'Leave your leftovers behind and come hear a world-class vocalist,” turned out to be an understatement, as Morgan James came to town Nov. 21, and blew the roof off Festival Hall in Greensboro.
James, with an incredible band, performed a flawless set for the mostly Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS) crowd, plus ardent fans who traveled from Athens, Macon and Atlanta to hear a 90-minute set filled with shadings of blues, jazz, R&B and soul.
James opened with a few unique arrangements of traditional holiday favorites such as This Christmas, Do You Hear What I Hear? and White Christmas. She also included a few original tunes written with her guitarist husband Doug Wamble, whose dexterity and musicality impressed without upstaging.
The crowd also responded boisterously to several of James’ cover songs that have made her a bonafide internet sensation.
Her pitch-perfect high notes in Mariah Carey's Emotions was followed by an open-throated authentic rendition of the Memphis soul classic Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday.
A tasteful rendition of Joni
Mitchell's River paid homage without copying the original, first heard on the classic album Blue.
The crowd, ranging in age from teenagers to octogenarians, roared in approval.
Throughout the evening, James maintained a warm-andwitty banter honed over years of live-performance experience.
She basked in her operatic pedigree without being boastful, at one point quipping that her pianist and drummer “both survived Juilliard with me!”
The opportunity to hear an artist of James’ caliber was a Thanksgiving and holiday gift brought to the community by OPAS, which is on a hot streak of presenting incredible artists in its 15th season.
'Morgan James is a multitalented phenomenon,” OPAS Artistic/Executive Director Doug LaBrecque declared.
OPAS next presents Fa-La-La Dec. 16, Michael Feinstein Feb.
4, 2023, and Samara Joy, a 2023 Best New Artist Grammy nominee, on March 31, next year. More information and tickets for all shows are available online at opas.org.
-Contributed