Spirit fills the gaps at Jamm

Turning the Forum into a cozy venue would seem an impossible task, especially when a concert fills far fewer seats than it leaves empty, as did Saturday’s sparsely attended “1st Annual Family Jamm]!” presided over by drummer-singer Sheila E.

This three-hour benefit for the Lil’ Angel Bunny Foundation, co-founded by E and business partner Lynn Mabry (an original member of George Clinton’s ‘70s-era Brides of Funkenstein) to help abused and abandoned children, could’ve easily taken place in a much smaller hall. Yet the mood was so genuinely joyful, the cavernous space almost felt intimate.

It was somewhat ditzily hosted by actress Carmen Electra, but the evening’s sense of camaraderie and excitement pulled it through such slow points as an excruciating segment in which actress Nicole Parker read the painful story of one former abused child who became a gospel singer.

Musically, the program celebrated Prince’s groundbreaking work and the so-called Minneapolis sound by reuniting, for the first time in nearly two decades, such Prince-created acts as the Family, the Revolution, and E’s own band from the “Purple Rain” tour. Thus, we were reminded of the Purple One’s prolific ‘80s heyday, when he casually handed hits to any singer who caught his ear, and restlessly conjured different band permutations according to his creative whims. The mix of colors and genders on stage was also a testament to the unifying force of Prince’s blend of funk, rock, R&B; and pop.

E was everywhere, chattering between sets, playing keyboards with the Family and drums with fine synth-funk instrumentalists Madhouse as well as her group. She even dressed in drag to cartoonishly portray singer Morris Day during a performance of “Jungle Love” with members of the Time including Jerome Benton and Jellybean Johnson.

The evening also featured veteran divas Patti LaBelle, who belted out her Prince-penned R&B; hit “Yo Mister” with throaty zeal despite having to refer to a lyrics sheet, and Chaka Khan, energetically essaying her 1984 pop hit “I Feel for You.”

Strong performances came from the Family and E, with her gleeful take on her 1984 hit “The Glamorous Life.” The show-closing set by the Revolution, featuring Wendy & Lisa and other original members, wasn’t the strongest but still offered an ebullient “Raspberry Beret,” a surprisingly moving “Purple Rain” with LaBelle, and an all-hands-on-stage rendition of “Baby, I’m a Star” that ended things on a satisfyingly upbeat note.