On Feb. 2 Penny Buhr Johnson performed at the Wawota Town Hall bringing her back to the venue of her first concert. Currently living in Caronport Johnson was very happy to be back in Wawota for the evening.
She had played in restaurants and at smaller venues before; but, after moving to the community in 2006 she was encouraged to begin performing as a career. Previously she had taught music for approximately 20 years, but due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, which is a genetic disorder that eventually causes blindness, she found it difficult to continue teaching as her vision worsened. Thus, she has been hard at work since her debut concert just over six years ago.
She was very thankful to be able to play again at the place where she first started playing concerts. The people of Wawota were very good to the family at her first concert about half the town attended. After performing her first song Johnson was completely shocked at the applause, as often in restaurants people do not do this after each song.
The concert on Feb. 2 was not quite as well attended as her last performance in Wawota; but, there were still many people there to support the artist.
Having been ill a week before the concert Johnson was happy her voice had returned two days prior to her performance, so she would still be able to make it out.
Since beginning in 2006 Johnson has recorded four CD's, including a Christmas special. She has also won multiple awards and has been involved in a number of Canadian singing competitions including the 2012 Golden West Radio Star Search where she made it into the top five and the 2011 CNIB iFactor where she came into the top ten.
The talented artist has been playing the piano all of her life and has recently taken up learning the guitar. As she began to play the serene music washed over the crowd and relaxed everyone present. Forgetting about the worries from the day the audience simply listened to the transcendent musical styling of Johnson.
She played her original composition, Overflowing Love, to begin her set. With its dreamlike quality the audience found themselves amongst the clouds as they were taken through the song. Everyone was put to ease as they listened; while, the audience was in awe of her talents on the keyboard.
Songs about faith, love, and family enveloped everyone in a warm atmosphere. Setting people at ease she was therefore able to have the crowd participate in the Unicorn Song, even able to bring two women on stage to do the actions for the crowd to follow. Laughter and a number of audience members singing along followed.
Though she has a unique sound all of her own it can be described as being similar to Norah Jones. Johnson's voice is well suited for the smooth jazz/blues sound she has developed with influences from country and folk.
Writing her own lyrics and composing the music herself, it is something she absolutely loves to do and finds inspiration all around her. From her grandchildren to her faith she writes true words and delivers them flawlessly allowing for everyone to relate and understand the feelings within her music of love and hope.
Everyone present thoroughly enjoyed the performance and were happy to see Phil Redekop join her onstage for a song featuring his bouzouki. Redekop was also the one who did the sound for Johnson's show.
Overall it was a relaxing evening listening to the beautiful music that Penny Buhr Johnson has created.
