Karen Smith Delights Audience at St. Hugh’s Alumnae Fundraiser
By Sharon Marks
Karen Smith and Lascelles
Loyal supporters of the St. Hugh’s Alumnae Association’s Atlanta Chapter were regaled with a night worth waiting for when they attended the association’s Fidelitas Jazz and More Atlanta, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Select in Norcross recently. Among the hoi polloi were KCOBA members Ned Ritchie-Haughton, Kevin Boothe, Karl Stewart, chapter president Everton Barrett and vice president Glen Laman.
Word has it that while hotel staff and alumnae members busied themselves awaiting guests, some of the alums stole a moment to chat with the ebullient Karen Smith as she relaxed with a cup of tea to warm her pipes. Karen, a 2006 recipient of Jamaica’s National Order of Distinction in the Performing Arts, reportedly spoke warmly of things Jamaican, the loving support of her mother and husband and her charming 11 year old daughter Courtney.
Back downstairs in the lower level ballroom, emcee Lou Brown, former Karibbean Connection streaming media jockey and owner of BaBaLu’s Art Gallery in Roswell, officially ushered in the evening with a warm welcome and introduced Lascelles James of London who serenaded the audience with characteristic enthusiasm and appeal. Upon introduction Karen made her grand entrance from the foyer, her exquisite voice like her reputation preceding her. With Lascelles on sax, she lit into a soul stirring rendition of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” that earned them a standing ovation, cat calls and screams of delight. With effortless ease she delivered a sweet a cappella rendition of “When I Fall in Love” and then cha-cha’d into Sade’s “Sweetest Taboo”. Those who were new to her cabaret stylings were charmed as she engaged them in light conversation and breezy anecdotes between sets. Her second set was a rocking medley of reggae hits including “Give My Love a Try”, “Truly”, “Feel Like Dancing” and “Fire Burning” that had the whole house moving in their seats. To the great delight of the audience, she wrapped up the evening with a round of call and response classics and folk songs like “Manuel Road”, “Charley Marley”, “Coconut Woman” and “Matilda”.
Worthy of special mention is the seamless performance delivered by the performers who gave the complete appearance of having had many rehearsals together, but, if truth be told, had met for the first time only hours before. While it might be no surprise to local audiences already familiar with the proclivity of both Smith and James, it was Roots a Fire who proved themselves surprisingly versatile and erudite in their abilities and helped to make this yet another SHHSAA night to remember.
