Bermuda Concert, City Hall, May 14.

Bermuda's songbird Pinky Steede performed with elegance, style and panache at the BPWA's annual Heritage Month Concert at City Hall on Saturday night.

Beginning with "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing,'' Pinky delivered a sultry, jazzy rendition. Her voice rang out clearly, with the saxophone-smooth tones of a latter-day Ella Fitgerald.

"An Evening With Pinky'' was essentially Pinky's life in song. The performance was so intimate, so personal, that you felt as if you were sitting in your own living room, around a crackling fire reminiscing with an old friend.

The musical tour started from Pinky's earliest beginnings in show business, at the Sonesta Beach Hotel, with her own interpretation of "Bermuda Is Another World.'' Her bell-like tones resonated around the theatre -- the microphone was just an unneeded accessory.

From South Shore, Bermuda, the tone switched to New York's famous Broadway, where Pinky saw success in the musical "Bubbling Brown Sugar.'' Her tribute to that phase of her life was the singing of Billie Holliday's famous "God Bless The Child.'' Pinky's versatility was confirmed by her ability to switch musical style, and her deep, husky voice reminded one of boiled honey. If you closed your eyes for a moment, you really would have thought that Ms Holliday was singing.

The West End of London was the next stop, as she belted out "Sweet Georgia Brown.'' With the rhythm moving from fast to slow, Pinky delivered all the sass of a Southern Belle.

Emotions were stirred as she recalled falling in love with her husband Michael, expressing her emotions with a haunting rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'' -- the performance reminded one of an almost desperate love, one that was too painful and private to share.

A hilarious moment occurred when Pinky sang an English `ditty,' in tribute to her days travelling around England in a cabaret act. "The Madam's Song'' was a racy number about the Madam's many clients -- the Baron, the Abbott, and the Captain of the Guard -- "once was enough,'' she sang, "but I never do anything twice.'' Proud and confident, she stood and sang her tribute to women -- the focus of this year's Heritage Month. Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman'' told of her self-assurance, yet not in a defiant or domineering way.

Her memories of South Africa were recalled in her song "Never, Never, Never,'' which spoke of the dichotomy of love -- the one you love most can sometimes drive you to distraction, yet you need that person most of all.

From South Africa, the audience was taken to Hong Kong -- singing the simple love song "Yellowbird,'' in which you detected a wistful longing for love.

Pinky also demonstrated a new twist in her show -- comedy. As she recounted her travels around the Pacific Rim, she told of her favourite place, Thailand.

Remembering the incredibly spiritual feeling of the country, and its beautiful people, she told a story about asking a monk about the meaning of life, who told her that "Life was just a bowl of cherries!'' This, of course, sent the audience into gales of laughter, and showed that there was more to Pinky Steede than merely singing.

Pinky also surprised the audience with a cultural lesson, singing in Cantonese. The title song from a Chinese soap opera, it told the story of two lovers who go to tell their parents that they have fallen in love and want to marry, only to find out that the woman is already betrothed to another, older, richer man.

A journey back to New York City was portrayed by "New York, New York,'' and Gershwin's "Summertime.'' This last number was beautifully done, the languid notes seemed to wrap around you as comfortably as an old, soft sweater.

Pinky finished with "Memory,'' from the musical "Cats,'' but enthusiastic applause called her back for a performance of Lennon's "Imagine.'' Mark Squires was an able accompanist. His piano-playing never overshadowed Pinky, but lifted and enhanced her voice. Together their music flowed over the audience in an incredibly beautiful wave of music.

This was a brilliant performance by one of Bermuda's best. Pinky Steede did justice to the professional accomplishments of the professional women of Bermuda. That little girl from Curving Avenue did every hard-working woman proud.

TORY CREIGHTON ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINERS ENT