Beres provides a moment to remember

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

The midnight rendezvous was met with the blowing of horns and whistles and sounds of music from Beres Hammond's band. It was not just a New Year's Eve show, it was A Private Moment with Beres, and he, like his fans, enjoyed every single bit of it.

The event was held at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club, located on one of the cool hills in St Catherine. And far from the maddening crowd, Beres Hammond, aided by Tommy Cowan, Carlene Davis, Lenya Wilks, Harmony House Musicians and Inferno sound system joined forces to not only temper the winds of the nippy night, but awoke the madness inside of the patrons.

The combined forces were given full support by the chefs and servers with their wide array of dishes and a variety of beautiful party favours.

However, the 'moment' began with dinner that included dishes that catered to the needs of everyone.

After most had eaten, by around ten o'clock young ladies dressed in close-fitting red or blue dresses distributed the party favours. This, apparently, was the cue for Donavan Dacres and his crew from Inferno to turn up the musical heat with Give Me Soca, followed by Tiny Winy. Patrons used any available space near to their tables to work off their meals.

And when MC Tommy Cowan took the large stage overlooking the golf course, they were ready for whatever Beres had to offer. But first, the Harmony House Musicians took time out to show off their individual skills with their respective instruments. Lenya Wilks, the former Digicel Rising Stars finalist who now tours with Hammond, was also on hand to remind the audience of her talent with I would Fly and Pain.

Then it was the moment that all were waiting for.

"Beres sang all his hit songs," said Shirley Holmes.

"I have not sat down."

Unique style

Hammond's intimate moment lasted two hours and ten minutes. He began his conversation with When I'm in Love and continued to unleash hit after hit - Step Aside, What One Dance Can Do, Wanting You So Much and Putting Up Resistance - just to name a few. Each introduction by the musicians brought screams.

In unique style, Hammond used the chance to address the state of the music industry. Riding his Rockaway rhythm, he sang:

"I am not saying that the music is not good today, I am just trying to say where I am coming from people use to respect each other because the music use to do so. When we were dancing we use to dance. (Rent a tile!" shouted a woman) It was almost like family ... all I am saying, I need some change." He then launched into the singing of Rockaway, inducing yet another period of frenzy from females of all ages.

One was Kadian Smith, in her twenties. Later, she gave the event a passing grade and explained that she agreed with Beres "the current music is not so good as the era before."

And while Hammond wooed his fans, The Gleaner caught up with a delighted but exhausted Dianne Watt, tour manager and events coordinator of Harmony House, the organisers of the event.

According to her, the turnout was so impressive because of the love people had for Beres.

"Beres wants to give back to his fans in a smaller and elegant space (alluding to the grander Moments in Time concert)," she said.

The Gleaner also had a talk with Hammond after his fantastic performance.

Looking a little exhausted after his marathon performance, he spoke about why people of all ages gravitated to towards his music.

"I am never able to say why, but what I do know is that I enjoy what I do. And I feel the same passion now as when I just came into the music."