Steel and Voices: Mavis John Holds Court in a Night of Nostalgia

Eighty-year-old Mavis John commanded the stage with undiminished power and vocal prowess at the "Steel and Voices" concert held last Thursday at Kafe Blue, leaving the audience deeply moved. The event, held at the Wrightson Road venue, was a night filled with nostalgia, culminating in an emotional moment when John asked her son, Jason Elcock, to sing their 1977 duet, "You Are What Love Is."

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You Are What Love Is

The concert, described as phenomenal and history-making, celebrated John's extensive musical career. Younger artists paid tribute by performing her iconic songs. Candice Alcantara delivered a soulful rendition of "How Can I Love Again," while Karla Gonsalves performed another Mave and Dave classic, "Apple of My Eye," with pannist Mikhail Salcedo. Glenda Collens brought energy with "You Are Delicious," also a Mave and Dave original, and offered a jazz interpretation of Sparrow's "Education."

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How Can I Love Again

Other highlights included Ann Marie Innis's "Lifeline," performed by John and Alcantara, and a beautiful collaboration between John and poet Eintou Pearl Springer on "Jazz in the Callaloo." The house band, featuring Dean Williams, Kenneth Clarke, Kenneth Baptiste, Russell Durity, Mikhail Salcedo, and Michael Low Chew Tung, provided exceptional backing throughout the evening.

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Lifeline

Gary Cardinez, one of the producers, revealed it took two and a half years to convince Mavis John to return to the stage. He stated that the show could not be repeated, emphasizing its unique and unrepeatable nature. The evening concluded with John performing Andre Tanker's "Marena Osha," Tony Wilson's "Move My Body," and the national song "God Bless Our Nation," which resonated as a collective prayer with the audience joining in.

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Jazz in the Callaloo