Erykah Badu — North Sea Jazz Festival, 2001

Live concert film of Erykah Badu at the North Sea Jazz Festival, recorded on 15 July 2001 in the Statenhal of the Congresgebouw in The Hague, Netherlands. Crowned the « Queen of Neo Soul » after the success of Baduizm (1997) and Mama’s Gun (2000), the Texan singer delivers a full concert drawing on both records, blending organic soul, jazz and hip-hop. The setlist opens with « Rimshot » then moves through « Otherside of the Game », « Penitentiary Philosophy », « Didn’t Cha Know », « Cleva », « A.D. 2000 » and « Orange Moon », before an encore built on « Green Eyes » and « Bag Lady ». On stage, Badu works with space, improvisation and constant interplay with her band, stretching each song into an extended live performance. This North Sea Jazz 2001 recording, released by the festival’s official archive, documents an artist at the height of the neo soul era. A reference live concert for understanding Erykah Badu’s lasting impact on contemporary R&B and soul.