Karen Smith Memorial Scholarship Concert ‘simply wonderful’

By the end of the concert at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) last Sunday, a few things were accepted as fact: on that great resurrection morn, Karen Smith will be the leader of the ‘Jerusalem Choir’; the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well within the music fraternity and, just like the event’s patron P.J. Patterson said of his own self light years ago, the Karen Smith Memorial Scholarship Concert “shall return”.

Smith’s widower, legendary bass player Jackie Jackson, told The Gleaner that the event was “simply wonderful”, so much so that the otherwise stoic Jackson was overcome with emotion. “Courtni (his daughter) sang two of her mother’s favourite songs. It’s a good thing that where I was sitting it was dark so nobody could see… there was one little [tear] drop. Just one … I am a one-drop guy,” Jackson shared.

He added, “I am overwhelmed with the love shown by everybody. All of the entertainers are here performing for free. Desi Jones and his band for free … it can’t get any better than that. But the best part is that some boy or girl who can’t afford the fees will get a scholarship, because the entire gate receipt is going to the college. It is wonderful.”

And wonderful it really was. In fact, perhaps the greatest wonder was that so much talent was able to fit inside the sold-out Vera Moody Auditorium at the EMCVPA. Staged by Friends of Karen Smith and the School of Music at the college, the concert featured Ernie Smith, Dean Frazer, Boris Gardiner, Desi Jones, Gem Myers, Jon Williams, Carlene Davis, DiMario McDowell, Peter Ashbourne, Pam Hall, Junior Tucker, Seretse Small, Dwight Richards, Rosina Christina Moder, Maria Myrie, Charmaine Lemonious, Ozou’ne, Kimiela ‘Candy’ Isaacs, Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson.

With a larger-than-life-sized picture of a wide-smiling Karen Smith as the brilliant backdrop, the singers and players of instruments took to the stage to pay tribute, with each person doing just one selection. Starting at 6 p.m., it wasn’t until three and a half hours later that the curtains closed on an evening well spent. Even former Prime Minister Patterson’s admittedly “feisty ears” must have been pleasantly ringing.

DiMarco McDowell hit all the right notes with Lady Love, a Lou Rawls cover; Maria Myrie was an absolute delight; Boris Gardner dedicated his song to Jackie Jackson; while Junior Tucker, shouted “I love you, Karen!” as he gave thanks and praise to God Almighty. Charmaine Lemonious put on her dancing shoes as she belted out Oh! What a Sweet Sensation, a song which, she noted, “was special to Karen because Jackie [Jackson] played bass on it”.

It was a folksy synchronicity when Peter Ashbourne sat at the piano to accompany his wife Rosina Christina Moder on flute for Fi Mi Love Have Lion Heart. Ashbourne later returned with his violin. Jon Williams on piano and Desi Jones on drums was sheer musicality as they delivered Happy Soul. Pam Hall, after singing her ‘big chune’, took time to hail her friend – “Big respect, Karen....sing fi di people dem up deh...nice dem up” – and Candy Isaacs brought some Ella Fitzgerald vibe.

An energetic Carlene Davis promised that Jah Shall Wipe Away all Tears and handed over to saxophonist Dean Frazer and his four female singers, who squeezed every drop of poignancy out of Count on me. A not-billed Tarrus Riley was enthusiastically welcomed and performed Remember Me and touched on She’s Royal, while Duane Stephenson, also not billed, made an excellent choice with Dream Weaver.

Dwight Richards was rambunctious and thrilled the audience with The Harder They Come, making way for Kathy Brown on keyboards, followed by Seretse Small, who declared that Ain’t Nobody Love You Better. Gem Myers was an eye-catching package who stood centre stage and purposefully delivered One Moment in Time.

Ernie Smith, who chose All for Jesus, told The Gleaner,“There is no way that everybody involved in music shouldn’t do this concert. Karen has been an influence and inspiration for many of us, for many reasons. She is just the kind of person who demands or commands or requires the attention of all of the fraternity.”

At the end of the evening, a portrait of Karen Smith, painted by EMCVPA student Phillip Robinson during the concert, was presented to her daughter, Courtni, while another framed painting was presented to Jackie Jackson.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com