Front (L-R) Tony Pulizzi, Sy Smith, Sonya Enchill Om, Rebecca Jade, Stacey Lamont Sydnor; Back (L-R) Adam Aejaye Jackson, Myron McKinley, Ian Martin, Gary Bias (by Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)
The Myron McKinley Legacy Concert Series Presents “Speakeasy” at the Pavilion Theater
With an all-star musical lineup, Concerts.Cafe was a huge success with Earth, Wind & Fire’s Myron McKinley leading the way with his legacy concert series debut “The Speakeasy.”
On Sunday evening, September 12th, 2021, the Legacy Theater was transformed into a Speakeasy, featuring gifted pianist/producer/songwriter Myron McKinley who is the musical director and keyboardist of the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire. McKinley led a very talented group of musicians that featured vocalists Sy Smith, Rebecca Jade, and Adam Aejaye Jackson with dancer Sonya Enchill Om. McKinley’s trio included Upright bassist Ian Martin and drummer/percussionist Stacey Lamont Sydnor with Tony Pulizzi on guitar and Gary Bias on sax. The Legacy Concert series is by Concerts.Cafe and produced by Florentino Buenaventura, the CEO of EnterTalk and Paul Paul Berezetsky, COO.
This concert series is the first of many regularly scheduled performances of unique music performances, filmed before a live audience at the Pavilion Theater, owned and operated by the Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa in San Diego, California. Each performance will be a unique experience, focusing on a specific theme or musical genre under the musical direction of Myron McKinley, and featuring an entourage of renowned special guest performers.
“The Speakeasy” highlighted contemporary songs, arranged in styles from the Roaring Twenties with a bold statement of the era that captured the audience through music, set design, and costumes. The Southern blues kicked off the festivities and set the tone for the awaiting audience. Tony Pulizzi was dynamic as he shredded on his guitar and ushered in vocalist Adam Aejaye Jackson. The audience was transfixed during Jackson’s moving rendition of “Walk on By.” Other highlights of the evening were Rebecca Jade’s interpretation of Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy”; and closing act Sy Smith, who was stunning in a body-hugging 1920s quintessential black gown, gave a powerful performance of Sting’s “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”; Smith’s entrance and exit was pure theater! With the audience eager for more, these incredible musicians stepped up to the plate with a rousing encore, performing the Beatles classic, “Eleanor Rigby.”
Rebecca Jade was stunning in a beige beaded flapper dress with fishnet stockings and matching strap character dance shoes, delivering a magical performance then blowing us all away with her beautiful rendition of “Nature Boy,” enhanced only by the band’s on-point playing. Sy Smith (who has toured as a soloist with Chris Botti) was breathtaking in her form-fitted black gown. Her hair was styled in a traditional 20s flapper do. Smith exuded allure and elegance. And she stayed in character while onstage as her flair for the dramatic was apparent the moment she entered, emerging from the shadows with a haunting vocal introduction to her original song, “Camelot.” Her performance was arresting, and yet she managed to top herself with the even more brilliant, unexpected and ominous interpretation of Sting’s “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free.” Her exit was as dramatic as her entrance!
The audience showed their appreciation by insisting on an encore and stood up with fervent applause. Theirs was a standing ovation that lasted for some time before the band decided on a very jazzy version of “Eleanor Rigby.”
Is it an outdoor venue and if so are there any rooms overlooking the venue?
Thank you!
Yes there is. There are three spaces to do concerts: the theater, the ballroom, and an outdoor amphitheater.