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It has been eleven years since Leslie Odom, Jr. walked on to an off-Broadway stage for the first public performance of Hamilton and began a legacy with Aaron Burr (sir). It was a role that brought him to the attention of many and one that he reprised several times in the years since, including earlier this year as he made his West End debut in the role. Clearly, his time there gave him a taste for London and so it is no surprise he is back so soon for two special concerts at the London Palladium. I didn’t hesitate to make sure I was in the room where it happens to witness him doing what he does best. The question is after making London audiences wait for it for this long, was it worth the wait?
It was clear from the beginning that this was to be a concert like no other, with Odom, Jr. delivering an eclectic and genre-defying setlist that demonstrated his many talents and immense artistry. At times, it resembled a jam session and even felt spontaneous even though it was clear Leslie and his band had rehearsed this meticulously. Speaking of his band, Leslie’s humble nature was shown in the opening moments, kicking off the show perhaps unconventionally with a jazzy portion of the show, offering an extended medley of songs including ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ and ‘Favorite Things’, taking the opportunity to introduce and showcase one of his band members led by musical director Steven Walker on guitar. Rather than making a grand entrance and kicking things off with a bang, Leslie casually walked on stage and let the vibes flow.
That vibe continued throughout the evening, making the audience feel as if we were sitting in an intimate jazz club such as Ronnie Scott’s, despite the large and looming London Palladium with thousands of other people. I can’t recall ever seeing any other performer bring that sense of intimacy and illusion of the setting to a stage like this as Leslie Odom, Jr. did in this concert. The result was an experience like no other, showcasing Odom, Jr’s versatility and seemingly never-ending talents such as on a multi-lingual interpretation of ‘L-O-V-E’. A jazz-heavy opening soon moved into various genres, from an understated and timeless Louis Armstrong number ‘I Married An Angel’ to a couple of songs for the millennials in a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Tonight, Tonight;’, and one of the evening’s standout moments, Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Keep Breathing’. His ability to take on any genre saw him move from the modern day to one of the most timeless classics of all, ending the first act with Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’ – no big speech about an interval, just the vibes and setting the mood perfectly.
The second act continued showcasing his versatility, kicking off with several of his original songs, even introducing one by telling the audience we may have heard this one in Boots Pharmacy. It was the Sam Cooke portion of the evening that provided the strongest overall section, however. With Leslie stepping into his shoes in an award-winning portrayal in One Night In Miami, his affinity for the man and the music was clear to see on the numbers ‘You Send Me’ and ‘Bring It On Home’. However, it was a spine-tingling and sensational take on the classic ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ that provided me with the personal highlight of the evening, with unmistakable vocals and a real knack for storytelling resulting in an absolute masterclass performance.
Many in the room discovered Leslie Odom, Jr. through Hamilton and hoped he might treat the audience to a number or two from the show during the set. Make that three. Refusing to perform them exactly as the audience knew, it didn’t matter as each of the three balanced Leslie’s ability to take on a character while staying true to himself, tweaking lyrics, melodies and the overall delivery where he saw fit. A slightly more understated ‘Wait For It’ still upped the energy considerably, while a one-man version of ‘Alexander Hamilton’ was even more brilliant than I could have ever imagined. Leslie ended the night with an absolutely rocking ‘Room Where It Happens’, combining all of his talents for a sensational standout moment that closed the night (or afternoon, in my case) on a high.
Though his interactions with the audience were few and far between, one hilarious moment saw him asking which audience members had never seen Hamilton (to one solitary cheer at this performance) before casually dismissing the show as “Not bad” and explaining that the last number (‘The Room Where It Happens’) was about to confuse them. We also saw nuggets of the man before the performer, with comments about being a husband and father, and introducing a self-written song for a sad girl on her birthday. There was a slight enigma to Odom, Jr, but this worked in his favour, leading the audience to focus on the artist and his unrivalled artistry. Odom, Jr reserves the storytelling through song alone, and he is a master in that field, with a magnetism that ensures all eyes are always on him.
This wasn’t perhaps the concert I expected from Leslie Odom, Jr, but it is clear he enjoys being unpredictable and refuses to be pigeonholed, leading to a rich experience. There were moments where he evoked memories and comparisons to Sammy Davis Jr and Marvin Gaye, but ultimately the only person you can compare Leslie Odom, Jr to is himself. This concert was the perfect opportunity to showcase his many strengths, showcasing all of the strings to his bow. Quite honestly, it didn’t matter what he was singing as his silky smooth vocals, ability to emote and become the character in whatever story he is telling through song was jaw-dropping to witness.
Stripping away unnecessary distractions so the focus became solely on the music, his artistry was astonishing to see. Accompanied by a stellar band who were in tune with him in every meaning of the word, this was a unique example of the art of storytelling through song through a performer that defies genre, convention and time. Essentially, this is a man at the top of his game and for one day only in October, London audiences got to see why. These concerts may have taken place on Halloween, but the only thing scary about these two Leslie Odom, Jr concerts was how terrifyingly brilliant they were. There may have been some in that audience who went into the London Palladium knowing him solely as Aaron Burr, but they surely left with a clearer picture of who Leslie Odom, Jr is, becoming a fan of the man as opposed to the character.
Leslie Odom, Jr . played at the London Palladium on 31st October 2026.