REVIEW:
FRIDAYFOLK 2009 11 27
The true test
of a performer is to win over an audience not already familiar with her
work.
Such was the
challenge for Laura Bird at last night’s monthly FridayFolk concert presented
by the Orillia Folk Society.
And to say
that Laura passed the test would be to understate the case. Her poignant
writing, relaxed presence and superlative voice held us in thrall.
Our Folk Society
is fortunate to have a core audience willing to trust the Artistic Director,
Alyssa Wright, to provide them with quality performers, known or unknown,
throughout the series. And that trust is consistently rewarded.
But last night’s
show went well beyond the usual level of enjoyment. We were transfixed throughout,
eagerly listening for the next heart-rending line of lyric and melody, singing
along like the angel choir we are often reputed to be.
Guitarist Robert
Reid complemented every nuance of Laura’s emotional, genuine songs, which
cover a large range of styles, from quiet introspection, through country,
jazz and gospel.
And if a certain
hardworking-on-a-deadline luthier hadn’t taken the time away from his workbench
to catch the early set, I could tell you that not a single person left before
the final notes of the encore had become just a brain-worm for the drive
home.
It was that
rare sort of evening, when everyone, performer included, left smiling, knowing
they had been part of something very special.
Treasurer and
co-founder (1994)