Songstress Gerelle Forbes and her band of musical gentlemen go into their November 1 engagement at Beveca Sports Lounge in Tacarigua on the heels of an energetic, unforgettable September 26 performance at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne.
Anyone who had missed the fact that the Caribbean was well into a hurricane season would have been dragged back to reality screaming and dancing the minute the broadcaster/singer launched into her set comprising an eclectic mix of musical genres including her own kaiso/blues/pop creations and a conflated version of two of pan player Mikhail Salcedo's outstanding compositions, The Beginning, and Demerara.
Not one for much musical foreplay, Forbes launched immediately into a foot-tapping interpretation of Luther Vandross' Never Too Much which at the same time established the credentials of her band, The Gentlemen, comprising Mark Brewster on the keyboard, guitarist Aaron Lowchewtung, Anton Ricardo on bass, percussionist Keron "Trak" Robinson, Joshua Williams on the drums and Salcedo on pan.
Between tracks, during her radio shifts, Forbes is known to often belt out energetic renditions of Stevie Wonder's extensive repertoire to the delight of everyone else in studio, so it was no surprise that Vandross was followed by a feisty delivery of Stevie's Do I Do. This introduced a faithful cover of Bruno Mars' Treasure.
Most of all, Forbes' competence as a composer was as much on show as her vocal skills and her ability to command every single inch of space on stage...in high heels.
Properly marketed, her Better You can be spotlighted as no less a marvel than any other pop hit making the international rounds nowadays and should be on the playlists of stations everywhere. Her capabilities as a composer are also on display with This is Love–a melodic paean somewhat lyrically reminiscent of Corinne Bailey Rae's dreamy version of Bob Marley's classic Is This Love but with the kick of a throbbing Caribbean heart.
It must also be that Forbes is a fan of the enigmatic Welsh vocalist, Shirley Bassey whose I Am What I Am was interwoven with Alicia Keys' Girl on Fire to constitute an anthemic chorus joined by women in the overflowing audience.
At her side were singers Aaron Ifill and Keishon Jack. Ifill is an amazing talent in his own right and Forbes paid the necessary tribute. Jack is no vocal slouch himself and offered solo interludes along the way.
Salcedo was his usual amazing and energetic self and will hopefully remain as one of Forbes' "gentlemen" on stage. With him on board, there would usually be two simultaneous shows featuring a lovely lady of song and a delightfully out of control gentleman.