Vusi Mahlasela opened the concert: the lights profiled a lone guitar player billed as 'The Voice', and if his latest cd doesn't capture that voice, it sure shines out on stage.

A humming, crooning opening song, almost Hawaiian between the gentle acoustic guitar and vocals, opens quickly but moves into an almost tribal growl to the click sound of many South African languages: Vusi demonstrates gorgeous vocal prowess and unexpected moments in moving effortlessly from quiet to growling and back again.

Erupting in a series of trills and warbles, then purring, rolling throaty songs: on his records 'The Voice' doesn't come across nearly as powerfully as he presents alone, on stage.

His first song celebrates the beauty of his country - but he also songs of South African brutality and police injustices. The lesson he teaches is one of forgiveness and peace of mind.

His second song is in English and assumes a ballad-like quality; the third was written in a South African jail and tells of the pain of separation.

Don't get too comfortable with Vusi's crooning ballad styles: growls alternate with near-soprano trills and warbles at the flick of his guitar string, and can change mid-tune just as you're being lulled in a quiet story.

Vusi can't remember when he wasn't singing - and you won't remember the last time you heard such a versatile, powerful voice: he's not an act to miss.

Act 2 was the header Ladysmith, an appropriately awesome vocal pairing to Vusi's introduction. 

Ladysmith came leaping onstage in a wild display of color: the eight members in striking red and yellow shirts the light man ably and beautifully brought out in stage shades of red, led by a vocalist who doubled as a conductor.

It's the hand movements and rich vocals which differ Ladysmith Black Mambazo's live performance from their cds: hand and foot movements were funny and evocative embellishments to vocals which set down a repetitive foundation, then layered variations over.

Fancy footwork, high kicks the Zulu are renowned for, and hi-jinks accompanied droning chants in each song - and instead of wearing their uniform white sneakers, they should have worn Irish tap shoes to accent the lively movements and dance which evolved throughout the performance. 

The comedy and interplays, even though non-English, had the audience participating and enjoying laughter - even during an audience participation song led by the lead vocalist when the group took a much-needed break.

With encores resounding, the audience got more than its money's worth in an evening of celebration, song, and dance: another LBC world music winner.