The quick strum of a ukulele, the warm tone of an electric guitar, and the steady thump 
of a washtub bass — or “gutbucket” — filled St. George’s Episcopal Church on Friday night during the 10th annual Norwell Harrigan Memorial Lecture.
The crowd swayed to the music as saxophonist Jeremy Vanterpool let out a squealing solo. A set of congas held the beat, along with a wood block and a dried calabash. Then the band members began to sing in unison.
“Long live fungi music,” presenter and bandleader Elmore Stoutt yelled toward the end of the lecture, which was equal parts concert and history lesson. The presentation, which delved into the music of the Virgin Islands, was called “Fungi, Folklore and More.”
“That’s three servings,” Mr. Stoutt said. “I’m not sure how many servings I have in me tonight, but, surely, I’m going to try.”
Simply calling the performance a lecture would be doing it a disservice. Typically, lecturers don’t break out in song, pick up a triangle, and say “come on down, fellas,” to a full band sitting in the audience.
“How do you feel?” Mr. Stoutt asked the audience during the band’s first song. “I feel all right,” the crowded room sang back.
See the Aug. 2, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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