Grammy Award-winning Beninoise singing-songwriter brought a spellbinding performance to the Dakota Jazz club March 5th.

Her voice was electrifying and her music transforming.

A charged audience was excited to receive Angelique Kidjo, the African diva who packed the fever and the fury into the premier Minneapolis jazz venue. Kidjo did what very few artists are unable to do for a demanding Scandinavian audience - - a majority of the audience was up on their feet singing, clapping and dancing throughout the entire performance.

The Grammy award-winning recording artist said that at six years old her mother shoved her onto a stage and now she is hooked on performing.

Kidjo mesmerized the audience with countless show stopping tunes from her latest CD Oyaya, a cool and dynamic recording which is mixture of traditional music and classic soul from the 60s and 70s. It features Christian McBride on bass and Benin-born Lionel Loueke on guitar.

Kidjo’s performance was filled with funk. She happily confessed that the late great James Brown was one of her musical influences.

She said “there were no parties in Africa without James Brown.” She laughed, “My mama would say ‘What are you trying to do?’” She responded with an as if you did not know attitude, “Trying to be James Brown!” She continued, “James Brown brought the funk.” Other musical influences include Miriam Makeba, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and Santana. From Afropop to Congolese rumba to jazz and gospel styles, Kidjo likes it all and diverse music  is ingeniously weaved throughout her music.

Kidjo stated “In diversity lives the human kind.” “Every time I go to bed, I say ‘thank you’ because you give me the voice and I am rich!”

Kidjo’s audience walked away with is a captivating performance sizzling with Kidjo’s unbridled passion, infectious energy and high-spirited music. Performing solo, guitarist Chastity Brown provided a delightful opening. The roots soul singer immediately reminds one of Toshi Reagon and Meshell Ndegeocello-- Brown is extraordinary with her soulful storytelling. Brown performed a myriad of folk songs from her latest CD entitled “High Noon Teeth.”

"I suffer for my race," she wails in her song, "Woman Gotta Move." "I suffer for my skin. / Is it not enough to suffer / For the woman that I am? / Still she's beautiful / But half divided…."

Anne Hunt from St. Paul said, “I have never seen the Dakota like this.” “All of the people in the balcony were up on their feet. I saw Kidjo perform ten years ago at the Ordway, but it was nothing like this. This was phenomenal!”