Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Ernie Smith performs at the Foundation for International Self Help Development (Ja.) Limited's 'An Evening of Musical Delight', held at the Stella Maris Church Hall, Shortwood Road, on Sunday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE PURPOSE of 'An Evening of Musical Delight', held at the Stella Maris Church Hall, Shortwood Road, St. Andrew, on Sunday night, was emphasised in a humorous moment during the first section of the programme.
Trumpeter and singer Dwight Richards spoke about a friend of his getting help with his eyes from the Foundation for International Self-Help (Ja.) Ltd. (FISH), to which funds from the event went, saying that he was "very old, about 70."
Laughter rocked the hall, as many hearty close to 70 and maybe over were present.
With MC Aggrey Irons (who introduced surprise performer Dean Frazer as the 'second sexiest fat man in Jamaica' and there were no prizes for guessing the first), Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervington, rib-tickling was expected and duly delivered.
There was, in addition, some hair-raising, courtesy of Frazer with a superb rendition of How Great Thou Art, soul-soothing by Richards on a vocal and trumpet delivery of Amazing Grace (Will Always Be My Song of Praise) and high-flying by the Stella Maris dancers at the end of Glory, when four female dancers raised another skyward.
And there was foot-stomping by Velia Espeut, who ended her performance with The Staple Singers' I'll Take You There, complete with a saxophone solo by 'Jeffrey'.
SOOTHING HORNS
Horns played a big role in the first section of 'An Evening of Musical Delight'. Everton Pessoa providing the deep notes of the trombone, Richards the piercing presence of the trumpet and Frazer the delicate delights of alto saxophone.
Church hall or not, the women especially sang along heartily with Pluto Shervington in the defense of the accused in Your Honour, declaring "me han' dem was occupied, de shirt in de lef' an' de pants in de right."
Ernie Smith dropped the delightful country and western number I Was Country in a set that included the classics Ben Down, Pitta Patta and Life Is Just For Living, closing with the singalong Duppy or Gunman.
Smith sprinkled some humour on the platter of his baritone as well, in introducing Tears on My Pillow. Going into a deep, radio announcer style voice, he said "this is a song I recorded on the same day I was refused a job at RJR as a radio announcer." There was laughter all around.
IRONS' CONCLUSION
The concert ended with all the singers jamming to Marley's Stir It Up, Shervington putting in Junior Kelly's Love So Nice to good effect.
And Aggrey Irons explained the specific purpose for which the concert was held, managing to inject some humour as well. "FISH has a programme to test the vision of every primary school child in Kingston and St. Andrew and then hopefully the rest of the island. Very costly and very ambitious, but they say when they are finished, they will go down to Gordon House and test the vision of the politicians there," he said, to chuckles.
