DIAMONDBACK

For audience members young and old alike, the FAME Benefit Concert held Saturday night in Clarice Smith's Dekelboum Concert Hall was an evening full of nostalgic smooth jazz hits from the '70s and '80s. Performances by the Richard Payne Trio and jazz icons Pieces of a Dream entertained the crowded audience, which included prominent political leaders such as state Sen. Douglas Peters (District 23) and council member Samuel Dean (District 6).

FAME, or the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education, is led by A. Toni Lewis, the organization's president and CEO. Lewis was recognized throughout the evening - Peters even admitted to missing part of his wife's birthday to attend. And it wasn't just the audience that was star-studded - the jazz performances delivered in a big way.

The Richard Payne Trio, led by Payne on keys, Rudy Spruill on bass and Roderick Johnson on percussion, opened with an interesting number that blended old and new flavors, creating a sound comparable to a love child between Beethoven and Queen. Payne, who is actually the co-founder of FAME, thoroughly entertained with the genre-blending opener.

The "Three R's" - as Payne often calls the band - then followed up with "Unconditional Love," its own rendition of "amazing Grace" - how sweet the sound - and a jazzy version of "Wade in the Water."

After a quick intermission, it was time for the main event: Pieces of a Dream. With the word "go" from drummer Curtis Harmon, fellow band member James Lloyd (on keys) took off like a horse out of the gate and kept up the pace all night.

Pieces performed many tracks from its latest album, Pillow Talk, which has a distinct '70s and '80's jazz-rock feel. During the piece "Night Vision," Lloyd asked for the concert hall to dim its lights, and performed an impressive solo in the intimate dark.

The lights stayed down, but Lloyd and company turned up the heat with their next act, which Lloyd opened by asking the audience members if they were "old school." Onstage, Lloyd told audience members that if they could remember "house parties in the basement and grinding behind velvet curtains," then "you old school." Individual solos from each of the band members followed, and an appearance by the band's "singer from New York," Tracy Hamlin.

With thrilling performances and a cadre of classics, the FAME Benefit Concert entertained and captivated the audience with the nostalgia of yesteryear. And as Lloyd said about the night's mix of old school and new school, "It's all about fun, ya dig?"