The Broadway and recording star is on a holiday tour
Leslie Odom, Jr. performed intimate arrangements of holiday classics at MGM National Harbor on Sunday (Dec 15th) during his Christmas Tour. He opened with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which bled into an extended, drum-heavy “My Favorite Things.”
Odom wore a black double-breasted suit with a gold chain as he sang in front of a multitude of geometrically filled-in Christmas tree cutouts and a curved row of lights.
Odom’s voice was in top shape, the range that made him a Tony and Grammy winner for Hamilton—in the same year—on full display. He’s one away from EGOT: He has an Emmy for the Disney+ film of the Broadway show.
Odom displayed an incredible range of genre mastery during the show. It started out jazzy, with an upright bass and brushsticks on the drums. An electric guitar appeared for a powerful “First Noel.” Odom’s original “Cold” featured rollicking keys, drums, and plenty of perfectly-reached high notes. He paired that with a capella gospel tune, “Jesus Gave Me Water.”
One of the songs that suited his voice the best was a cover of Ingrid Michaelson’s “Winter Song.” Odom would be wise to explore his pop artistry even further. A reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” showcased Odom’s immense talent as an actor and captivating storyteller.
The word of the night was “joy.” No matter what he was singing, it was clear that Leslie Odom, Jr. was loving it with every fiber of his being. That joy emanated from the stage and got the entire crowd feeling the spirit of the season.
The only break from the Christmas joy on stage was during the encore, when Odom performed his biggest number from Hamilton, “Wait For It.”
Whether he’s on stage in character, or using his beaming charisma and talent to ring in the holidays, one thing is for sure: Odom is his generation’s Broadway-to-recording artist breakout superstar.
