(Review [unexpurgated] by Annie O'Donnell)
The lawn is littered with seated, dancing. walking people, acrobatic children in a girl dance band rivalling Diversity...playing bat and ball in the gentle breeze in July summer sun.
Captivating Claudia Edward And Her Prize Catch Of Gem Studded Licks , Flicks, Plucks & Flying Sticks Tightly Pulled Together In A Band Of Jumping Jiving Jamming Soul Diving Music , & Vocals... Revving Up The Audience As If It Were In The London Arena, Albert Hall.
She is a rising star straight out of St Lucia. Her original songs sound like hits straight out of the oven.
Excellent diction, engages with audience,
She shines with the sun who is here to listen to and shine on her as she sings with passion and her smiling face and soul.
I walk right up to the front of the stage
Make connection, get on the page
She finishes with a beautiful original
There's Something About You
Randy Henry, Drummer, played real tight snare sound with kettle drum. Jumping smiley beans style
At 8pm Claudia and Band play in The Tent. It is packed with an audience that doesn't need to be asked to participate as she belts out DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT A THING''.
She says the next song is hers, but Toffee her dynamic lead guitarist wants to sing it and his mesmerising unique blues soul voice grabs me as he sings,' HERE I AM, COME TAKE ME,'.. & BOY GEORGE COMES TO MIND...I close my eyes and I know why as his voice washes over me...
Simon Cunliffe- Lister joins the band with the song BROWN SKIN.. with his screaming sax solo fusing with Randy Jumping up and down with his sticks tapping anywhere in on around him....KC Aurelian merging bass with drum so we have nightclub sound...then
Toffee melts his reggae blues funk energy soul to sing through his guitar.
HE MEANS BUSINESS COZ HE IS THE BUSINESS
SUNDAY IN THE GREAT HALL....MORE OF CLAUDIA AND THE BOYS
The Hall is Packed as I enter..
I see an empty seat on front row
and I boldly walk to it with my A4 pad & pen in hand...
Theo 'Toffee' Joseph, Lead Guitarist
takes you to Heaven as you feel with his Groove
He means Business
Because He is the Business.
as I said before and I wrote it again.
He's so good I said it twice
Randy Henry, Drums is a Flying Drummer emitting
the Spirit of The Ancient Drum Beat of Life.
The Drum isn't alive without the Hit ...
Randy is THE HIT MAN.. He is THE STICK
This is WHY HE MOVES CONSTANTLY
YOU CAN'T CONTAIN HIM.
He is an artist..He is the wind
HE IS JAZZ
CONSTANTLY CHASING
FEELING ANTICIPATING
MAKING THE BEAT
and he always stands up
at the end of every tune
BENTON JULES: KEYBOARD / PIANO
Benton never misses an emotion
he feels it all the way through
a quiet powerful smooth engine
in this high sound energy band
but when you listen for his steady driving the keys
he leads like a Rolls Royce
not flinching, he knows exactly what he's doing
his playing is the fire down below
keeping everything warm and fiery
for the front of the show
Randy is like a Kangaroo jumping around hitting anything he can with his rhythm sticks. hit me, hit me with your rhythm stick, the universe sings to him and his response is raring to go...and Muhammad Ali comes to mind. buzzing. As he danced around in the ring, his fists were his drumsticks. As Randy walks around in his Acapella style excitable like a fluttering butterfly & bee.
Claudia invites her new best friend Niamh, BAREFOOT on stage, she is a young teenage girl here with her family and pals. Together they sing ADDICTED TO LOVE, Niamh focusing on the Chorus and doing an excellent job. Randy stands up to play and he is so tall, about 6'7” and his head bounces off the tent roof. Never mind Walking Bass Line,
KC Aurelian Bass
who stands still and ROCKS UNDERPINNING real solid foundations.
he is so cool...doesn't move but his bass HAS THE GROOVE ,
His ear is so connected to the others
his bass notes move around the chords
making magic...he is a quiet man who lets his bass speak for itself
This Band was a HIT in the Festival...I could have listened to them all day....what else can I say...ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE
Annie O' Donnell 4th July 2017
3 comments :
wow,. thanks for this amazing write up.. blessings always
Wow!! You rocked it Claudia!
Thank you very much
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