CelloVoci Brings Heaven to Teatro Vallarta
”Night Divine’‘ was superbly named. Last evening’s love fest of a concert at Teatro Vallarta went off without a hitch, with hundreds and hundreds of Effie Passero and Branden & James’ fan base very nearly filling that massive 900-seat concert hall. Shouts of “We love you, Effie!” drifted down from the audience and made Effie smile; she is truly home again. Her travels the past few years with Postmodern Jukebox have taken her to Australia and Egypt, all over Europe and the UK, and with her compatriots, Branden James and James Clark, across the US and Canada.
Branden and James were married here on the beach in Vallarta, and the three of them met at The Palm Cabaret. The rest, as they say, is history. CelloVoci’s Carnegie Hall debut earlier this year cemented their commitment to one another, and I can’t wait to sit down with Effie and get her take on the two theaters and how they compare in size and sound.
The stage was awash in musicians with Mark Hartman, Musical Director, on piano and behind him Jared Garcia on bass guitar, and ‘Mimi’ Ramirez, acoustic guitar, a percussionist, and a string quartet comprised of three violins and another cello. If all music came from a cello, I could be perfectly happy, and a couple of brief moments onstage when there were only the two cellos creating those ethereal, nearly liquid tones, took my breath away.
Not breathing happened often during the performance. CelloVoci’s harmonies and the rich tones of James’ cello made me weep with sounds only angels could voice.
The first half was, as promised, dedicated to Christmas/holiday/sacred music. As they explored holiday classics and heartfelt ballads, the trio showcased not only their exceptional vocal talents but also their remarkable chemistry. During the second half, host Sutton Lee Seymour, in a different, sparkly frock, got to sing along with the trio in a hilarious redo of ”Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors.
A crowd favorite was the mashup of ”Besame Mucho” and ”Hotel California.” We were invited to sing along, and we did. As the night drew to a close, the audience erupted into thunderous applause and a spontaneous standing ovation, signaling a collective wish for more. Otra! Otra! The encore left everyone yearning for the next chance to experience this enchanting trio live again.
Branden and James will have a new show at Coco Cabaret in February, and Effie will be ringing in the New Year at Casita & Garden.
”Night Divine” was inspired. An enormous undertaking with so many musicians and such a massive venue to try and fill with so much going on in the city. From what I heard as we waited near the bar for the stars to join us, across the board, people were absolutely delighted. I was so happy to hug Branden, then James, then finally, my birthday sister, Effie. Each one is a star and collectively a trio of angelic proportions. Thank you, CelloVoci, for bringing heaven to earth for one night, From Here.
