Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Three members of the Deahaj Dance Troupe dance to 'Amazing Grace'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The Constant Spring Kiwanis Club's annual fund-raising event, dubbed Evening of Elegance, was a thrilling experience for the large audience which came out last Sunday. At times, the show was spiritual and at other times it was a secular celebration. In each mode, it was innovative and captivating.

Nicky OJ, dressed in black with a gold scarf around his neck, was by far the most captivating act on the programme. With a rich baritone voice that belies his averagesize frame, he commenced his stint with a duet performance of The Closer I get to You, with Maria Myrie. Through the use of drama and humour they had the audience on the edge of its seats.

Unleash his talent

With the exit of Myrie, Nicky OJ continued to unleash his talent on the already captivated audience. With fancy dance steps and high energy, moving from stage through the audience, Nicky OJ thrilled the audience with hits such as Sense of Purpose, a medley of Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and One Love (his tribute to the Jamaican athletes) and I Feel Good. He was particularly brilliant in his impersonation of some local singers such as Tiger and Chalice in Dancehall Harmony, as well as demonstrating vocal correctness in imitating the voices of all the singers in We Are The World.

Maria Myrie, also dressed in black, gave a very entertaining performance. Moving offstage she wooed the audience with songs such as Feel Like Jumping, Someone Loves You Honey, First Cut and Dedicated, but it was her duet performance of The Prayer with Christopher McDonald that brought the house to its feet.

Everton Pessoa showed great skills in balancing his use of microphone and blowing the trombone. His entrance was rather dramatic, Pessoa opting to enter through the audience playing It is Well With My Soul and continuing to perform most of his stint offstage.

Main acts

Dwight Richards and his band (Christopher McDonald on vocals and keyboard, Desmond Anderson on bass guitar and Derrick Stewart on drums) completed the main acts. Richards, dressed in gold to reinforce the golden euphoria raging through Jamaica, was lively in his performance. He had the audience rocking to songs like Change is Gonna Come, as well as a gospel medley of choruses including My Mind's Made Up and I Am Under the Rock. At times he alternated vocals with instrument. He sang and played the trumpet with great skill that delighted the audience. He concluded his act with My Jamaican Girl.

Also performing were Oneil Scott, Yanique DaCosta, Diallo Cunningham and Ophellia Carter. Carter was the first to perform in the two-part programme. During her spirited performance, she delivered I Just Can't Give Up Now and 'Cause of Him.

Mature performance

Cunningham and DaCosta represented the youths, but they were mature in their performances; DaCosta in her rendition of Don't Know Why and the Spanish song El Carbonero, Cunningham with a display of skill on the dejembe drum.

The lone non-musical item on the programme came in the form of a dance to the song Amazing Grace by three members of the Deahaj Dance Troupe, who gave a creditable performance.

Dianne Wilson created a blue-and-gold backdrop, adorned with golden musical notes.

One blotch on the Evening of Elegance was the absence of programmes. The void was even more glaring as Dwight Richards, who was also doubled as emcee, announced the artistes but not the titles of their selections or sometimes gave only the first names of the performers.

Maria Myrie (left) and Nicky OJ sing at the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring's fund-raising concert, held at Stella Maris Church Hall, Shortwood Road, on Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer