The Clarion
A
www.brevard.edu/clarion
Volume 77, Issue 13 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Dec. 2, 2011
Winter Solstice Concert
By Skip Allsopp
staff Writer
Never before has the Porter Center seen a
show hke what the Young Professionals of
Brevard College, with the collaboration of a
jam-packed stage full of BC’s most talented
musicians, were able to give this Thursday
night.
Even before entering the doors a little bit
late, I was greeted with the smooth, rhythmic
sounds of the Zach Douglas Trio grooving
away on one of their numbers. Complete
with drink and refreshments and a collection
bin for the food items being raised for the
Bread of Life, it was a rather nice scene to
start the night.
After a few more impressive numbers
featuring organist Carter Stevens and Douglas
of course on trumpet, those gathered in
the lobby were asked to move to the main
auditorium for the remaining acts. Opus
and XO.
Opus revealed in their brief bio in the
program that they had a fondness of jazz-rock
jams, and having heard their set, that’s a bit
of an understatement! Of the six songs Opus
performed, four were musically open and
adventurous jams that went long, and still left
me sad to hear them go.
Between the snappy and spacious tone of
Johnson’s guitar busting out licks reminiscent
of Derek Trucks, the full low-end thump of
bassist Sam White, the icy fills and solos of
Taylor Bearden, Ki'era Gash, Blake Ellege, and Verntasia Finley performing on stage.
keyboardist and surprise trombonist Derrick
Gardner and the versatile beat of Jeff Lott’s
drums, boredom was not an option. My
personal favorite from their set was “Funky
Mama,” a song that started funky, got crazy,
and ended softly on a fading dissonance that
garnered much applause.
When Opus said goodnight, a quick set-up
change rang in the time for XO production
team Jerard “J. Sweezy” Sloan and Reggie
“Reg. J.” Jackson to take the stage with
their plethora of talented musicians from
BC. They broke right into things with the
stomp of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” sang
beautifully by Taylor Bearden.
From there the night was just great song,
after dance song, after funk song. Classics
like George Benson’s “Give
Me the Night” and Eddie
Floyd’s “Knock on Wood”
were belted out flawlessly
by singer and showman
Blake Ellege, while slow
ballads and the sultry swings
of “Crown Royal” were
rightfully trusted to Ki’era
Gash. Verntasia Finley had
all of the passion and feeling
needed to bring songs like
Amerie’s “One Thing” the
justice they deserve.
Without a doubt though,
the one that took the night
was their finale “Higher
Ground” by the man, Stevie
Wonder. Driven by Sloan’s
miraculous drumming and
the combined funky might
of Jamison Adams on guitar
and Jackson’s keys, Ellege
and the gang roared it home
with full up-to-eleven force
and left the audience on their
very ecstatic feet.
Jerard Sloans hopes for
the evening were that “this
performance would show
these people exactly what
Brevard’s finest are capable
of” In no uncertain terms,
that is exactly what it did.
Thea Dunn