words Natalie Renee

“It's good to be back," he declared as he finished his opening track Get “I Lifted, and the audience were glad to have him back - this would be his third set of gigs in the UK since the release of the single Used to Love U.

This year, the world was blown over by the arrival of the musical force that is John Legend. He delivered to us what we have been longing for - soul with a lyrical ingenuity and vocals reminiscent of the Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder eras. In the past 12 months John Legend has released the platinum selling album

Event: 'Get Lifted Tour, John Legend'

Place: Carling Academy Brixton

Get Lifted and two top 10 singles. Used to Love You and Ordinary People and it seems the world is his oyster as he has just shot a TV advert for Gap, wearing his favourite jeans.

The evening began well with a supporting performance from Estelle, who kept the crowd entertained with tracks Free, Go Gone and 1980 from the album 18th Day. Royston then joined Estelle and performed the duet recorded on her album All Over Again.

I have eagerly anticipated this date in my musical calendar and neither the audience nor I were disappointed by this musical genius. From the moment he came to the stage through to the moment he left, Legend had the audience in awe. The show had no gimmicks or costume changes; instead, he concentrated on delivering music in its rawest form with only his voice, the sound of the keys and a band accompaniment. Simple? Yes, but he follows the great soul singers whose connection with the audience was just the music.

Legend sang every track like it was the first time and his vocals were pitch perfect to those on the album. As he sang the cocky tracks Alright, She Don't Have to Know and Number One he made suggestive and cheeky facial expressions that had the ladies weak at the knees. The self-assured John Legend then went on to do renditions of the Animals Misunderstood and Musiq Soulchild's Miss You. The crowd was even treated to a performance of Again, a track to be released in 2006. If that wasn't enough, we were impressed with a ska beat rendition of Used to Love you.

It is fair to say that John's legendary status is well deserved.