Review by Larry Sribnick, Editor/Publisher, Bellport.com — performance at South Country Library in 2016
We are blessed with a lot of live music in the Bellport area. There’s live music at The Bellport, Porters, Avino’s, and Cafe Castello. There are the Bellport.com Acoustic Jams and Acoustic Blues Jams every month at the South Country Library. There’s the summer series in the bandshell down at the marina. And, there are the year round live music programs at the South Country Library which includes an Open Mic the last Thursday of every month.
This past Friday, February 19th, I was privileged to attend the finest live musical event I’ve experienced in my over 45 years of living in Bellport… The Black History Month Family Celebration Concert at the South Country Library featuring Rhonda Denet, “TO ETTA WITH LOVE,” celebrating the music of Etta James. The program included soul, blues, R&B, rock, jazz, and a hint of gospel along with the history of how Etta James’ music evolved over the years.
What can I say about Rhonda Denet? She was superb and her backing trio was amazing. There was Michael Bardash playing the baby grand and electric pianos, Derek Scott Buchanan on bass, and Chuck Batton on drums. Each of them an outstanding individual musician, but together… magic!
I guess you can tell that I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. I’d like to thank Patrick O’Leary of the South Country Library for bringing this wonderful program to town. We’ll be sure to let you know when Rhonda Denet and the trio is scheduled to return to Bellport, but in the meantime, here’s a link to her website.