The home of the Travelers was transformed into “The Heart of Broadway” on Saturday night, October 5th for the latest concert in the Prana Music Series. An enthusiastic crowd was delighted from start to finish by the eclectic selection of Broadway tunes performed by talented singers Eric Lumiere and Cheri Jamison, and special guests Kevin McMillan and Ariel Downs, accompanied by the illustrious Merrill Collins on piano.
The show opened appropriately with a rousing rendition by the entire company of “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical film State Fair. Next, Cheri took the audience on a transcendent flight “Over the Rainbow” in her sweet, crystal clear voice that induced goosebumps in more than one listener. Romantic overtones radiated during Eric and Cheri’s heartfelt duet of “Sun and Moon” from Miss Saigon, followed by a stirring Andrew Lloyd Webber Phantom of the Opera medley; both leads gave strong, believable performances in their roles. Cheri segued into flirtatiousness with the humorous “Stars and the Moon” from Songs for a New World, and Eric tackled Les Misérables with a moving, powerful “Bring Him Home.”
What came next was announced as the World Premiere of a beautiful new love song, “Safe Harbor,” written together by Merrill (music) and Cheri, whose lyrics were inspired by her wedding last year:
Our love will be Safe Harbor
Beyond the great Unknown
Like a ship across the waters, we will sail
Through all the storms of life
We’ll trust that guiding Light
In my arms you’re in Safe Harbor, you’re home
In keeping with this theme, the first half closed with “Love Changes Everything” from Webber’s Aspects of Love, featuring solos by Ariel and Kevin.
After an intermission during which coffee, tea and delicious chocolate chip cookies were served in the dining room, Cheri started off the second half channeling Julie Andrews in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, singing “My Favorite Things.” Then she showed off her impressive vocal range with “Summertime,” the first of three selections from George and Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Eric joined in for a duet of “Bess, You Is My Woman,” then Merrill had everyone in the audience on their feet for the toe-tapping instrumental, “Oh, I Can’t Sit Down.”
Another original song written by Merrill, “Nous Nous Retrouverons” gave Cheri a chance to show off her singing talents in French. Merrill shared that the lyrics were inspired by a parting hug from a friend, who said “Nous nous retrouverons bientot,” a French expression that means “we return to each other soon.” The bridge is a metaphysical poem about returning to the soul realm, the last line of which was contributed by MSIA co-president Vincent Dupont, translated as:
I remember well the day we left home
With joy we keep our eyes on the return
Since the fall, we discovered our wings,
Embrace the sky that opens now to us.
The sacred mood shifted 180 degrees into the silliness of The Lion King’s “Hakuna Matata” by Elton John and Tim Rice, performed by Cheri (as Simba the lion cub), Eric (Timon the meerkat) and Kevin (Pumbaa the warthog), a crowd-pleasing number that served up laughter all around. The fun continued with Cheri’s depiction of “The Girl in 14G,” a four-octave number that was especially written for Kristen Chenoweth’s 2001 debut album, “Let Yourself Go.” In closing, the modern musical Rent by Jonathan Larson was represented by Eric with “One Song Glory” and by the full ensemble in a magnificent finale, “Seasons of Love.”
However, the enraptured audience at Prana would not let the performers go without an encore during their lengthy standing ovation. Cheri and Eric willingly obliged with a touching version of “The Prayer” (music by David Foster, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa, and Tony Renis).
Don’t fret if you are disappointed to have missed this magnificent concert featuring some of MSIA’s most talented performers. It was recorded live and “The Heart of Broadway” limited edition CD is available for purchase by pre-order only. For more information and to pre-order, go to www.CheriJamison.com/broadway.
About the Performers
Merrill Collins is a prolific musician, composer of many original albums and CEO of the independent music label: Spiraling Music. Her Ministerial Blessing in MSIA says, “That form of music, and the expression of love by which you do this, becomes the greatest example of the ministry.” For more about Merrill’s music, visit www.SpiralingMusic.com.
Over the last 10 years, Cheri Jamison has introduced more than 15,000 people to opera. She has sung with professional opera companies throughout southern California, most recently starring in Long Beach Opera’s outreach program in the one-woman show, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” For more about Cheri’s singing, visit www.CheriJamison.com.
Eric Lumiere became a UK Top 40 singer-songwriter and Billboard #1 Dance Airplay artist after graduating from NYU, most notably when DJs Filo and Peri remixed his acoustic song “Anthem” into a hit dance track. He recently released his debut album Under Love and is currently collaborating with innovative EDM producers Cosmic Gate. Listen and get Eric’s new album at www.EricLumiere.com.
