Leslie Odom Jr. came to the Indiana University Auditorium on Feb. 15 to perform a one-night-only concert accompanied by his band and the IU Philharmonic orchestra. Odom first rose to fame for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” and has continued to broaden his career by appearing in several films and TV shows and releasing six full-length albums.
As a longtime fan of “Hamilton,” I was ecstatic to hear Odom would be performing at IU, but this concert showed he is so much more than just “Aaron Burr.”
The concert opened with a beautiful piece played by the Philharmonic Orchestra before Odom graced the stage singing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” I immediately felt like I was soaring in the sky from his smooth, alluring vocals.
He continued with a jazz medley that showed just how well his vocals fit the genre. Each of his band members had a solo during the medley as a mode of introduction and to show off their talents. Every person on stage showed an unbelievable level of musical excellence. It felt like the show wasn’t just about Odom, but about every musician who was sharing their artistry with the audience. It was captivating.
In between songs, Odom shared stories and meanings behind the pieces. It turns out his speaking voice is just as melodic and enchanting as his singing, not to mention his down-to-earth humor that had the whole audience laughing.
One of my favorite songs in “Hamilton” has always been “Wait for It,” Odom’s solo in the show, so I was hoping this would be my chance to hear him sing it in front of me, and luckily, he did. Joined by the full orchestra, his rendition was a softer and more raw take on the song. He managed to make every song singular to his style, meshing jazz, pop and musical theater sounds together, brought to life by his distinctive vocals.
However, I think my favorite part of the show was when he sang “Smile,” best known by Nat King Cole’s 1954 rendition of the song. Before singing, Odom shared that although there’s so much going on in the world lately, he always finds something or someone to smile about. I noticed this throughout the whole show, as he could often be seen smiling with so much heart it became infectious. And while his cover of the song did make me smile, it also made me cry because of how beautiful and touching it was.
In the second half of the concert, he mostly sang his original songs, and while I hadn’t heard any of them before, they were all wonderful to listen to. I almost feel that because I didn’t know the songs, I was able to really listen to them in the moment and take it all in.
Near the end of the show, he sang “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, which instantly garnered roaring applause for how soulfully Odom brought the song to life. With the addition of the orchestra, it felt like a spiritual experience.
After receiving a well-deserved standing ovation, Odom came back on stage for an encore where he sang every character’s part of the song “Alexander Hamilton.” This was the most surreal experience. I don’t think I can put into words how insane it was to hear him sing the song. It genuinely felt like I was going to start watching a performance of “Hamilton.” The entire audience seemed to agree as they all started clapping and singing along, giving him a standing ovation for that song alone.
The second he first walked on stage, I knew this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Now that it’s over, I honestly don’t know what to do with my life because now I never want to exist in a room where Leslie Odom Jr. isn’t serenading me.
One of my favorite Hozier songs, “Almost (Sweet Music)” has the line “I wouldn’t know where to start, sweet music playing in the dark,” and the entire concert, those words kept ringing in my head. Odom’s voice, his band’s exquisite playing and the beauty of the Philharmonic Orchestra felt like a beaming light in the dark, and as the melodies swirled in and out of my ears, I felt a peace and joy I’ve never felt before.
Before the encore, Odom “ended” the show by singing “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole. He went from one corner of the room to the other, making eye contact with the entire audience to communicate that the sentiment of the song was how he was feeling in the moment. If I could, I would sing the words right back to him so he could know just how unforgettable the night was to every person who was lucky enough to be in the room where it happened.
