John Legend concert review: EGOT winner wows in Atlantic City

nypost.com:

John Legend is a minimalist with maximum talent.On Friday, June 21, the 45-year-old EGOT winner headlined at Atlantic City’s intimate yet spacious and cozy yet comfortable Borgata Casino Event Center as part of his ongoing, nationwide ‘An Evening with John Legend Tour.’ Most impressively, Legend decided to forgo a backing band and backup singers, reducing his entertaining one-man show to its most essential elements: just John Legend and a piano.Yes, for nearly two hours — including a 15-minute intermission — it was just Legend, a Yamaha, his songs and his stories.No, it was never dull.Similar to Springsteen on Broadway, the affable showman opts to dig deep into his expansive back catalog, delivering familiar hits, deep cuts and soul-stirring covers while weaving in feel-good stories from his life to explain each track’s significance.It’s a difficult high-wire act to take the stage all by yourself, but Legend is a seasoned pro — he not only put the audience at ease, he made the sold-out crowd feel as if we were chatting with him at an invite only cocktail party.To start, the concert began a little after its 8 p.m.

showtime. Lights dimmed on the smoky stage and Legend sauntered to the foreground. He waved a little wave, smiled, took a bow, jumped on the piano bench and got to work on the keys.When Legend’s legendary brassy baritone kicked in on the evening’s opening track “Save Room,” it was clear the Atlantic City audience was in good hands.

His effortless, soulful vocals are more than an auditory pleasure to witness live. For our money, hearing him linger on hook-y choruses live like “just a little” is a hair-raising luxury.Following the jazzy opener, Legend jumped into his 2008 hit “Green Light.” However, when played.