GIVEN the quality of the performances at Friday’s Relives Motown concert in the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, the Jamaica Asssociation of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) seems to have stumbled upon an excellent idea. An idea that could be taken to another level once copyright implications are sorted out, by producing a live album of one such event.

JAVAA’s latest stroll down memory lane to the Motown era was a novel showcase of vintage performances with more than its fair share of welcome surprises, deserved to be recorded for posterity. The novelty begins with backing band Fab Five’s members reflecting the image of The Barkays, including the massive wigs.

Armed with a powerful voice, Ian Andrew revealed, in no uncertain manner, that his most potent gift is singing. This came out most forcefully in his vocal nuances, strong controlled tonal delivery on the classics Midnight Town, Unchained Melody and Never Walk Alone. In more than just Roy Hamilton’s style, his mastery was exceptional.

Well known for his fluency on the ivories, Christopher McDonald — proving how musically rounded he is — surprised many. Instead of using the instrument for which he is best known, he turned to his vocal chords by taking on the musical characteristics of Teddy Pendergrass.

Gigantic shoes to fill, but McDonald’s immitation of one of the giants of pop music, was among the more entertaining performances of the night. His dramatic presentation of a medley of Teddy P’s love songs — Love TKO, When Somebody Loves You Back, Come On Over To My Place, Close The Door, Turn Off The Lights was so convincing he elicited overwhelming crowd approval.

The capacity audience was in no hurry to release old stager Keith Lyn who was at his usual best singing Engelbert Humperdinck’s Please Release Me, Quando Quando, and Winter World of Love.

The concert will also be remembered for impressive performance of Lloyd Parks, Bunny Brown, Clancy Eccles Jr as The Impressions. They generated much excitement from the audience with Never Let Me Go among others.

There was nothing cold about Deh Deh’s interpretation of The Ice Man — Jerry Butler. He was in fine form with Find Yourself Another Girl and He Don’t Love You.

The duo Bagadito, comprising Bertram Johnson and Bagga Case, could easily have been mistaken for The Righteous Brothers as they delivered You’re My Soul And Inspiration and You Lost That Loving Feelin. And if Yvonne Elliman was in the audience she sure would have said, “Hello Stranger” to Georgia Henry, who did a good job with her song of the same name as well as, Love Me. Lynford McIntosh was a thriller — not quite like Michael Jackson whose outfit, songs and stage mannerism he copied — but did a fairly good job with Don’t Stop and Ben which stirred patrons.

Not to be left out are Andrew Cassanova as Eddie Kendricks, Ken Bob as Smokey Robinson, Jasmine Black and Oliver Smoothe as Peaches & Herb, Dwight Pinkney providing the music for the pair of dancers called The Ventures (Renford Taylor and Joan Richards) Deon Andrea as Diana Ross, and Junior Sinclair as Eddie Floyd, all hit the mark in fine style to add to a wonderful musical experience.