The acknowledged first lady of soul and Caribbean jazz, Mavis John, had the distinction of being the lone recipient of a standing ovation at the staging of Guitars and Tenors in Harmony III, presented by Afrikan Option at City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, last Friday night. She appeared on a cast that included calypsonians Abebele (Neil Baptiste) and Versatile (Dorian Hector), along with panmen Noel La Pierre and Dane Gulston.
Backed by Michael “Ming” Low Chew Tung on keyboards, Richard Joseph on drums, and Jamelia Hypolite and Dionne McNichols on vocals, John treated patrons to flawless singing in a segment of musical sweetness and sincerity that genuinely earned the ovation.
Mesmerising listeners with a voice that, over the years, has ripened but remains pure, she opened her set with Jazz In The Callaloo, culled from a poem by Pearl “Eintou” Springer for the theatre production Shades Of I-She in 1995, inviting on stage, to share the work, the poet who was seated in the audience. John then gave new life to old favourites True Colours, Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, and Someone To Watch Over Me, in the process receiving melodious input from backup vocalists Hypolite and McNichols.
The contemplative value of lyrics in Shadow’s (Winston Bailey) compositions were brought to the fore in the jazzy treatment given to Dingolay and sparkling bounce rhythm to My Belief. Mac and Katie Kissoon’s hit of the 1970s Dream Of Me was followed by the late Kitchener’s (Aldwyn Roberts) The Carnival Is Over. She ended with the nostalgic You Are What Love Is with “Ming”assisting on vocals (along with the majority of audience members).
Opening act Abebele brought variety to his offerings. In addition to his selections We Alphabet, Mother, and The Love Of Money, he gave voice to the works of Marjorie Padmore—God Bless Our Nation, GB (Gregory Ballantyne)—Calypso Rising; the late Prospector (Carl Robinson)—Tie-Tongued Bandit, and the late Errol “Stalk” St Hill’s creative remake of Feelings, written and sung by Morris Albert in 1974.
Versatile’s versatility shone in the interpretations he gave to Papa Chunks (Lion); Love In The Cemetery (Kitchener); Don’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing (Bob Marley), along with his 1977 hit composition Destruction.
Panmen La Pierre and Gulston showed off their established artistry on the instrument. La Pierre gave his unique treatment to recognised standards Night Shift, What’s Going On, Love Won’t Let Me Be, and All Night Long, while Gulston, ever the showman, included Ordinary People to open the choices stylishly played on his tenor pan.