Sandra Brooks - File
HAVING RECORDED her last album in 1998, Sandra Marie Llewellyn Brooks launched her third album, Look to Jesus at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
Leroy Smith, Patricia Archer, Dian Barnett-Stewart, Shirley Willis and Sandra Brooks, an offset of the renowned Grace Thrillers, also made their debut appearance, as Thrillers United.
Featuring 14 tracks including the signature Look to Jesus, Brooks says vocally, this has been her best album. She believes the album offers a variety, and thinks that young people will enjoy it.
If the album is anything like the launch, Brooks could possibly retire. Boasting a powerful line-up with great singing, perfect harmonies and charged performances, Saturday's launch was an enjoyable event. After cocktails, the show began at 7:30 p.m. with a full house. On a colourful stage decorated with potted plants, MCs Nadine Blair and Wyatt K.C. Davis of LOVE F.M. went straight into the show.
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES
Performances came from Dawn Davis, the Pentecostal Gospel Choir, Love Singers and the 2000 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Gospel Song winner, Loretta Lewis. All gave excellent performances as they ministered. The audience danced and waved as they sang along and was blessed. Interruptions with the sound system could not hinder the audience who had vowed to enjoy the worship experience. After two 'technical difficulty' breaks, the problem was fixed.
The show also included presentations to some outstanding persons in Brooks' life. These included her mentor Pastor Lloyd Clarke of Pentecostal Gospel Temple, to whom she dedicated the album and her best friend Maureen McField. The Honourable Reverend Carmen Stewart offered a special prayer and dedication for the album.
After an extended introduction, Evangelist Sandra Brooks graced the stage. Seven weeks shy of a new addition to her family, Brooks gave as charged a performance as she could manage. Starting with Don't Worry, she dived into a medley of old favourites that had the crowd singing, dancing, jumping and screaming to the popular tunes. Though she was obviously tired after the long trip down memory lane, she did three more songs including Look to Jesus from her new album.
A combination of successful solo artistes, Thrillers United was exceptional. Their first note on stage was met with thunderous screams by the crowd. Performing tunes from their solo careers and from the defunct Grace Thrillers, the group had the crowd locked for about an hour. The popular tunes had the crowd in a frenzy as they enjoyed every ounce of the concert.
"It's all about ministry, straight ministry," Smith told The Gleaner afterwards. He said that although they are now performing as a group, their solo ministries are also still alive.
- Carolyn Johnson
