Tymisha Harris and Michael Marinaccio
Dynamite Lunchbox Entertainment | Orlando, FL
Tymisha Harris should be a legend in her own right. This year, she’s pulling out all the stops with Cabaret of Legends, a celebration of the Black women who helped shape the music industry. In the past, not only has she led many award-winning performances, including her fabulous tribute to Josephine Baker, but she must also be a D&D nerd. Fringin & Flagons is a show I have to see. I may have missed hearing about it the last time she was in town, but now that I know, awareness is half the battle.
The talents Harris celebrates refused to be confined to juke joints and church choirs. They were no one-hit wonders. They were trendsetters. It must have been tough to decide which songs to sing, but Harris manages to name-drop them all. It made me glad I took a History of Blues Music class years ago. From Bessie Smith to Etta James, these pioneers paved the way, with Koko Taylor being a personal favourite of mine. Let’s not forget Aretha Franklin or Dolly Parton, either. If the show had been longer, I’m sure Harris would have loved to sing them all.
She has the vocal range, personality, and skill to step into every persona, and I loved every minute of it. I couldn’t find a single flaw in the opening show of her Victoria Fringe Festival run. Because this is Fringe, I did not expect a live band to be part of the tour, and canned music is just fine. Had it, I’m sure she’d be performing at a bigger venue!
When I first arrived, I got a bit lost looking for parking. There isn’t a lot, and my advice is to take a bus to the Canadian College Of Performing Arts. Once I found a spot and went inside, I was toe-tapping and jamming to every tune. From Billie Holiday‘s “Strange Fruit” to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” delivered through the voice of Josephine Baker, each selection highlighted a specific cause. The fact that she contextualizes where each artist fits in terms of American (USA) history is important. She reveals far more than some textbooks do.
These women were activists, and placing the right song front and centre was essential. When she transformed into Tina Turner to sing “Proud Mary,” the underlying message was clear: never give up on your dreams.
To top off the night, she sang “Freedom.” It was the perfect note to end on. Some Fringe shows are simply about entertainment, but when a performance carries this level of historical substance, it is an absolute win. Harris also fronts her own band back home, which performs when she isn’t touring. They plan to release an album in due time, but for now, the next stop for Cabaret of Legends is the Vancouver Fringe. The Pacific Northwest couldn’t get any louder!
P.S. Tymisha also has Q The Legends, a celebration of the greatest queer anthems for Florida’s Outfest (Sept 10-13). Let’s hope she takes this act on the road too.
5 Stars out of 5
Cabaret of Legends Teaser Trailer
