Much can be said about the enjoyable mixture of cornbread and molasses – warm, hearty, gritty squares complemented by thick, syrupy darkness.

This is the taste of Odetta, a sassy legend who performed at the Fairmont Southampton Resort's Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre on Sunday. The concert was a part of 'Reel World Weekend', a fundraiser in aid of the Bermuda International Film Festival's (BIFF) educational programmes.

Let me tell you, it was more than worth it, even with only sparse numbers in attendance.

The music style was such that old-timers were able to reminisce and young bloods wished they had been alive back in the day.

The show opened with the Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist choir singing selections from the repertoire of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, as well as a few classics like 'Ride On, King Jesus'.

After the choir, Odetta was wheeled onstage by her pianist, Radoslav Lorkovic. Having played with Odetta for two years now, their camaraderie was obvious. The performance transcended a mere artist and musician relationship — here were friends joining together in something they loved.

Odetta mentioned how much she loves Bermuda, described the local choir as "delicious", and then shared a quote by Marianne Williamson which we should all take to heart: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

Odetta started with a soulful rendition of 'This Little Light of Mine'. She encouraged the audience to participate, but stopped them after five words, declaring, "That was pitiful!"

After the nervous laughter died down, she set us all on track: "Now look here, if you are nervous about singing in public and you have someone looking at you while you're singing, look right back, bless 'em, and continue singing."

Thus the confidence of the crowd was lifted and the song continued.

She then shared this little tidbit before singing 'Something Inside So Strong' by Labby Siffrey: "If you don't like political songs, just dial out for about three minutes. Hearing this song would lift the saddest heart, and if you want to hear strength in music as in days gone by, you should hear this rendition."

'Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Chile' was next — an appropriate part of the programme considering Odetta is famous for gospel.

It was obvious that the singer, who has inspired artists such as Bob Dylan and Janice Joplin, has taken much of her inspiration from Huddie William Ledbetter, better known to the music world as Lead Belly. Quite a few songs in this performance were written by him, and she even has an entire album dedicated to his songs.

The first of these was 'The Bourgeois Blues', and with her foot gently tapping on her chair, Odetta shared some of the "history that doesn't get into our history books. But HA! Never mind". Next was a blend of the songs 'Alabama Bound' and 'Boll Weevil'.

After this came a Bessie Smith song. 'The Rich Man, Poor Man Blues' was performed with the comment that the title "might very well be an oxymoron".

Next came 'False Advertising', a sly song which declares, "You gotta know how". I'm not gonna tell you what you gotta know how to do, because some readers might not be ready for it.

After the uppity, tongue-in-cheek 'False Advertising', came the sad, persuasive, touching tune, 'Roberta', again by Lead Belly. This, to me, was the sweet thickness that made you ache. Many a woman would long to be spoken to this way. Where have all the good men gone?

'Rock Island Line' was next, and the audience continued in their participation with Odetta.

Lastly, the lovely lady melted us with 'The House of the Rising Sun', a cautionary, truth-telling melody which every true music lover should hear performed.

Truth be told, I only leapt at the chance to hear Odetta because I wanted to experience some living history — not that I knew anything about her. I regret not listening to her music prior to this experience. Although the turnout was painfully poor, those who were in attendance were steeped in a musical legacy with which few could compare.

Odetta's artistic elegance was evident from the moment she came on stage, and the accompaniment of piano was the perfect touch – Lorkovic was neither overwhelming nor a background player, the blend of his keys with Odetta's voice was bliss.

I enjoyed this performance immensely, and had to purchase some of her music to remember her by. For those who don't know (and I didn't either), she was a major inspiration for some of America's most prominent folk artists, transporting passion, soul and power through musical generations. The fact that she is in a wheelchair took nothing away from her performance. It was stellar, her singing strong and confident — not bad for a lady of some seventy-odd years.

If you missed it, consider that you could still sample a bit of molasses and cornbread just by listening to Odetta's many works. Consider that your ear might be missing a fabulous taste of a wholesome voice of history. Consider how your mind growls in anticipation of legacy. Now, Go eat.