Tuesday night in New York City, Eric Roberson feted his birthday and the release of his new album Music Fan First. Fans of his music peppered the stark white candlelit booths and tables of winter-themed lounge Aspen while DJ Phaze spun vintage Erro ("Don't Change," "Rock With You") with King of Pop classics ("PYT," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"). Garbed in a sick equalizer tee shirt, Phaze guided the music to Roberson' native New Jersey letting Aly-Us' "Follow Me" foment a collective soul clap. Roberson, seated in a NY Giants chair next to his wife, a former Howard girl, enjoyed a bite and soaked it all up before mingling with the faithful.

But this wasn't just a meet and greet. Despite no stage, Roberson was intent on rocking and flanked by his producers Dana Sorey and Brett "Bdubb" Baker, that's exactly what he did. With just Phaze backing him up and a bottle of Gatorade close by, Roberson roamed the crowd, which included actor Anthony Mackie, and tore through a five-song set, giving dap and wopping it out when appropriate.



"The Newness," the introductory track from Music Fan First, set heads a-knocking and Roberson acknowledged many, dancing over to a spirited corner of fans, which included the album's cover artist Concep and Amanda Diva. "A Tale of Two" followed and then he took it back. "Mary Go Round," a song he wrote for Musiq's debut, took a game show turn. Fans able to sing the tongue-twisting bridge would be rewarded with a free CD but Roberson warned, "If you get the words wrong, any words wrong, I'm stopping the song immediately." Two intrepid women, one with much bass in her voice and another singing hard enough for a record deal, triumphed, to everyone's amusement.



Roberson, who has been anointed by some the "godfather of independent soul music" executes the razzle-dazzle of the show well but has always infused it with a warmth that's endeared him to a devoted fan base. That he puts himself in our shoes on this record reflects his humility, that he's a family man, he zoomed in on his wife during a rendition of "Def Ears," reflects a maturity desperately needed on the airwaves. So after he closed his set with "Further," Phaze let Yarbrough & Peoples, sing what everybody had to have been thinking, "Don't Stop the Music."

Tonight Eric Roberson plays the Loft in Atlanta with Algebra Blessett.



[Photos: Timothy Christmas and Briclyn Enertainment]