St. Joan of Arc’s 2007 Concert Series presenters Anna Vagle and Dan Chouinard, decided this year was ripe for showcasing long time SJA guest performer Ostroushko for his own concert at SJA. Choosing MacKenzie as the featured vocalist allows for a richly distinct pairing and a familiar one; they’ve shared a venue together frequently over the years. Tonight only a slight setback got in the way. “I had laryngitis for two weeks,” admitted this laid back violinist. “Not in your hands, Peter,” interjected Vagle from the house. Deciding to cut out any singing, he replied, “I’m not sure that’s a loss.” Ostroushko wagged on amusingly in a hoarse voice fashion through out the concert. For MacKenzie, the only obstacle for her was getting past some poking pussy willows intricately placed in a large pot while she took her place on the stage.

Ostroushko and his combo: guitarist Arkady Yushin, bassist Joel Sales, percussionist Marc Anderson and our own Chouinard on piano and accordion offered some mighty fine playing by launching into Ostroushko’s Italian inspired composition “La Luna.” With his standard attire (that would be rumply casual), wry smile and closed eyes, one doesn’t get distracted when taking in the phenomenal craftsmanship of Ostroushko’s mandolin playing; the focus is purely aural. This gentle opener made way for some salsa flavored lounge music, the Brazilian piece “Benzina,” that was followed by what Ostroushko called a French Hallmark piece, “Arec Relais,” née, with relish. The catchy fun of “Puppy Belly Dance” piqued joyous crowd response while showcasing some soulful riffs from Yushin’s guitar, funky bass playing from Anderson and some furious pounding from Chouinard on piano.

Ostroushko ruminated about St. Paul’s Chapel, which sits across from what was the World’s Trade Center. After 9/11, the chapel was ordered to be closed but Father Harris kept it open to the public. With just Ostroushko (mandolin) and Yushin (guitar) gorgeously playing, Ostroushko dedicated his tranquil “Meditation on a Thin Place” to Harris who maintained a place, said Ostroushko, “Where earthly things would come together with heavenly things.”

Choosing the poetry of Edna St.Vincent Millet and music of local composer Joan Griffith, MacKenzie performed a contemplative tune “Journey” with the band. With her captivating voice and presence, this Finnish Folk singer possesses a unique vocal style, creamy smooth and assured like Judy Collins, but majestically big and hypnotic. She employs a technique called kulning, a Swedish high-pitched vocal used for calling animals, often integrating this style into verses of songs. She followed with the Finnish Folk song “Kaile Mia” where Ostroushko took a lively turn with his mandolin and Chouinard as well with accordion. MacKenzie noted the manner of most Finnish songs, “Not very happy. That’s the Finnish way.” Ostroushko offered, “In their unhappiness, there is great joy.” With that MacKenzie dryly retorted, “Yeah.” They had great fun with a silly ditty about the joys of drinking beer to tune of “Do-Re-Mi.”

Closing the breezy hour length first act, in another Millet/Griffith composition, “God’s World,” we were treated to an all out loose jazz number that lingered with textured layering from the band in top form, if a tad over miked, next to MacKenzie’s subtler vocals. A 25 minute intermission offered generous hospitality of wine and cookies.

The second half opened with just MacKenzie and Chouinard at piano for a tender treatment of the Nancy White/Elizabeth Alexander ballad “I’ll Tell You a Story.” One can’t help but be transported by the exquisite poetry written by White and how MacKenzie so passionately delivered such a nuanced performance filled with soaring vocals and gestures of awakened discovery.

I moved fast, snatching at its mulchy sweet threads through the air, the leaf and rotten-meat ribbons of scent, rough tongues of tigers who have recently feasted, the living decay of happiness, and saddle soap, the lemon urgency of sex, honey of the air - where did it come from? I rose panting up the slope, muscles strung on the searching bow of my body, raised the back of my hand to wipe away the sweat salting my lips and realized the smell - the smell is me. – From Nancy White’s poem “I’ll Tell You a Story”

MacKenzie returned with an achingly expressive vocal cover of the 1967 English Folk-rock tune from Sandy Denny “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” with Ostroushko shining on mandolin. Switching to violin, he joined forces with MacKenzie for her own tour de force composition “Soul Bird” where she superbly puts to use her kulning vocalese. Her song, about when a person’s soul dies and goes on to live in a bird, showcases MacKenzie’s magnificent voice with all of its theatrical splendor that engages tightly with the band in moving verses and explodes in a fiery call with the chorus that’s sung in Finnish. A well deserved standing ovation waited at the finish.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

A Houstonian Folk tune about being in love, “If I Knew,” closed a truly remarkable evening featuring two amazing masters of music, Peter Ostroushko and Ruth MacKenzie.

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!