Running until early summer the tour was designed to promote Keys' 2009 album release, The Element Of Freedom.
Touring much the same production as on the American leg (the prime difference being the scaling down of the nine video screens to five), the show has been programmed by Bryan Barancik (of Luxious Design) who has been with the tour from the beginning, and has been tasked with bringing the best out of Halpin's creative concept.
The set designer was first shown the compact LED washlight by GLP's director of key global players, Mark Ravenhiil, when he was searching for small fixtures to be placed on top of the curved set pieces. "I needed something light and bright - and the impressions fitted the bill."
Bryan Barancik was already a convert, having seen them for the first time on the Billy Joel/Elton John tour last year. "But I had not used them personally until the touring production, Star Wars In Concert, [where he was associate lighting designer]; they are truly a work horse," he says.
"What is interesting is that in the case of both Star Wars and Alicia Keys the impressions were used as important scenic lighting elements ... that is, they were integrated into the scenery because of their size, weight (just 7.5kg), and performance."
In fact, the show delivers a complexity of visual effects. The impressions sit on top of 24 curved aluminium poles set on the top riser and protruding from the band risers. The set also incorporates the different LED screens, each on its own automation line and flown by cable winches on individual lighting headers, under three lighting trusses.
The impressions, which deliver their punch from 90 high-powered RGB LED's, serve three distinct functions, states Baz Halpin. "They are used as side lighting for the band, as well as for the dancers downstage and on the upstage riser. They also light the curved pipes upon which they were placed as well as providing a great beamy backlight."
All the impressions used on the tour were from the inventory of PRG, who provided the lighting production support.
(Jim Evans)
