The Metro Theatre is one of the best places in Sydney to see live music. Hosting artists such as P!nk and Robbie Williams in past years, the tiered floor arrangement provides a great vantage point for all in the venue whilst allowing the biggest fans to get up close and personal with their favourite artists. 

This week, the Theatre played host to PJ Morton, who is playing a series of side-shows around Australia before his set at BluesFest in Byron Bay. The Theatre was packed to the brim with an eclectic mix of fans of all ages who came to see Morton’s unique brand of R&B on display. 

From the first song, one thing stood out about Morton – his piano skills. To describe them as virtuosic would be an understatement as Morton handled the keys with a degree of panache and fluency that I have frankly never seen anything else compare to. His first song, “Sticking to My Guns” was a perfect example of this, featuring a multi-minute instrumental solo that dazzled the crowd. 

Morton was at his best when exploring his musicality through a balance of solos across his band and through his vocals. Unlike many headliners, he didn’t give his voice particular prominence above the ensemble, instead using it as a tool to amplify and contribute to the overall sound. This gave the performance variety as it allowed him to explore the many different timbres and capabilities of the instruments on stage including his dual piano set up as well as the two guitars and drums played by his band. 

Morton also gave his fans a taste of his new single “Please Be Good” that was written as he travelled across Africa, collaborating with local musicians. The song had a funk-style feel which represented quite a different sound to the rest of the set, which had a much jazzier feel to it. 

In some songs, Morton’s influences were abundantly clear. His ballad “First Began” drew clearly on the sounds of Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight and was a wonderful moment which nicely punctuated some of the more upbeat numbers in the set. 

While Morton, who plays as the keyboardist for Maroon 5 when not on tour as a soloist, mainly stuck to his original songs, it was his two covers that were the highlight of the set. His rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me” was truly spectacular, showcasing both the strength of his voice as well as the power of his ensemble. It was performed tenderly and with heart, invoking Cooke’s magic and transplanting it into a new era. 

He closed his set with his Grammy Award-winning cover of “How Deep Is Your Love” which felt showy without even a hint of over-singing – a rare balance. It was a wonderful way to conclude a superb set. 

This was a display of musicality at its highest. While Morton didn’t engage with the audience too much, he didn’t need to as he and his band simply went about delivering a set which traversed musical styles and eras so effortlessly. Not only is Morton one of the best pianists out there, but his voice and vocal stylings are of the highest calibre as well. Top-quality R&B music is often lacking on the Australian music scene and one can only hope that we see more artists with the talent level of Morton hit our shores. 

Rating: ★★★★★

PJ Morton – Metro Theatre – 30^th March, 2024

Photo credit: Cedric Tang