December 7, 2007 - Memphis, Tennessee

A quick overnight trip was in order to see one of the finest vocal ensembles ever presented at the Edison Theatre. First presented in St. Louis at the Edison Theatre back in 1993, they returned in 1997 as a co-presentation by Edison, COCA and the Symphony at Powell Hall. It seemed that after a 10 year absence, it's time to look at bringing them back. The concert totally made up for the 5 1/2 hour drive mostly in a rainstorm. Mind you, the thirty minute delay in getting the show started at the Cannon Center (for no expressed reason) and the 30+ minute intermission made it a VERY late evening to enjoy their marvelous sounds. Sweet Honey was after the intermission, second on the bill following a Three Tenor immitation called Cook, Dixon & Young. I had to be committed to stay that late and that long. The three guys had clearly well trained voices, but their schtick was layed out REALLY thick. The theatre didn't hand out programs and the guys sang songs from a broad range of styles (some definitely more successfully than others). Unfortunately, they chose to start the program with three arias sung in other languages. Without context or even titles to reference, I think the choice left everyone clueless and smiling pleasantly but uninformed. Their counter-tenor is the real star of that trio.

Then came the ladies. WOO HOO!! As vibrant and stunning as ever, their gorgeous sound builds off the contralto of Ysaye Barnwell. What a powerhouse. Her rich resonance will rumble the rafters as effectively as KODO Drummers did. Joining the five vocal members of the ensemble is Shirley Childress Johnson - the sign language interpreter who is fully incorporated into every aspect of the production - right down to her own solo scat rift. I so look forward to finding the time and place for these lovely ladies back on the Edison stage. It is time-well overdue.