"DIXIE" JUBILEE SINGERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18228, 12 November 1924, Page 6

"DIXIE" JUBILEE SINGERS.

—: AT THE CALEDONIAN HALL.

Have vou ever -"wondered what it i 3 that makes it impossible to analyse the charm of the ■ negro music ? Perhaps the reason for its unvarying popularity lies in tho fact that the negro jubilee is more than ;r tuneful song. It seems, somehow, to be tho expression, oi the soul-longing of a people—full of marvellous harmony, and yet with something of tho wild ringing through i(. Tlio "Dixies" give a splendid and varied programme, consisting of selections from opera down to ' the boisterous darkey humour. . Of the artists themselves,--they are all stars, possessing voices of ringlar sweetness, rare flexibility, and with a. natural instinct for harmony, perfectly trained. Three members of tho company «'.ro entitled to special mention. They -are Mr AV. C. Buckner, who has a magnificent bass voioo of immenso range; . Madame Buckncr, a, soprano, who. delights all;, while Mi 33 Helen. Simllwood, contralto, whoso voice is ;most .pleasing,' sings with delightful abandon, the old favourites of the sunny south. In fact, it is. said that.'thcsp three people, are the greatest singers of their race. The accompaniments. aTe capably rendered by the "Dixies'" own pianist, Al 1 MacGurder, who is wlso an artist of no mean' merit. . Undoubtedly this company will present. something entirely new to the present generation, and something that will appeal to all. They are absolutely the first and only genuino nil-coloured company of jubilees to tour the world' for-over twenty-six years, and mil open tit.'the Caledonian: Hall on Saturday night.. New Zealanders generally appreciate •a good show, -and' it will bo tho opportunity, for tho-public to: witness one of the Englieh-speaking world's moat popular class of entertainment at a moderate'price of Admission. It is ot.ated that -tho wonderful manner in which the members of this famous combination of. all star artists give the old plantation and river songs, makes it possible for the audience to visualise the cation fields, the old log cabin of the' Blavery davs, and mammy with the piccaninnies. The box plans will open at-The Bristol at 9 a.m. to-day.