<< Front page Arts February 20, 2004

Roses and the sounds of love bloom at Soul Session
Valentine’s Day Soul Session spurs community love

On what can be the loneliest day of the year, Valentine’s Day, Afrikan Heritage House jump-started its tradition of community sharing and joy: Soul Session. The event began by paying homage to the holiday with a succession of love songs by artists ranging from love man Barry White to hip-hop artists like Twista and Kanye West, whose joint hit “Slow Jamz” offer romance a comical perspective. As the songs played, the crowd filed in and took their seats until no seats were left. Many members of the audience resigned themselves to leaning on the walls or sitting on the floor.

The atmosphere remained jovial despite the lack of space. The room was filled with raised voices and laughter as everyone awaited the first performance. After about 20 minutes, the program began, with MCs junior Jonathan Green and first-year Darryle Johnson. They announced that the show would start soon, explaining that the delay was due to a shortage of acts. It was perhaps because of this absence of names and the desire to still have a full evening of performances that the first few performers, including a violinist and several singers, took more time than usual. This is not to say that the pieces were not enjoyable, but the sheer length of them often ranged beyond the limits of the attention span of the audience and many audience members were visibly restless.

Fortunately Green’s cover of OutKast’s “Love Hater” accompanied by junior Jermaine Gardner on the keyboard revived the audience. The renewed energy continued through the next piece, which was a series of improvisational skits by several members of the cast of the upcoming production of for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf. Ensemble members included senior Karla Victum, senior Dazlynn Pinkston, senior Nabilah Talib, junior Alli Maxwell, sophomore Vernicia Elie and directors senior Treva Lindsey and senior Caren Blackmore. The skits were an entertaining blend of drama and comedy that will entice many to attend the opening of the production.

The program was filled with several heartfelt moments including serenades as well as very moving poems illustrating the ways in which the power of love can go beyond romance to include self-love and a general appreciation and respect for the community at large. One of the evening’s highlights occured when senior James Anderson, accompanied by senior Daryl Williams, performed an original and well-composed piece encouraging the audience to nod and listen to the lift of his beautiful voice. The program ended at 1:45am with a final rap medley by Gardner, Johnson and first-year Jovan Campbell, in which they passed out flowers to female members of the audience. The flowers were thoughtful gifts, but they did not compare to the overall gift of intimacy and sharing that has characterized the Soul Session tradition.


 
 
   

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