There was nothing sweeter than the voices of the numerous acts who swarmed the Hilton Resort and brought life to Honey Jam Barbados 2017.
The talented young women not only showed off their strong vocal abilities, but they delivered strong social messages with many of their songs.
Honey Jam alum Rhea Layne may have ended the three-hour long show, but her performance of Beyoncé’s Freedom, which tells a story of racial inequalities. was one of the most memorable.
The 24-year-old was backed by the house band and they were accompanied by Nicovia and Larix, who provided top-notch harmonies as they sang background, activist Luci Hammans, who read a powerful spoken word piece and Adaeze, who delivered her own thought-provoking rap verse. The performance was deserving of a standing ovation.
Moments before this, both Larix and Adaeze had the spotlight for themselves. The latter performed Leh Muh Teh before announcing that would be her last at the event.
Larix chose the self-penned Sycamore, where she shared the experience of Zaccheus from her eyes. Gabrielle Rock also sang an original piece entitled Dagger Eyes.
For the first time in the show’s seven year history, a song was sung completely in French and the audience had Valentine Meniaud to thank for that. Her rendition of Dernierre Danse was worthy of the standing ovation she received. Continuing the trend of firsts, Denesha Fergusson became the first performer to do an opera number, Caro Mio Ben.
Similarly, Rhesa Garnes plucked at both her guitar strings and at the hearts of the hundreds in the ballroom as she sang Woman. The original piece speaks to struggles and triumphs of every woman.
Fellow alum, Adrianna Mayers also wowed with her original song He’s Mine, while Leigh Phillips jazzed up the event a bit, giving patrons a taste of Honey Jazz 2018.
Other standouts were this year’s runner up in the Richard Stoute Teen Talent, Kenyah Joseph, who delivered a soulful rendition of Martin Garrix’s In the Name Of Love. The audience ate it up.
The show was opened by Ayodele Edinboro, who sang Just Like A Star, while newbies Erin Hunte did The Nearness of You and Ifetayo Clarke did Treat Me Like Somebody.
Jenna Bennett, who won Honey Jam Canada’s Get Me To Barbados competition, hit the stage with her guitar and performed her original song Balance followed by a Bajan medley made up of Alison Hinds’ Roll It Gal and Rihanna’s We Found Love and This Is What You Came For.
Rising dance troupe Riddim Tribe brought their best dance moves during the second half of the show, adding their own brand of sweetness to the mix.
As is customary, each diva rejoined the stage during the final act of the night and they were joined by producer Ebonnie Rowe before the curtain came down. (TG)
