Verlando Small Reimagined delivered two nights of musical excellence over the Mother’s Day weekend.

Both nights, patrons enjoyed extensive sets spanning reggae, country and western, R&B, gospel, and pop hits. The nights were a celebration of music, musicianship, Verlando’s journey to artistry and, of course, mothers. 

The productions brought musicians to the forefront with a six- (and sometimes seven-) piece band accompanying Small on his tenor and alto saxophones. Under the musical direction of Joseph Davis (also bassist), guitarists Wesley Wallace and Brandon Benjamin, drummer Colin Phillips, percussionist Robert Malcolm, keyboardist Audale Martin, and show engineer Keneil Delisser. Vocalists Victoria Taffe, Ashley Brown, and Jovane Blagrove smoothly provided support for both shows.

The dynamic lists of guest performers included sublime vocalists Alicia Taylor, Jodiann Pantry, Ruth Benjamin, and Shuga; sisters violinist Gabrielle and violist Truddi Clarke; CEO of Bresheh and dub poet Randy McLaren; performing artiste DBurnz; trio Island Kings; wind quartet Topp Brass and the legendary Dean Fraser.

His children, Kanaan and Keneea Small, had a chance to share the spotlight with drumming and singing, respectively.

“This is a dream come true for me. I am really happy that you chose to be a part of this first-of-its-kind event,” Small told the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus.

The set lists had several standouts—Kenny Rodgers’ Write Your Name Across My Heart; Tevin Campbell’s Can We Talk; Minnie Riperton’s Loving You led into Joe’s I Wanna Know came before Alicia Taylor performed her rearrangement of Dianna King’s Shy Guy. Digicel Rising Stars alums Pantry and Shuga, treated patrons on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Pantry breezed through three Whitney Houston classics, while Shuga soothed on A Woman’s Worth (Alicia Keys) and So Easy To Fall In Love (Olivia Dean). 

Play Play Play

After the intermission, the audience was awed by costume changes to tuxedos that led into a praise and worship segment in the show. Benjamin filled the centre with her powerful voice both nights and, on Sunday, Jermaine Edwards blessed the audience with two selections.

D’Burnz made impactful appearances on both nights, and on Sunday, Island Kings’ rendition of Everything I Own stirred applause.

The power and skill of musicians to round off a top-class show was evident as Verlando was joined by Topp Brass on Book Of Rules, to right the wrong of the missing horns section on The Heptones 1973 original. On Saturday, Fraser joined No Woman No Cry for the penultimate song.

Lionel Richie’s All Night Long was a rousing conclusion to both nights, especially when Kanaan Small joined the band on the djembe drum.

Verlando Small Reimagined Production Team and Aureum Luxe Entertainment brought the productions using the sponsorship of S2 Music & Entertainment Factory, Osborne Consultancy Services, Headline Entertainment, Roast by Bresheh, Gravitas Experiences, Jamaica Pegasus, Luxe Event Design, and Kurry Hive.