Wacko Jacko - A True Pro If A Little Portly!

He may be billed as the world’s greatest Michael Jackson impersonator but Navi, aka Navi Charles, has piled on the pounds in lockdown and looked as though he occasionally needed a BRI oxygen mask when he appeared at St George’s Hall in Bradford last night.

This consummate performer, now in his mid 40’s, has been treading the boards for several decades, almost exclusively as ‘Michael Jackson’, and has not only met Jacko but also appeared in the movie Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland such is his likeness to the King of Pop.

There don’t appear to be many countries in which he hasn’t performed and he has certainly mastered his impersonation down to every last detail: with three backing dancers, four musicians and even Jennifer Batten, MJ’s original solo rock guitarist, making a guest appearance, this is a highly credible show which the audience loved.This was only Navi’s second performance since he, and many other performers, slowly emerge from lockdown and, whilst there were some minor technical glitches, he rattled through his repertoire like a true professional: Thriller, Man in the Mirror, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal…they were all in there, and more.And, for a minute, the audience thought MJ had been reincarnated, dancing at the front of the stage hoping for a hand-touch from their icon, and Navi played the part brilliantly despite his mid rift wobble which he referred to himself on more than one occasion.

He has appeared on TV shows across the globe and is feted as the man to see. The likeness to MJ is uncanny but, then again, he has had several surgeries like his icon: clearly, this Trinidadian takes his craft seriously.

A couple of years back I saw Ben Bowman, modestly billed as ‘Michael Starring Ben’, at the same venue and, he too, was brilliant, focussing heavily on the music and the songs. However, Navi is more of a showman.He has the patter in between the songs and is at total ease with his audience. In his head he IS Michael Jackson and, in a strange sort of a way, you have to admire someone that has not only devoted his life to ‘impersonating’ someone he holds very dear, but doing it so well. That takes commitment.

Navi has a limited number of UK-wide gigs coming up so, if you want to catch him, check out the link below…....this Jacko’s defo, wortho a looko”

Details: https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/navi-as-michael-jackson

Navi as Michael Jackson
St George’s Hall, Bradford