Friday was a big night of big name entertainment at Riverbend for an R&B soul fest featuring Gerald Levert, Angie Stone and the consummate crooner, Luther Vandross.

        An orderly crowd approaching 10,000 filled the lawn and the pavilion; and an intermittent shower toward the end of the evening did little to dampen their enthusiasm. The trio of talents proved that big is not only better, it sounds good, too.

        Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams opened the evening as a solo gospel act, providing a spirited performance before most of the audience arrived. She was quickly followed by the first of the biggies, Gerald Levert.

        Scion of one of the legendary Ojays — one of the most continuously successful vocal groups in R&B with a career spanning five decades — Mr. Levert did his family proud. A self-described romantic and a “teddy bear,” he played to his female fan base, handing out stuffed toys and roses throughout his performance.

        Backed by a six-piece ensemble and a female quartet of singers, Mr. Levert did what he does best — emoting and expounding on the trials and tribulations of love, while whipping the women into a frenzy.

        If the lyrics did not convey the feelings, the voice and the gestures drove it home. Such songs as “I'd Give Anything,” “Private Line,” “Thinking About It,” and “Baby I'm Ready” showcased Mr. Levert's church-raised baritone.

        Mr. Levert paid homage to his influences, including a highly-suggestive rendition of Marvin Gaye's “Let's Get It On.” Following his new single, “Funny,” the performance turned into a family affair when his younger brother, Sean, joined him onstage for a duet of “A-B-C” and “Casanova” (the latter written by Cincinnati's own Reggie Calloway, who was in the audience).

        Soul singer Angie Stone gave an abbreviated performance that put her rich alto in the spotlight. Dressed in a blue and white caftan, Ms. Stone served up songs from her Mahogany Soul release, as well as her latest single, “More Than A Woman,” a duet she performed with her percussionist.

        Though the other performers were good — make no mistake — the evening belonged to Luther Vandross. Opening his set with “Say It Now,” Mr. Vandross stuck with the tried and true — which is what the audience paid to see and hear.

        With a sextet of musicians and four back-up singers, Mr. Vandross crooned and swooned his way through his catalog of hits, with a smattering of dance steps that delighted the faithful. He proceeded to show off his trademark vocal acrobatics of seemingly endless notes and a multi-octave range. Classic Vandross hits like “Never Too Much,” “Wait to Love,” “Here and Now” and “The Power of Love/Love Power” kept the crowd on its feet.

        His signature song, “A House is Not a Home,” was a dramatic climax, providing a fitting showcase for his vocal prowess. Despite the audience singing along, Mr. Vandross owned the ballad by holding notes suspended in air and moving effortlessly from swooping lows to clear highs with his patented low-voiced “shiver.” By then the rain was coming down, yet the party continued beneath a canopy of umbrellas. Mr. Vandross concluded his set with his remake of Stevie Wonder's “Creepin' ” before an encore of “Having A Party” to end the evening.

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