A grand night for singing!

This past Sunday I was invited to a concert featuring the music of Adavion Wayne, and I had to write something about this fabulous evening of great music and incomparable singing. In my time of living in NYC there are countless opportunities to witness great up and coming composers such as Scot Alan, Kerrigan and Loudermilk, Kooman & Dimond at venues like Don’t Tell Mama, Birdland and Don’t Tell Mama, but Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church was the place to be. This night of song was tied together by eloquent Spoken Word pieces by Khadijah Percy and Curry Goudeaux.
The talented cast consisted of Julian Jones, Kaci Timmons, Laura Patterson and Stephen Hudson. This 15 song set was easy on my musical palate and made me want another helping after the curtain call. As a vocalist and musical theatre performer I am amazed with other artists and their prowess when it comes to performance, and song interpretation. I was in awe with the texture and character of Kaci Timmons in her performance “Alone” and the classic placement in “Give Me Time.” Laura Patterson’s vocal delivery was by far one of my favorite of the evening. When singing looks and sounds effortless, this is a testament to great training. I was taken back to a young Audra McDonald and this made my creative heart smile. Laura Patterson is a vocalist that is sure to be a household name in the future. Another stand-out performance was that of Stephen Hudson. This vocal powerhouse made an entrance and I was in hook, line and sinker. In acting I tell my students that the character you developing needs to be multi-dimensional, we want to peel away the layers like an onion, and this is a mantra I use when coaching vocalists. From note to note Stephen’s nuance was spot on. The Act I closer “Ready to be Loved” was delivered with heart, soul and as we call it good ole flat-footed sangin! When a songwriter can make us laugh, think and cry they’ve done their job. In the song “Thrills and Train Wrecks, I laughed at this jovial musical comedy piece that should be in the audition rep of college students, and professional musical theatre performers. The song of the night was “Standing Still” which is the title song of the concert. This song which has an inspirational message lets us know that if we stand still we can have clarity, and understand what the future has for us.
In the world of auto-tunes, and over produced Billboard hits, the simplicity of song, lyric and voice has become antiquated and its songs such as “Standing Still,” and Adavion’s creative heart that tells the world that good music is here to stay. From beginning to end I was engaged and this evening of song brought me to think of Songs for a New World, one of my favorite songs cycles by Jason Robert Brown. A great writer/ composer knows his or her strengths but willing to take risks and write from a place a vulnerability and truth and Adavion Wayne has hit the nail on the head. I am Houston proud, and seeing a concert like this lets me know the art scene in Houston is on the brink of something unspeakable.

 

Creatively yours,

Bryan-Keyth Wilson

@literaryprince

 

Videos from the concert!