"a wonderful voice"
   – MARVIN HAMLISCH
   

Jazzy soloist captures essence of Cole Porter

THE KAMLOOPS DAILY NEWS,
MONDAY NOVEMBER 8, 1999

DANIELA O' FEE
Special to The Daily News

The Kamloops Symphony Orchestra Concert, Too Darn Hot at The Sagebrush Theatre provided jazz lovers with a full rich orchestral sound Saturday Evening...

...After intermission listeners were treated to Michael Hope's sophisticated presentation of Cole Porter songs. Everything about this singer was smooth from his carefully planned phrasing and interpretation to his stage movements and entertaining anecdotes.

His experience as an orchestral bassoonist was evident in his perfect timing and clear delivery. Hope's polished vocal style was most enjoyable in the lower registers where his voice warmed with a rich vibrato
The emotional range of the famous songs was especially well demonstrated in numbers such as Love For Sale, In The Still Of the Night and the comical Tale Of The Oyster.

The orchestra really cooked in I Get A Kick Out Of You and Too Darn Hot.
The additional rhythm section comprised of Ellen McMillan on the piano, Franz Merfehrt on bass and Ed Hillard on drums yielded a totally professional sound.
Right to the encore, a beautifully sung Bring Him Home from Boublil and Schoenberg's musical Les Miserables, it was a great evening of entertainment...

                                         Michael