Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Members of the group LUST perform at 'Symphony, Together Under The Stars' concert, held at King's House Grounds, on Saturday.
When the seven members of Chalice, all dressed in white, held hands and bowed in unison at the front of the large stage on the lawns on King's House on Saturday night, the audience rose to continue the applause for Still Love You, the band's song for the only encore at 'Symphony - Together Under The Stars'.
And most dutifully rose for the two verses of the National Anthem delivered by Sanchez, also in full white, applauding as the singer said "oh my God, that was so wonderful".
Both outstanding moments of the longest performances at the post Valentine's Day concert were accompanied by the 20-piece Masterpiece orchestra, led by Jon Williams, also decked out in full white.
They were two rare really outstanding moments in a fusion of classical and Jamaican music, before an audience, that at times acted with 'clappical' restraint, which filled most of the large VIP area and clustered near the fence that cost an extra $1,000 to get across, a sea of white chairs indicating unmet expectations.
The expectations of those who came, some ladies showing their finest assets, were answered very close to the billed 8:00 p.m. start time, Williams' tailcoats swinging as he orchestrated the fusion of bows and wind and drum and bass. The acoustic orchestra was set up behind the plugged in band, harmony singers seated to the right of the stage, Natural Mystic and Africa among the opening triple before Williams settled on high in between band and orchestra, which was called into action as required.
Suzanne Couch swayed slightly as she started out with the keyboards, the orchestra coming in as she invited 'open the door'. "I always wanted to do this song with an orchestra. It was recorded with an orchestra," she said before Lifeline, standing to sway and Smile in a delicate green dress. There were cheers for saxophonist Dean Fraser, stepping up from the orchestra to strode back and forth across the stage as he rocked the house with None a Jah Jah Children, accompanied by band and orchestra.
LUST went R&B with Kiss and Say Goodbye and Let's Get It On, co-ordinated movements adding to co-ordinated voices. And the orchestra was in full effect on a well-delivered Mona Lisa.
There was a brief intermission before Chalice broke a decade's silence, opening with See Me Ya and rocking with Good To Be There, guitarist and vocalist Wayne Armond coordinating a humorous storyline through songs. When lead singer Dean Stephens hit Revival Time the audience got loose, hands waving and some standing to dance on both sides of the $1,000 fence.
Pocomania Day continued the tempo and Armond conducted as Stephens impersonated Shaggy, Capleton and Tiger in true 'dancehall monic' fashion.
Richie Stephens ignored a slip as he entered the stage to deliver Wildflower with the orchestra, appealing to Jamaican pride with Come To Jamaica. Tessane Chin's red hair swung in counterpoint to her red dress clad hips on her closing Hideaway, after standing relatively still for True Love.
Squeals went up for Sanchez declaration "here I am" and, delivering cover versions on reggae rhythms with his exquisite voice, Sanchez did not have to ask anyone to dance to I'm Missing You and Bring It On Home To Me. He went original with honours to the "man with the handle" as he removed his jacket, a red rag sticking from his right back pocket. It was praise time with Amazing Grace (Will Always Be My Song of Praise), while One In a Million was delivered in original fashion, with the orchestra.
At just past midnight Gregory Isaacs was in more cold than cool vocal nick, although the audience still rocked to Number One and Love Overdue, even as some persons headed for the exit.
Left: Singer Richie Stephens in classical mood. Center: Wayne Harmond (left) and Dean Stephens of Chalice entertaining the audience. Right: Dean Frazer blowing his way into the heart of the audience. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
