By Ron Fassler . . .
It only took 10 superb singers in 63 minutes to provide an evening of unqualified entertainment at Feinstein’s/54 Below concert, celebrating ten years of Black excellence. Part of the club’s own year-long 10-year celebration to mark its opening in 2012, the evening was produced and hosted (winningly) by Kevin Ferguson, it’s highly appropriate to list the cast he put together up front:
Trejah Bostic (The Color Purple)
Christopher Brasfield (Book of Mormon)
Natalie Douglas (12-time Mac Award winner)
David LaMarr (Jersey Boys)
Tatiana Lofton (Little Shop of Horrors)
Anastacia McClesky (Caroline, Or Change)
Nicole Vanessa Ortiz (Smokey Joe’s Café)
Jelani Remy (Ain’t Too Proud)
Khalifa White (Caroline, Or Change)
Maria Wirries (Dear Evan Hansen – tour)
The shows next to their names indicate these singers’ impressive theatre credits, not necessarily the shows from which they sang, although four musicals were represented (Ain’t Too Proud, Caroline, or Change, The Color Purple and Smokey Joe’s Café). The rest of the night, the audience was treated to pieces from Once on this Island, Kinky Boots and more. Advertised as “a love letter to the historical impact Black theatre has had on New York City and beyond in the past decade,” the show made good on that promise by simply doing the songs. What better way to prove a point?
What Ferguson and Company achieved was a show that was clean, direct, and engaging. No frills. Pure talent showcased beautifully. Darnell White was present at the keyboard, offering his skills as musical director as well as accomplished piano accompaniment. The bass player was Osei Kweku and Evan Hyde was on drums, making for a trio of very talented musicians.
Some classic songs not necessarily written for the theatre, but later utilized in Broadway shows over the past decade included “God Bless the Child,” sung with power and sensitivity by Christopher Brasfield; “Fools Fall in Love,” performed with a WOW factor times two by Nicol Vanessa Oritz; Maria Wirries’ fiery version of Donna Summer’s “The Last Dance,” and “Stormy Weather,” as stunningly interpreted by Natalie Douglas, with Darnell White’s sensitive piano playing an added bonus.
Jelani Remy took “Just My Imagination” to new levels; a song he had been singing nightly up until the recent closing of Ain’t Too Proud. The same goes for Anastacia McClesky singing “I Hate the Bus,” a recent member of the Caroline, or Change company on Broadway.
Kalifa White, another cast member from Caroline, or Change, led off the evening by singing “Waiting for Life to Begin” from Once on This Island, which boasts a gorgeous score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Another song from the show, “Mama Will Provide,” was represented by Tatiana Lofton’s powerhouse rendition. David LaMarr arrived onstage for his “Land of Lola” by way of strolling through the audience—in full drag (after all, it’s from Kinky Boots). He played off specific audience members bravely and boldly and was a comedic sensation, besides singing like an angel. Last, but not least, there was a stirring “I’m Here,” one of the great ballads from The Color Purple, that had the audience in the thrall of how Trejah Bostic interpreted the vocals.
Again, a special shout out to Kevin Ferguson, whose idea for a show this was and who should put “hosting” as one of his Special Skills on his resume. The ten songs left everyone wanting more, so here’s hoping there’s a new edition of “10 Years of Black Excellence” on the 54 Below stage in the near future.
“10 Years of Black Excellence” was performed and live streamed at Feinstein’s 54 Below on February 6, 2022. For future shows, check out their February calendar here:https://54below.com/calendar/?month=February+2022
(Lead Photo: Nicole Vanessa Ortiz)
Photos: Ron Fassler
