Musical feast at Jazz ‘n’ Cabaret in the Gardens

Bimonthly music soirée, Jazz in the Gardens, is helping to keep live music alive and the performers at Sunday’s 2019 curtain closer – which added cabaret to its offering – made it a point of duty to heap praises on promoters Ken Nelson, Nancy McLean and Yolanda Nunez. And some of it was even reserved for ‘Fada God’ himself.

“A him hold back di rain this evening, so gi Fada God a nice round of applause,” emcee Weston Haughton urged the obedient audience, some of whom recalled that the event had to be postponed in September owing to inclement weather. Haughton, of course, could not help but enthuse about Jamaican Toni-Ann Singh winning the Miss World title, but he did not let his exuberance dominate his set. “We proud so till,” the Miss Jamaica World co-franchise holder stated and left it at that.

As usual, excellence was the hallmark of Jazz ‘n’ Cabaret in the Gardens of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, and it’s difficult to choose a standout act as all the performers brought their own, distinctive flavour to this themed ‘Feast for the Senses’. However, there was something special about Alpha Boys’ School alum Tony Gregory. Perhaps it was the fact that it was his first and only performance for 2019, and so he filled 12 months’ worth of goodness into one powerful package. Immaculately attired, the suave Mr Gregory was the essence of smooth, and with songs such as Gypsy Girl and Save The Last Dance, he sold memories, wonderful ones at that too, and he left his capacity audience sated.

He told The Gleaner post-performance that he was busy working on his upcoming album and it had kept him studio-bound for the year. He mentioned that one of the songs which he had performed during his set, My Darling, would be the first single from the album.

A tribute

Following in his steps was Jazz in the Gardens perennial favourite, Gem Myers. This audience never tires of seeing this One Man Woman, and Gem, declaring that she loves to sing and perform, did just that. “Every time I’m on stage, I am reminded of the giants on whose shoulders I stand,” Gem told the crowd, before segueing into a dancing mood with a tribute to late veteran singer Delroy Wilson. She also used the opportunity to laud her backing band, Fab 5, for their 50 years in the music business.

Frankie Campbell, during the band’s solo performance, had earlier informed patrons that Fab 5 was formed in 1970, and that come 2020, there will be a huge celebration of their 50th anniversary. Fab 5 is a Jazz in the Gardens staple and, in introducing them as the hardest-working band, Haughton noted that “di bwoy dem bad”. They lived up to their reputation, delivering ballads and uptempo tunes with ease; and they even added anecdotes to some of their songs. For example, Shaving Cream, released in 1975, was a gimmicky tune and the band didn’t initially put their name on the record. However, when it became a runaway hit and started selling 10,000 copies per week, they changed their tune and placed their name on the record.

Singer Bunny Rose did a very tight set, and earned for himself an encore after delivering nuggets such as This Magic Moment, I Gotta Be Me, I Did It My Way and his new favourite song, You Are the Reason by 2015 Britain Got’s Talent finalist Calum Scott. For an encore, he did his “favouritist” song, Hallelujah by the late Leonard Cohen.

Newcomers Lastesha Thomas and Nicola Jasmine were on point with their respective presentations and impressed the audience.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com