Bilal performs a live Father’s Day Set at DNA Lounge

Classically trained soul crooner set for a highly anticipated return to San Francisco    

On father’s day, san Francisco bay area music fans will be treated to the musical genius of Bilal, a Philadelphia-bred nu-soul luminary closely associated with the sounds of Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and The Roots.

Bilal Sayeed Oliver was initially introduced to the music public in 2000 through Common’s “ Like Water For Chocolate,” where Bilal crooned hooks alongside Jill Scott. A year later, Bilal released “1st Born Second,” a seventeen song LP, showcasing his eclectic range and vocal prowess. The record stretches from the Dr.Dre fashioned soundscape of “Fastlane” on to the soft sensuous balladry of “Love Poems,” blending gruff basso and rich falsetto seamlessly.

“As the material circulated, his stage show became the thing of legend,” says Music (k) Mart. “An impeccable craftsman with pristine jazz understandings and seven languages of opera at his fingertips, Bilal Oliver is a genius of our times.”

Before releasing his first album, Bilal practiced jazz and big-band arrangements at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York, and cut his teeth playing hole in the wall clubs to odd hours of the morning throughout New York City . Bilal also writes his own music, lyrics and notes, displaying mastery of his craft in both arrangement and vocal rendition.

In recent years, Bilal has lent his vocal talents, to a variety of artists including the Clipse, Common and Boney James, singing hooks and making guest appearances.

A spectacular but thus-far ill-fated sophomore record was leaked and has yet to see a firm release date. In the meanwhile, the album has circulated underground to the joy of fans lucky enough to get their hands on it and to the frustration of those who have not.

On Father’s day, Bilal will run through classic material from his first critically acclaimed LP and his unreleased second album, “Love for Sale.” In Vibe magazine’s review of Bilal’s August, 2007 show at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, the music was dubbed “ bombastic, strange and quite beautiful.”

B’nai Rebelfront

Opening the show is Oakland-based and Bronx-born sideman and more-recently frontman, B’nai Rebelfront. After touring Europe extensively, B’nai has been making quite a name for himself in recent years, playing guitar on tour with The Coup, Lyrics Born and Martin Luther. As a vocalist, B’nai’s sound fuses rock and soul, without trimming any funk.

Sake 1

The music selection before, in-between and after the show will be capably manned by political activist, tastemaker and Pacific Standard Time promoter and resident DJ, Sake 1. Sake 1 has rocked parties from Hawaii to London and virtually any major metropolitan soul scene in between.

Doors are at 7PM and the show begins at 8PM. Advance tickets are $23 available at dnalounge.com and door tickets will be $25.