small in numbers but we are millions in spirit"--- Jaguar Wright

It’s Friday night, 8 something p.m., and a small but dedicated crowd waits in the lobby of the beautiful and historic Attucks Theater in Downtown Norfolk. Jaguar Wright is the main act tonight with Jon Bibbs performing as her opening act.

As I take a look at this theater, I can instantly smell “history.” It is a historical landmark that has welcomed African-American performers since opening in 1919. Operated by African-Americans since its opening nearly 90 years ago, the staff, to this day, are still all African-American. It is named after Crispus Attucks, the first African-American to die as result of the Boston Massacre in 1770.

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I sit almost in the front row, anticipating a great show. The stage has an intimate cluster of fluorescent lights beaming down on it, giving off a “grown and sexy” type of mood. The crowd is of less than 200 but I could tell they were just as anxious to see the performance.

The opening act, Jon Bibbs, a native of Richmond, Va., impressed the crowd with his soulful presence. Young, statuesque, and handsome (with a wonderful mane that most women would kill for) Bibbs took the stage with force, singing his heart (and lungs) out. In the first few moments of listening to his music, I immediately compared Bibbs to the sounds of Maxwell and Musiq Soulchild. His voice, painfully powerful and emotional, captivated the audience. His finale, “Liberation,” a song about living life without worries, pain, or stress, made you want to ask why isn’t this young man on BET or MTV?!

Even though he has worked alongside of rap icon Busta Rhymes and funk legend Morris Day, Bibbs is not commercial. This virtually unknown talent, standing at 6’4", delivered music in a melting pot of jazz, neo-soul, and calypso all in one. Dressed in a simple t-shirt, slightly wrinkled jeans, and boots, Bibbs was unusually nothing more than class and sexy at it’s best.

I was fortunate enough to speak to him momentarily about his career after his incredible performance. He says he has been singing and song-writing since he was in toddler years. He is an independent artist, with no record deal, who just released his third (yes, his third) CD called “Unbreakable.” He is touring nationally, as an opening act for more established, commercial artist, but he does hope that he will one day soon find himself the main act on the marquee. After his “tear the roof off” performance last night, I doubt that will take a long time!

Shortly after Bibbs makes his exit, the crowd really revs up for Jaguar Wright. Wright may not be a familiar name to the commercial crowd either, but she is a veteran to the music industry. She has performed alongside the likes of Jay Z, The Roots, Raphel Saadiq, and mega producer Scott Storch. Wright’s song, “The What Ifs,” was featured on a Coca Cola campaign in 2002 and she performed at MTV’s Unplugged with The Roots in 1999.

Wright is not fazed by her lukewarm celebrity. She is more concerned with fans knowing that she can stand just fine by herself without having to encounter many of the mishaps that much of today’s mainstream entertainers do. She is not about to subject herself to peeling off her clothes, snorting, smoking, or drinking her career away. As a married mother of two (her husband is also her manager), she is very dedicated to the responsibility of being a role model to not only her own family but other young people.

When she finally takes center stage,

I can immediately tell that girlfriend is earthy!

Immediately, I start to compare her to the likes of Jill Scott and Angie Stone. Not only because they are full figure beautiful black women, but because of their presence. It is just something about soul artists that makes a person feel at ease, regardless if they are black, white, Hispanic, Asian or Martian. And that is exactly what I got from Mrs. Wright; a feeling that she has invited me into her living to discuss love and life.

Her voice is thunderously powerful, raising the hairs off your arms without using a microphone! Wright, along with her small but impressively orchestrated band, delivers a melody of jazz, gospel-delic, and funk to the crowd, with their response being nothing short of endless applauses. Her music talks about love, intimacy, loss of love, and happy living. At one point, Wright was so involved with her songs on the stage you almost believed she was truly singing to a lover from her past or present and not the audience. And while she is a soulful artist, she pays tribute to the legendary rap group, A Tribe Called Quest, performing her take on the song “Find My Way.” Between her music takes, she talks to the audience, relating to the old school heads and lecturing to the new school heads about relationships and honesty and making the most out of being in love. I found myself at one point, damn near taking notes!

At nearly 11p.m., I made my way out of Attucks Theater after Jaguar Wright exited the stage. I was found myself getting cross, asking myself why I don’t make more effort to attend more powerful concerts. Wright is a talented artist whom I would love to hear more from, as well as Mr. Bibbs. I can guarantee, in due time, their CDs will be in stereo of every lover of soulful music.

The Attucks Theater is located at 1010 Church Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. The number is 757-622-4763 or emails can be sent to attuckstheatre@verizon.net.