Saturday December 18, 2010

Space Oddity featuring Jean Meilleur
Red Hot Weekends: Orchestra London

by Brian Hay

This time around the combination of the Jeans 'n Classics Band and Orchestra London seemed like one very large band as opposed to two very different units combining forces to achieve a common goal. The content of the program had a lot to do with it. Most of the pieces on it either lend themselves to symphonic accompaniment or used it when they were first released. The arrangements Peter Brennan prepared were exceptional, even by his standards, and he's been doing this for a long time. The enthusiasm Conductor Mitch Tyler displayed probably pushed everybody. The musicians from both ensembles achieved a level of chemistry that was almost symbiotic. Their playing was incredibly tight. It was a hell of an experience.

The magic didn't come together instantaneously though. Lead vocalist (and Frontman for the evening) Jean Meilleur opened the first set with a strong rendition of "Conquistador" but had to fight with sound problems for the first line or so. It happens. The acoustics in any hall will give any sound man problems once in while. Backing vocalists Rique Franks and Kathryn Rose joined Meilleur for the second number, "Livin' Thing" by the Electric Light Orchestra. The three delivered strong renditions of that and "Strange Magic" but Rique Franks seemed to be holding back. That appeared to throw Kathryn Rose off a bit as well. Whatever happened neither woman began this show with the sure touch they displayed during the Fleetwood Mac show they took part in during the spring.

Jean Meilleur pulled things back together with a brilliant rendering of "Can't Get it Out of My Head" (also by ELO). His delivery was strong enough to push Jeff Lynne's original performance to one side. (It was the first of many such moments). After that there was no stopping anybody. A set of David Bowie's works that began with "Panic in Detroit" and closed with "Under Pressure" yielded an abundance of highlights. Peter Brennan captured the essence of the opening guitar lick from "Rebel, Rebel" brilliantly. Meilleur delivered a fabulous cover of "Space Oddity". Franks and Rose wove a tapestry of harmony singing around him that soared. The band (the Orchestra and the Band) provided a melodic fabric (particularly for "Space Oddity") that was otherworldly. Rique Franks let her voice out of the box for her part of "Under Pressure" when she and Meilleur covered it. The impact of that was something to hear. The two sang as if they were competing and it provided a rousing close to the first set.

The second set could truly be called 'symphonic'. The two Flutists, Margaret Voorhaar and another lady whose name I didn't catch (and who's not listed on the Orchestra's page), moved to the fore and provided a dazzling accompaniment on Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath". Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" was one of the high points of the evening. Meilleur's delivery was impassioned. The band was brilliant. The arrangement was fabulous. And Kathryn Rose just shone. She was right inside that song when she sang it. After it ended Mitch Tyler talked for a moment and stated that he feels that may be the best Pop song in existence. The performance this ensemble gave of it made a convincing argument for his statement.

The rendition of Cliff Richard's song "Little Town" that followed "Don't Give Up" was magnificent. The rhythm section of drummer Jeff Christmas, bassist Kevin Muir and Orchestra London's percussionist D'Arcy Gray established a beautiful dialogue with the horn players. Keyboardist Don Paulton and the string players from the orchestra provided a wonderful platform for the singers to work with. Kathryn Rose and Rique Franks made their harmonies soar. And Meilleur made another song his own.

The show closed with a set of material by the Moody Blues. The ensemble delivered the "Overture" (which I believe appeared on "Days of Future Passed") perfectly. "The Story in Your Eyes" reverberated with the freshness it had when it was first recorded. "Ride My See Saw" was a joy to listen to. (Even if the statement is becoming redundant) "Tuesday Afternoon" was sung with such inspiration that Meilleur again came close to making it his own. "Nights in White Satin" and the spoken "Late Lament" provided an excellent (but not entirely satisfactory) close. There was something more needed.

And more was had. The ensemble answered the space they'd left with "Question", again from the Moody Blues songbook. This piece really illustrated Meilleur's ability to maintain the spirit of a song while doing something new with it. When the ensemble opened the number it was close to what the original artists did with it. When Meilleur sang the heartfelt interlude that runs through the middle of the piece it was his heart on display, nobody else's. He displays that part of himself with all the pieces he sings. Much of the time his heart is big enough to take the song over. That's his gift. Thankfully, he shares it.

As said before, it was a hell of an experience.

On an interesting side note the ladies of Jeans 'n Classics have a postcard of Christmas songs available for download on the Jeans 'n Classics site. The work they've done is excellent. Rique Franks gives a lovely reading of "Little Drummer Boy". Kathryn Rose's treatment of "Holiday Inn" is a true original and a good one. Lis Soderberg's contribution is an original song named "All I Need". It'll make you want to glide. Andrea Kozoil gives a soft jazzy feel to the traditional "Greensleeves". Leah Salomaa's rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy" would be tasty in any age. And Jean Meilleur (even though he's not a girl) provides an excellent sampling of the sort of enlightened overview he brings to songs with his cover of "Driving Home for Christmas.

'Space Oddity' was performed at Centennial hall in London, Ontario on Friday December 17, 2010. It's being performed again at the same place on Saturday December 18, 2010. This write up is done with the intent to convey what it was like to be there.

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