Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Featured performers at last Friday's US Embassy lunch-hour concert were Carole Reid (left), Harold Davis (centre), and Karen Smith OD. - Contributed

United States(us) Ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda La Grange-Johnson may have had an inkling of the pleasure she'd have obtained listening to the three top-drawer performers she'd booked - singers Karen Smith and Carole Reid and keyboardist Harold Davis, who accompanied them, for last Friday's concert. She did send apologies for her absence to the 30 or so guests at the US Embassy, that she really would have preferred to be with them at the concert "doing fun things".

But the ambassador couldn't have known how moving the hour-long concert would be and how much love and spirituality the musicians would have generated, so much so that they were rewarded with a standing ovation.

Injection of fun

Still, Davis started the concert with an injection of fun, not spirituality. Alone on the landing, half-way up the curving iron staircase in the Atrium, the venue for the event, he launched off with the perky Peanut Vendor.

He then went into a medley of Jamaican folk tunes, including Sly Mongoose, Hol' Im Joe, Cordelia Brown and Emmanuel Road.

The segue into spirituality came when Reid climbed the steps to join Davis. Together they delivered a soulful Our Father, which was as delightful as it was unexpected.

Reid then started her solo set with Till, heightening the intimacy of the occasion by moving close to the audience.

Her soaring soprano perfectly suited You Raise Me Up and the applause reached a new peak. The enthusiasm increased further with Reid's advice to Climb Every Mountain and the final item in the segment, a poignant duet with Davis, A Place Where We'll Be Safe.

Humorous and sincere

It was then Davis' turn to solo. Changing the pace, he performed a version of the Taurrus Riley hit She's Royal that was both humorous and sincere.

Smith, the featured performer, was out of sight when she began singing How Glad I Am, but the words and her gloriously flexible voice gave notice that the concert was about to be taken to another level.

Her love was communicated with handshakes, hugs, her million-dollar smile and words, spoken and sung. Later, beginning with the bouncy reggae ballad, Sweet Sensation, came her dancing.

The quieter, sincere I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again was followed by a duet with Reid which turned out to be a bit of character drama.

In his eyes

"Tell him the sun and moon rise in his eyes," Reid counselled the uncertain, smitten Smith. As the song ended, the women hugged and the audience cheered.

It had become a sweetly sentimental afternoon.

Smith shifted into her Aretha Franklin medley, comprising Natural Woman, I Say a Little Prayer for You and the energetic R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Reminding the audience "we all need guidance and protection", Smith next delivered a heart-felt wish - "may each day in your life be a good day".

Reid returned for another duet, Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand. At the singers' urging, the members of the audience did just that.