Seven songs recital at the beginning of the Blue Ball Festival in Lucerne

Seven convinced in the concert hall of the KKL also with his entertainer qualities and a lot of wit. (Photo: Manuel Jans-Koch (Lucerne, July 20, 2018))

Twenty years ago, Blue-Balls director Urs Leierer announced Friday night at the opening of the festival that he presented for the first time a show at KKL, At that time, he left the scene for Buddy Guy, the original character of the Blues. It was actually a defloration for the concert hall, says Leierer. Now, he's addressed to Seven. Unlike Buddy Guy, the scene for Wahlluzerner is not an extraordinary but logical consequence of his career. At this festival began the meteoric rise of Seven. Xavier Naidoo once brought it on stage and later in his program "Sing my song". The foundations of a great career in Germany have been laid.

You can break or grow on such a fast climb. Fortunately, Seven chose the second option. He has always been able to sing. But what he showed Friday night on the KKL stage was more than that, he was really joking. He fills the room not only with his voice but also with his presence. He easily led a rather entertaining concert, interacted with the public and sometimes gathered people who, in his opinion, had left the room too soon. Until now, sometimes Seven seemed a little slippery and borderless, but in the concert hall he was free, cheeky and charming.

Reduced to the essentials

Perhaps it was also because of the scenery. Seven had only pianist Rose Ann on stage. She, who played briefly with Prince in the band, emphasized the songs on the piano calmly, but definitely. The whole funk and soul pump, which often accompanies the seven songs, had to be planned in advance: voice and piano – there was no room for more. And, as often, there is a good strength in the reduction. Focusing on the essence has not hurt the songs – he's cleverly focused on Seven's well-known vocal qualities.

And he accepted this match with thanks. Quite sitting on a stool, he gave the crooner. It was "a classic song recital," Seven said, and told all sorts of stories about working with Rose Ann. Mutual respect was always perceptible. Seven is the leader, but Rose Ann's word counts. In the beautiful moments of the concert, she sings too. With its dark timbre, it is a powerful complement to the clear vocals and head-chorale of Seven

The respect of the brothers

At a certain point, the duo concert is transformed into a trio. Seven's brother, Micha, arrives on stage. Together, they sing several songs, including the Elton John number "Do not let the sun fall on me". It's the first time that they're singing a duet, says the younger brother Seven (or Jan, as he's called bourgeois). The excitement is all the greater in the audience as Micha, also vocally speaking (with some flaws), can follow. The same Micha has been part of Seven's group for years and is elegantly hidden – that would have only hurt the beautiful illusion.

But do not forget that it was a very nice parenthesis. You could feel the respect that Seven has for his brother. It was touching in the best sense of the word, even though the concert had lost momentum. But even in these moments of babbling, the concert was better than expected.

Certainly: Seven is not a buddy. And he certainly deflowered no room. But Lucerne has become a very good artist. Not only, but also because of the Blue Balls Festival. Maybe that's the difference with Buddy Guy. You chose the stars, today you do them.