Music critic Kevin C. Johnson and singer Ne-Yo chillin’ at the Gramophone. Photo credit: Tim Slater/LME Promotion Group

R&B singer Ne-Yo, fresh from opening for Alicia Keys Sunday night at Scottrade Center, went for a more intimate setting Monday night at the Gramophone. That’s where he treated select fans to an exclusive peek at his new music.

The private, low-key event showcased about half the tracks from his still-in-progress upcoming third CD “Year of the Gentleman,” which continues revealing Ne-Yo as one of music’s key acts to watch.

The singer/songwriter, behind Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” as well as songs from Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna, introduced each song with a few words on its inspiration.

Best of the batch was a upbeat selection called “Nobody,” described as his homage to Michael Jackson. He said he honors Jackson on each CD, and the influence is evident.

Other new songs included “Why Does She Stay,” “So You Can Cry,” “What’s the Matter,” “Licking My Fingers,” “In the Way,” and “Stop This World,” which he’ll perform on “All My Children” when characters Angie and no-longer-dead Jesse Hubbard renew their wedding vows soon.

Shortly after meeting and greeting fans, the “Sexy Love” singer retreated to the  Gramophone’s green room for a one-on-one chat where he talked more about the new CD, his tour mates getting sick on him, dropping a dancer on her head at Scottrade, and going up against Nelly.

Q. Alicia Keys and Jordin Sparks both called off sick at the start of the tour. What was that like for you?

A. I wasn’t really tripping off of that. Jordin’s going through her vocal problems, and is still going through it. Then Alicia got sick, and I’m thinking ‘OK we’re off to a rocky start.’ But I knew what this tour has the potential to be, so I wasn’t going to let one or two bumps in the road sway me. We’re getting back in stride and going to stay in stride.

Q. How would you review the St. Louis show and the St. Louis audience?

A. This was one of the more lively audiences we’ve been in front of. It’s an older crowd on this tour, and as you get older you don’t really feel the need to get out of your seat as much. I understand that, but it had to be explained to me. But it threw me for a loop the first show because we were giving our all.

But y’all were live the whole show, and much appreciation for that.

Q. You appeared to drop a dancer on her head at one point during the show. Did that really happen?

A. (Smiles), yeah, I dropped a lady. We do this thing where we swing her whole body behind me and I catch her. I’m in the gym these days and me and my trainer went extra hard on my arms and I didn’t have the strength to hold her up. We didn’t rehearse so I didn’t know. We just went for it and it wasn’t there. But she’s a professional and she didn’t hurt herself.

Q. How is “Year of the Gentleman” different from your first two CDs?

A. It’s definitely different sound-wise and look-wise and vibe-wise. I was trying to go somewhere else. I think the essence of being an artist is to grow and evolve. I can’t do the same thing over and over. The first two albums were rooted in traditional R&B. On this one I’m leaning towards other genres. The first single, “Closer,” is house music. You can’t categorize that as R&B.

There’s urban stuff scattered in there but for the most part I’m trying to get into instrumentation I don’t normally get into, rock guitar and that stuff. I’m really growing as an artist.

Q. How do you feel about going up against Nelly, releasing your CD the same day as his new CD?

A. I had no idea. It’s going to be interesting, I’ll say that much. That dude sells billions of records. I’m in great company. I’ll put it that way.