If you converted an old-time church into a grand theater and opened up a jazz club next door, Leslie Odom Jr. would feel right at home. Add a bit of holiday decor and you’d be in the general neighborhood of his ongoing “The Christmas Tour.”
Odom, best known for his iconic turn as Aaron Burr in the original Broadway cast of “Hamilton,” hit the stage of Peace Concert Hall in downtown Greenville Nov. 30, the third stop on a 17-city schedule. The music barely waned for 90 minutes of a tight 20-song set.
The show opened with a restrained and poignant “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” but ranged into jazz, pop and gospel. The highlight of the show – aside from a thrilling moment in the encore that should not be spoiled – was a stripped-down, gospel-blues version of “Please Come Home for Christmas” accompanied by a keyboard mimicking church organ to perfection.
Odom headlined with style but the four-piece Galaxy Defenders backing band made fresh fans. A particular standout was Chris Cadenhead on keys, whose improvisational vibe with Odom was a hit in the hall. Three members of the band have worked together for decades and it comes through in the music – soaring, sharing the moment and tightly transitioning to the next number.
As the show progressed into the third act, Odom made a costume change from loose, bronzy-brown robes to a crimson suit. His stage actor persona took over late in the show with a recital of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” followed by two Christmas classics sung in their native languages – a virtuosic tour-de-force from the Tony-award winner.
The Greenville show seemed especially personal to Odom, and for good reason. He has family in South Carolina, about two dozen of whom greeted him backstage after the performance.
Family or not, the sold-out crowd was enthralled throughout. Odom mixed in a few chats with the audience, led a sing-along or two, and generally captivated in a way few performers can.
“The Christmas Tour” swung through Florida after Greenville, and heads to New York state and the Midwest next. A stop in Atlanta is set for Dec. 15, the best chance for anyone in the Upstate to catch Odom if they missed the Greenville show. The tour wraps up in Beaver Creek, Colorado on Dec. 23.
