“Bird of Beauty” is a relatively little known Stevie Wonder gem that has been covered by esteemed jazz artists including vocalist Nnenna Freelon. It’s a Stevie classic no doubt, rife with clever metaphors and an enviable melody. Yet it would appear on paper to be a strange choice of song to begin a concert with, for an iconic pop/soul phenom who has landed 30 Top 10 pop hits and countless more R&B chart-toppers for good measure. The Motown Legend also has 22 Grammy Awards, the most of any solo artist, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and an Oscar. There are only a very small handful of artists within the entire history of recorded music, who can boast of comparable accomplishments.  So why would Wonder begin his two hour set with a song that few people in the audience would likely identify? The likely answer became clearer to me as the night progressed.

Strength and honor.

Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, baring a striking resemblance to Russell Crowe as the lead character in the movie “Gladiator,” arrived at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater on Wednesday and handily conquered the hearts and minds of over 10,000 cheering fans.

Various Artists

(Hope House Music)

Over the last 25 years, countless local bands and solo musicians have donated their time and talent to perform on the main stage at the spring and fall Stockley Gardens Arts Festival. The art show is a community event produced and promoted by and for the non-profit Hope House Foundation. In celebration of the quarter-century mark, 18 of those local acts have contributed a song to this compilation. Proceeds from sales will benefit Hope House. So whether you want to contribute to a great cause or simply want to sample and enjoy some of Hampton Roads’ finest, this disc is well worth picking up. And there’s something on it for just about every listening taste.

For jazz enthusiasts, The John Toomey Trio’s “Over the Counter” and Jimmy Masters’ “Nothing for Certain” are groovy little numbers. Got the blues? The Michael Clark Band (Ain’t Gonna Get Me Down”) and Fat Tony (“Swinging with Fat Tony”) have the cure. Dig acoustic, singer-songwriter stuff? There’s a bunch: Award-winning Julie Clark is impressive on “Change Your Mind,” as are Matt Miller (“The Question Still Remains”), Narissa Bond (“I Live Here Too”), Lewis McGehee (“Waterfall”) and Stephen Bennett (“A Walk on Winkfield Row”).

National recording artists Joan Osbourne (“One of Us”) and Dar Williams (“Better Things”) performed for Hope House special concerts early in the careers. Each donated a track.

Finally, this CD wouldn’t be complete without submissions by Lori Shapiro (“Yon Highlands of Scotland”), BJ Leiderman (“Open Doors”) and Jim Newsom (“Open Spaces”).

Great collaborative effort. – Jeff Maisey

WANT A COPY? Birdland Records in Va. Beach, at DnD Music off Taylor Road in Chesapeake, at the Hope House Thrift Store (on Monticello across from Doumar’s in Norfolk), and at the Hope House Admin Office (corner of Olney and Boush St. in Norfolk).