?It was truly an evening of excellence on Saturday, when Russell Leonce, Ruth Osman and Rizon got together to repeat their R3 concert at Daaga Auditorium at UWI, St Augustine. R3 lived up to its billing as a righteous, regenerating revolution, showcasing three talented artistes, each sharing their gifts in a show that was polished, entertaining and refreshing, before a capacity audience. The show dealt unapologetically with themes of grace, love and faith in the face of adversity, sometimes expressed as overtly Christian rhetoric but more often in the general sense of optimism and positivity. Leonce, probably the biggest draw of the night, his popularity having grown in the last year with the launch of his CD Culture of Love and his popular hit Troubles Won't Last, delivered his songs with the evangelical zeal and fervour of a preacher-man. Dressed to the nines in a dark grey Millhouse suit, canary yellow shirt and iridescent green tie, and passionately belting out his R&B/gospel songs, he transcended style and gave the audience what they came for. Singer and flautist Ruth Osman was a delight, her lush, warm vocals enveloping the audience in sweet sound.
From vibrato to scat, jazz to Caribbean soul, she showed a large musical vocabulary and the ability to draw from it at will. Her sophisticated versatile stylings on jazz standards like Nature Boy and her own compositions, including Rain and You, held the audience spellbound. Outfitted in funky yet classy clothes by The Cloth Caribbean, and sporting a fauxhawk hairdo, she played her flute at intervals, and on some songs she was accompanied by violinist Janiene Xavier Jacoustik bandmate Marva Newton.
Rizon won the crowd over with strong soca-pop vocal skills, catchy Caribbean melodies and an indomitably radiant smile. He sang soulful original pieces and shared personal stories on songs like I am a Miracle; he easily got the crowd to sing along, saying, "I am a miracle just like you, yeah yeah!" The well-rehearsed band and the faultless harmonies of the backup singers made it easy for the artistes to do their thing. The three displayed a friendly camaraderie onstage, at times backing each other up and otherwise lending support. A simple yet elegant stage was the perfect backdrop for a heart-warming show of high quality (if perhaps a bit long,) one which would do well to go for the hat-trick and complete the trilogy! Ruth Osman, Rizon and Russel Leonce will perform at Kulchural Kallaloo, Under the Trees, at the Normandie in St Ann's, today, from 6.30 pm.
