Regina the Belle of the ball

At 11:14 p.m. last Saturday, looking classy and professional in flowing pants and matching jacket, teamed with a glittery blouse, Regina Belle took charge of the stage at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.

She was there to perform her love songs, because as she told her audience, “I’m known for love songs”, and the internationally acclaimed songstress skilfully threw down a performance that was adorned with showmanship. Her big voice filled every nook and cranny of the venue as she jumped, simulated kicks, did some jazzy interpretations, and exuded lots of soul.

It wasn’t all about her, however, and she took time to give each member of her band, as well as her back-up vocalists, a time to shine. “I can’t be who I am without these special people on stage with me,” she said as she made the introductions. Steve on sax playing up a melody blew them away, and the trio of vocalists, which incudes twin sisters, showed just how in sync they were with her when she asked them casually if they “could turn it up a third”. And did they! Thankfully, Hope Gardens doesn’t have a roof.

Her set-starter, Show Me The Way, was an indication of the way forward, and her fluid movements as she inhaled, belted out some gloriously high notes delighted the photographers front of stage who tried to capture the moments from every angle. She made a solid impression with a string of songs that she called her Love Medley and tested the audience with Make it Like it was and looked gleefully surprised when they sang not only the chorus, but also the verse word-for-word.

In between songs, she connected with the audience, sharing her love for jerk chicken and and her plan to sing Happy Birthday to Peter Perry, the promoter of Perry’s Pre- Mother’s Day Concert. With Perry comfortably seated on a chair on the stage, Regina sang his favourite song, Love TKO, and told him that if he wanted, he could dance with her. He looked too mesmerised to take up the offer.

There’s no way that Regina Belle could come to Jamaica and not sing A Whole New World, the Peabo Bryson collab whose status is anthemic. With Peabo not being billed for the concert and the Jamaican who should have stepped into his shoes calling out sick, Regina asked the audience to duet with her, and they were only too willing.

She segued into another favourite, If I Could, and with fans still holding their phones to capture the moments, she brought the curtain down on her nearly one-hour show stopper.

Prior to Regina making the stage her own, Marcia Griffiths, who performed after veteran reggae singer and song-writer, Glen Washington, did a wonderful job of getting the comfortably seated audience out of their chairs and on their feet dancing to and singing heartily the songs from her extensive catalogue. The Queen of Reggae, dressed in Mutamba, which seems to be her Jamaican designer of choice these days, “tun up” the party with songs such as I Shall Sing, Dreamland, Closer to You, and Fire Burning. She even showed off her deejaying skills as she rocked the place with, “Dem a fool dem a half eediat ... .”

A special treat was her duets with her son Taf, for which she made a disclaimer. “Is not mi young boyfriends. Is mi son,” she said to much laughter from her fans. Taf did an excellent job as he stood in for Da’Ville on the collab All my Life and for the Chairman of the Board, Beres Hammond, on the classic Live On.

Sharing that she has “a message to teach, educate, and uplift through music”, Marcia Griffiths asked the capacity audience, which included Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, to “help me welcome the spirit of Brother Bob Marley”, for whom she did back-up as a member of the iconic I-Three. She led the audience choir in Who The Cap Fit and Redemption Song.

Forty minutes into her set, an energetic Griffith released the Electric Slide and had a casting call for dancers to come on stage to accompany her. It was taken to another level when it was announced that the winner would receive a cash prize. It was pure fun.

Still on a high, she attempted to close the show with Land of Love, a special request, but she also ended up doing Everywhere and reminding her fans that it was “one love, one aim and one destiny”.

At 8:40 p.m., George Nooks, backed by the Public Alert band, opened the pre-Mother’s Day event with I Remember Mama. Dressed in full black with aviator shades, George came with “good, authentic music” and delivered great intros and historical perspectives for his songs. He reminded the fans that “a fur we a come from” even as he introduced songs such as Forty Leg Dread and Tribal War, which was the Song of the Year in 1978 and is still relevant today.

George’s wife, Heather, was his biggest supporter and was on her feet throughout his performance. After his secular segment, he went into gospel and spoke a little about the importance of prayer and giving thanks. Favourites such as Amazing Grace, Through it All, God is Standing by, and Ride Out Your Storm were well received and it seemed natural to get the song service vibe going with choruses Real Real Real, Twill Soon be Done, What a Mighty God we Serve, We Shall Have a Grand Time, What You Think About Jesus and I f I Had Wings Like a Dove.

Forty minutes later, and still singing, George made his exit. “Now that my time on stage is over, I’ve got to say goodbye,” were his parting words.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com