Happy New Year! That seems to be the salutation these days, so I thought I might start with it (seems about right huh?).

This is a review of the Southampton Princess New Year's Eve extravaganza (my word), so that makes that salutation even more apt -- don't it? Enough about the salutation already... I'm sure you've heard that enough already anyway, so I'll get right into the details of the evening.

We walked in through the white-washed moongate, which I immediately noted as a very nice touch. To the left was an enormous `Happy New Year' carved from ice letters and I thought `COOL!' (no pun intended... I always wanted to say that).

Soon we were entering the lavishly decorated Atlantic room to the sounds of the fabulous Exotique playing the Bob Marley favourite `Stir it up', and I instantly knew that this review would be a pretty good one.

Now, the last time I wrote an article about Exotique someone sent in a letter to the Editor complaining about something I allegedly left out and then proceeded to offer his own review of the entire show.

This time I'll just say that the band was outstanding! It was a bit of a pity that they were reduced to playing dinner music at this event, but they demanded as much attention as we could muster between mouthfuls.

I especially enjoyed their renditions of `Under the Boardwalk', `Let's Stay Together', `Jammin'' and the newly remixed version of `Turn Your Lights Down Low' complete with the Lauren Hill rap verse! Very nice.

I'm sorry, but I have to say this... when I first saw this event advertised, I thought that it sounded quite interesting until I got down to the price.

I have to admit, I thought $169 per person was a bit excessive at first (by which I mean right up until I walked through that moongate), but something happened after I got in and got seated and started to absorb the atmosphere a little bit.

The place was packed! Politicians, doctors, lawyers -- this was a big people's party, which usually means it's gonna be a bit boring... but that was not quite the case either (am I drifting?).

The radio advertisement described the buffet as `lavish', and I, my good people, will readily endorse that description. I won't go into the logistics of the matter, but the dessert cart was a carnival truck! (Not really... but it was big!) And, of course, it was exquisite... even the table (drink) service was surprisingly efficient for such a large event. The Southampton Princess staff was definitely on point that night.

Patti Austin invaded the stage at around 10.30 and busted into the upbeat original piece `Razzmatazz', which immediately averted our after dinner grogginess (you know what I mean!).

The dance floor was packed again in no time (having emptied when Exotique exited stage left), as Patti dropped stunner after stunner, charming us into dancing the night away.

I remember marvelling at the quality of this criminally under-rated diva's voice many times throughout the evening, especially on the classics, which included the Platters' `Smoke gets in Your Eyes', Burt Bacharach's `The Look of Love' and the beautiful `I Only Have Eyes For You'. .. Woooooow.

There were some `bugs' in the sound system at the start, which was irritating and frustrating for a few minutes, but the sound crew worked it out by the time we started getting our groove on.

And when the smoke cleared, we heard an outstanding show band backing up an astoundingly talented, funny and polished star.

Patti was backed by Bruce Flowers and Scott Brown on the keys, Artie Reynolds on bass, Buddy Williams behind the drums, Keith Robinson on guitar and Keith Fluitt and the beautiful Kim Jones (Joy kept saying how tight -- that is, good -- this girl looked all night... and then she appeared on stage so it would have been kinda shallow to complement her after the show we thought) on vocals.

The band was awesome, and they especially shined on that exceedingly funky rendition of `Summer Breeze' they dropped just before midnight... tight! `Auld Lang Syne' was the customary midnight serenade and `Rock Steady' was the jammin' resolution for the coming year (let's hope we can all rock steady for the next 12 months shall we?) This was a very good show, and after a while I decided that I would have paid the entrance fee for such an evening if I had to... I mean for what you got, $169 was actually quite a deal! Anthony Santucci and the food and beverage department of the Fairmont Southampton Princess should be congratulated profusely for a job well done... so that's what I'll do.

Congratulations guys! And have a spectacular New Year (I'll see you next year... smile).

Vejay Steede ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW ENTERTAINERS ENT REV