Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer 
WINSTON SILL, Freelance Photographer -
A member of the Klassique band blew a passionate Kenny G composition on her clarinet last Friday at Waterfalls, at Old Hope Road.
WESTERN BUREAU: WHEN A band brings its audience onto the dance floor, conga line, limbo stick and all, it is certainly an indication that they are doing something right.
When they do it without a lead singer in fact, with vocals sparser than a united Jamaica Labour Party as Klassique did at Waterfalls in Liguanea, St. Andrew, on Friday night, it is remarkable. And this was after their audience had been jamming happily away to Sean Paul's Deport Them and Bounty Killer's Cellular Phone.
The band of white-clad young men, with an exceptional cameo from a young woman on clarinet, put on a high energy performance to an appreciative audience, complete with drum solo, a saxophone note that was the musical equivalent of Edward Seaga's tenure as head of the JLP and combined movements on and off stage by the pair of steelpan players.
It was tapping of pan and the blowing of sax that clearly negated the need for lead vocals, the audience supplying a chorus line of vocals to the familiar hits, even as they danced and clapped.
The saxophonist's lead role was defined by his seat below the stage and at the front of the dance area. However, it was the steelpan that got top billing on the first few numbers, carrying the melody on the opening I've Had The Time of My Life, the players high stepping in tandem as they played on either side of a smiling, active drummer. The bass and rhythm guitar players were to the rear and stage right.
Strong applause confirmed a good start, but the Latin flavour of the next number brought out two couples who put down immaculate and intricate steps, to the delight of band and audience. One lady was barefooted, while the other manipulated high stiletto heels on the smooth, spotless floor, as the pairs switched partners and did combination steps.
The saxophonist made his presence felt on the Dennis Brown pair of How Could I Live and Should I, dispensing with the stool and standing to carry the melody on the first song. With drum and bass dubbing away to a happy audience on the latter part of Should I, the tappers and the blower dispensed with instruments and skanked in lockstep midway the dance floor, returning to the bandstand to pick up seamlessly.
There was no space for them to do that on the next number, though, as the audience took over the dance area beginning with Iron Lion Zion, complete with a drum solo which saw a man walking over and congratulating the drummer. Then they were off on the ska train with Simmer Down, followed by a revival of the Skatalites, as circles and conga lines formed, broke and reformed on the dance floor.
Wings of a Dove, Sammy Dead, Amen and A Little More Oil followed in medley style then Klassique got a jump on the festive season with Feliz Navidad and Auld Lang Syne.
Soca was a natural progression and though Waterfalls was comfortably cool the dancers were feeling 'hot, hot, hot' as they swung their collective engine.
Klassique ended the high-intensity segment with a pair of leaping steelpan players and a flourish, to strong applause.
However, there was a beautiful moment to come, as a young lady blew a Kenny G classic that not only had couples in each others arms, but shrieks of applause throughout, even as she stepped away from the microphone and strolled to the front of the audience, played and went back. She put a dipping, swaying, yet controlled, body into the performance, which was received with tremendous applause.
And the Klassique saxophonist took over for their final number, Careless Whispers, which saw him holding a note as the rest of the band members leaving the stand, relaxing at the bar and even taking a sip as he warbled and sustained, at one point putting one hand on his hip.
And as the other band members, rested and refreshed, resumed playing to bring the song and the show to a rousing end, the saxophonist held the note, music mingling with applause for a satisfying end.
And the dancing was far from over, as Kevin Lyttle's Turn Me On had bodies swaying and gyrating last Friday at Waterfalls.
