Live Review: John Legend in Phoenix

With all the swagger of a legendary Motown artist, singer/pianist John Legend celebrated his music Thursday (1/15) at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre with a healthy dose of up-tempo numbers and ballads made especially for couples.

Setting out on stage to a video of a boxer preparing for a bout in the ring, Legend, a love-song perfectionist, soon wowed the crowd with immaculate piano playing and vocals, and a playful personality.

He hit all three albums in his catalog: 2004's "Get Lifted," 2006's "Once Again" and 2008's experimental "Evolver."Wearing sunglasses, a white jacket, black shirt and black pants, Legend kicked off his set with "Used To Love U" from his platinum-selling debut "Get Lifted" and segued from there into "Evolver's" "Satisfaction" by yelling "Can I get some satisfaction?"

During "Alright," he seamlessly asked folks on the left and right sides of the audience to scream. Legend, who saved his hits "Green Light" and "Ordinary People" for deep in the set, offered "Heaven" as he sang to an illuminated backdrop of a princess. As "She Don't Have to Know" ended, the lights cut out on a dime, adding drama to the otherwise upbeat show.

Legend touched on the piano occasionally throughout the two-hour show. Primarily, he stood at the mike, sharing it here and there with one of his back-up singers. A female member of his crew sang the Brandy lines to "Quickly" while Legend got down on his knees in front of her. He allowed a male background singer to take the spotlight during "Another Again." Opening act Estelle reprised her role on "Evolver" for the reggae-flavored number "No Other Love."

Legend the heartthrob emerged as well. When he removed his sunglasses during his Kayne West collaboration "It's Over," women shrieked.

Legend said it felt good to be back at the Dodge Theatre, where he once opened for Alicia Keys.

"We've come a long way since then," Legend said.

Indeed.