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Jana Mashonee, Live In Concert

Jana Mashonee, Live In Concert


By R. E. Sowell

January was a big month for me. The seventh was my 28th wedding anniversary, the next day was Elvis' birthday and the twentieth I saw Jana Mashonee live in concert.

The Givens Preforming Arts Center at UNC-Pembroke is a 1600 seat auditorium just across the railroad tracks in Pembroke, NC. I pointed the T-Bird north Thursday afternoon and walked into the lobby a little over two hours later and 15 minutes before the box office opened at six. There were about thirty or forty people milling about and since the seating is first come, first served I got in line at the left hand door. I stood there alone for a while and then people began to form a line behind me for the thirty minute wait.

I struck up a conversation with a couple in their seventies who were behind me. The lady told me that about seven thousand students attend the college and that they had put three children through the school. She was amazed that I had driven two hours for the show by myself.

As I stood in line, I watched as an older man walked around us and through the doors toward the stage. His left hand had a very pronounced palsy shake.

At six-thirty the doors opened and I was the first guy through the door. I planted my butt into the center aisle seat on the front row and waited another half hour. The place slowly filled up and I read over the program. There would be three acts, an intermission and then Jana. I saw the same older gentleman with the shaky left hand walking around the stage, checking things out.

John Scott Richardson was the master of ceremonies and he got things off to a smooth start introducing the first three acts. Then instead of going into the intermission, he got the crowd excited and brought out Jana. The difference was palpable.

If you have not seen the video "The Enlightened Time" do yourself a favor and take the time to watch it.

The video started on a huge background screen with the band playing the Music. Then from a darkened area of the stage Jana walked out playing a flute. As I listened to the vocals of this song I realized that she was perfectly synchronized with the vocals on the big screen. Amazing performance!

After the first song, the applause was like a tidal wave; it seemed to swell from the back and wash over the whole place! She introduced herself and praised the artists who had been on the stage before her.

How do I describe Jana Mashonee's voice?

Elvis was quoted describing Canadian Ann Murray as having the "clearest" vocals he ever heard. He never listened to Jana Mashonee. Her voice is clear, it's pure, and it's powerful without being over powering. The notes she hit were laser accurate. She mixed up the play list on the program. I have heard all the songs before and she never missed a single note. There were no back up singers with Jana for this performance and while the polished versions on the CD New Moon Born are outstanding, hearing her sing the songs solo clearly demonstrated her ability to command the stage.

Photography and video recording was prohibited at the concert. No one else paid any attention to that rule so here are some of the pictures I took.
FULL REVIEW HERE
Posted by MUSIC GOSSIP NEWS February 2, 2011
RThomas007 February 2, 2011
Doesn't get any better than this.
Mitch529 February 2, 2011
I agree...she's awesome!