Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
David Reid (left) and Carole Reid put drama into song at 'Harmonie, It's Spring', held at the Alhambra Inn, Tucker Avenue, St. Andrew, on Sunday evening. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THERE WAS burnished wooden flooring beneath and high, steepled, wooden ceiling above; the fading white light of a fading Sunday evening matched the illumination from the fluorescent bulbs on the walls, the warm glow of the incandescent, artificial lighting reflected on the faces of the singers.
It was a mainly classical evening of 'Harmonie, It's Spring' in the Alhambra Inn's dining hall; unamplified voices lifted above piano accompaniment, the guitars of Charmaine Limonius and Seretse Small, as well as the saxophone of Dominic at the end, being the exceptions.
SLATED SINGERS
The evening's accompanists were Yanique Leiba, Kamla Hamilton and Ann Trouth.
The slated singers were 'Jodi and Friends' and, accordingly, Jodi Ho Lung featured prominently, but not excessively so, in the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company production, opening with Over The Rainbow. Carole Reid ended You Raise Me Up on a high note, appropriately enough. Dominic Fraser and Charles Moore stood up front and off centre from three harmony singers on Centre of My Joy. The harmony trio stood still and silent as Fraser and Moore alternated verses, swaying and singing on the chorus.
All left save Tina Mowatt who sang He's Got The Whole World In His Hand, slowly raising her mortal right version, fingers curled and hand palm cupped, and holding it out towards the audience.
UPTEMPO NUMBER
In the first of many adjustments to the evening's programme, Ho Lung came on, smiled and said "Hi. I am not Charles", to chuckles from the audience. "I am Jodi and I am going to do Much More." It turned out to be an uptempo number, Ho Lung moving from side to side and smiling as she sang.
"So now we are going to have a slight change of pace," Limonius said, donning guitar and adjusting the microphone for the evening's first amplified performance of Sitting In Limbo.
After the brief foray into the world of pop, the first half of 'Harmonie' ended on a classical note with Carole and David Reid doing All I Ask of You.
The snatches of sky visible through the open doors of the hall were dark when 'Harmonie' resumed, Moore's voice going up as he sang "up in the sky" in Wade In The Water. Seretse Small started Solas Market low and slow, picking up the pace and playing four strong strums to hit a crescendo before playing the chorus the second time around.
Maurice Bryan took the concert into its second and final pop foray with Overjoyed, leaning a right hand on the piano in the beginning and Ho Lung sang of the Simple Joys of Maidenhood. Moore sang of Sunrise, Sunset as the night deepened and there were chuckles at Ho Lung's merry costume for the uptempo I've Got My Health.
Limonius went classical with Amarilli Mia Bella and the concert ended with Fraser and Moore combining on Summertime, Fraser playing the alto saxophone as well as singing.
