Musical notes of love

by YVETTE BEST

IT WAS truly An Evening of Love and Music at the Barbados Cadet Corps Band concert on Sunday night.

The Dove Conference Centre was transformed into an intimate setting with the colours of love dotting the auditorium in the form of flowers and hearts in every available spot.

If the decor and the ambience didn't quite do it for the lovers, the music certainly would have taken them over the edge.

The pre-Valentine concert was all about the talent of past and present members of the cadet corps, and none was more titillating than Pernell Farley.

He had the distinction of receiving the only standing ovation of the evening, and if the crowd had had its way his would have been the only encore.

Farley was a real favourite with the young members in the band, who obviously held him in high esteem. Not only was he a member of the cadet band in his day, he was also the director of the Cadet Band, which he led to its first NIFCA gold award in the early 90s.

He literally blew away the small crowd with his "saxy" version of I Believe I Can Fly and Careless Whispers. His stint on stage was more like a jam session between Simon Victor on bass, the dynamic Lowrey Worrell on keys and Farley himself.

The peripatetic brass player teased both the crowd and his players, especially Worrell. It was not long before cadet drummer Terencio Trotman caught onto the vibe and eased his way into the act. Trotman got fully into the act with the encouragement of Farley and his bandmates.

What was even more impressive was that he fit right in, and the timed clap by the rest of the band added yet another dimension to the song. The overall effect was just sweet, and the average person would not have had a clue that it was totally unrehearsed.

The main attraction was still the band. Under the baton of Lieutenant Len Cummins, the cadets played four sets and the band showcased the skills which took them to last year's NIFCA Gala in songs like You Decorated My Life, To All The Girls I've Loved Before, I Will Always Love You, Fame, Feelings and Wind Beneath My Wings.

There were a number of other good moments as well. Beside Farley, the other polished performance came from Mya Daniel, who is more familiar in the gospel genre. The former cadet sergeant had the audience spellbound with her exceptional voice in Can't Live A Day Without You and For You.

Youngsters Danielle Gibson and Fiona Gaskin were hits with their contemporaries in the band with their harmonies in the popular Titanic.

Reverend Mark Harewood, Samuel Millington, Suneta Brooker and Lieutenant Naomi Williams also contributed to the evening of love and fine music.