Entertainment

Delightful Evening For Fish

By MEL COOKEFreelance Writer

Saxaphonist Dean Fraser performs at The Foundation for International Self Help (FISH) Development (JA.) Limited 'An Evening of Musical Delight', held at the Stella Maris church hall, Shortwood Road on Sunday. - Winston Sill

Western Bureau

THE FOUNDATION FOR International Self Help (FISH) Development (JA) Ltd. promised an 'Evening of Musical Delight' at the Stella Maris Church Hall, Shortwood Road, St. Andrew, on Sunday evening and that is what they delivered ­ plus more.

The 'more' came from the quips of MC Aggrey Irons, who dropped jibes of the 'bangarang' variety in between introducing performers, as well as injecting humour in the introductions. And there was a bit more than what was offered on the official programnme, as Irons introduced surprise performer Dean Fraser as the "second sexiest fat man in Jamaica."

His jolly smile left no doubt as to who was number one.

Healthy puffing

It was a night of healthy puffing though, as with Richards on trumpet, Dean Fraser on saxophone, and Everton Pessoa and a youngster named Jeffrey on saxophone ­ both in the band ­ there were horns in abundance. And the Stella Maris dancers, Veila Espeut, Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervington served up delights for the ear and the eye.

Eight female members of the Stella Maris dancers rocked souls ­ to the two-thirds full church hall ­ in the bosom of Abraham.

Velia Espeut was introduced as a very good singer and she delivered You Are So Beautiful (To Me) very well. "Free up yourselves. It is a wonderful evening. Relax," she urged a sitting, stiff audience.

She eventually got them jamming, though, at the end with I'll Take You There, complete with guitar solo.

Dwight Richards tilted his horn to the heavens from the side entrance to all the way on stage before hitting a Delroy Wilson trio of songs, including Feel Good All Over. Toots was honoured with Pressure Drop and Monkey Man, Richards' locks flying, as he at times alternated voice and trumpet.

Surprise performer Dean Fraser did an extremely good rendition of How Great Thou Art, at one point bringing the saxophone ­ and the notes ­ from knee height to his right shoulder in a semi-circular motion. He played low, then stuck in an abrupt high note, smiled and exited to sustained applause.

From Hail The Man through Pitta Patta, One Dream and Life Is Just For Living Ernie Smith was a favourite with the audience. He went into the country and western mode for I was Country, which informed that 'we had no horses, only donkey', which produced laughter. The hands went up for Ben Down, there were cheers from the first lines of his first song, Tears On My Pillow and the hall became a jolly sing along camp for the closing Duppy or Gunman.

The Stella Maris dancers did Moods before the closing performer, Pluto Shervington, infused humour with Dat Ting Dere, who exhorted "keep on loving me girl" and had the ladies especially, singing along to the hapless lover's explanation in Your Honour. He went reggae with Morgan Heritage's Down By The River and he closed with a bang with the belly-running Ram Goat Liver and the patriotic I Man Born Yah.

Smith and Shervington closed the show with Marley's Stir It Up, Richards and Espeut joining them to bring a delightful and not overlong evening to an end.