More Than A Melody

Libby O’Donovan & Michelle Nicolle

Cabaret Festival

Banquet Room, 16 June

***1/2

This show, obviously featuring the joys of melody and harmony, was really more a quartet performance than a duo, contrary to the headline. The Yankalilla Miracles, Catherine Mackenroth and Lauren Henderson did far more than provide backing vocals, they sang lead vocals and were integral and vital part of the whole event and thus deserve special mention.

That is not to belittle the headline stars, after all it their show and their concept and both performed brilliantly.

Supported by pianist Mark Simeon Ferguson and some wonderful bass from Bonnie Aue, we were transported through a history of melody and harmony, although in a slightly random order! This is evident from the opening, a medley of swing classics including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” followed by another but very different medley encompassing the last 500 years, with due apologies to classical performers.

This set up the pattern for the show which included a trawl through the mostly 60’s songs featuring the word “baby”, some jazz from Nicolle and in particular, a superb duo with Bonnie Aue with a rendition of the standard “Bye Bye Blackbird”.

Being from slightly different musical worlds, the leaders complimented each other and with support as good as Catherine Mackenroth and Lauren Henderson the show could not really miss.

That said, the medley of pop tunes highlighting harmony closing the show did not include one Beatle tune!

Michael Prescott