City locked as Kingston Night Market meets International Jazz Day

On Tuesday night, the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston was festive in every sense of the word when a bustling Kingston Night Market met International Jazz Day and locked the city.

Vendors and an overflowing house of patrons converged on the grounds, using up every space available, including the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, as they absorbed the sights, sounds, smell and taste of a fabulous festival of art, craft, food and all that jazz.

In December 2015, Kingston was designated a Music City in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and on Tuesday, the city hosted a show that set the bar sky high. Little wonder that the elements felt the need to join in the festivities with showers (of blessings), which, while causing some patrons to scamper right out of the venue, could not dampen the evening’s proceedings.

Many heeded the invitation from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange to stay and enjoy the rest of the concert with her in the rain, a testament to the fact that in this Creative City “nuh rain cyaa stop nuh show”. After the second downpour ended, they returned, some with umbrellas, with the real jazz aficionados standing this time around to enjoy the offerings from the masters of the game, as the seats in the amphitheatre were drenched.

Dr Kathy Brown had opening honours and her trio set the pace for the evening of excellence, curated by Herbie Miller, director and curator of the Jamaica Music Museum (JaMM). Up next was the cool, soulful, and full of emotion Blue Bogey Quintet, and they have a back story. Led by the incredibly talented Ozou’ne Sundalyah, their mission involves exposing the work of Sir Wilton ‘Bogey’ Gaynair, a Jamaican-born jazz musician and Alpha Boys School alum, whose primary instrument was the tenor saxophone. Among his better-known songs are Blue Bogey, Kingston Bypass, Debra, and Wilton Mood. Gaynair, who made Germany his home, died there in 1995, 13 years after suffering a stroke during a concert.

In a post-performance interview, Sundalyah heaped praises on Miller, who he explained was integral to the group’s formation.

“Over the last seven years, Mr Herbie Miller has been finding [the works of] Jamaican jazz composers because he wants to expose the Jamaican audience to the ‘other side’ of the music compositional arts. We not only have dancehall, which is what everybody knows – of course that’s what’s current. But what happened before? I easily got involved in this project and we first took it to Florida and now we are here ... and if we were to judge it based on what’s happening tonight, then I would say ‘Success’,” a satisfied Sundalyah said.

It was actually with reluctance that the audience let the Blue Bogey Quintet go, but they had to make way for singer Keisha Patterson, who made her arrival on stage at 9:18 p.m. Patterson, who led a trio with Canadian guest saxophonist Richard ‘I-Sax’ Howse, quickly found her groove and connected with the audience, which by now was at standing capacity only. Less than half an hour into their set, however, the venue was kissed by raindrops. It was only the faint of heart who decided to move out of the gentle showers and the soulful singer continued doing what she does best.

Patterson’s exit made way for Minister Grange, who welcomed patrons and dignitaries, and asked all to acknowledge a very special guest, “the honourable Marjorie Whylie”. There was a treat in store, as Whylie sat at the piano, and oblivious to the rain, which by now was tumbling down, forcing all to run for cover, the maestro played on and on, with a serene smile on her face.

Heeding the call to brave the weather, patrons were ready at 10:17 p.m. to welcome the JaMM Orchestra, led by pianist and musical director, Ozou’ne Sundalyah. They thrilled with a combination of compositions by Jamaican jazz musicians, including Carlos Malcolm and Don Drummond, and pieces associated with Duke Ellington, Thad Jones and others. Sundalyah invited Mikey Fletcher to join on bass and singer Michael Robinson to do a few songs, one of which was Al Jarreau’s popular We’re in This Love Together, which drew “Oohs” and “Aahs” from the audience.

Several elements were composed to make International Jazz Day memorable on Tuesday. “It is extraordinary what’s happening here tonight,” Minister Grange said, and many echoed her sentiments. For the Night Market vendors it was the “best night ever” as they told The Gleaner that sales were robust.

“I never expected anything like this! Look at the crowd! The car park at Police [Officers’ Club] is full as well as over here. One vendor told me that she sold six dresses and the first sale covered the cost of her booth so she was fine with packing up when the rain started. And even though some people left, look how many people still here. Amazing!” gushed decorator and artiste manager, Bridgett Anderson, who helps to organise the weekly entertainment at Kingston Night Market.

“Look at what we can do with a little support,” Herbie Miller said, as he gestured at the fully entertained audience, while smiling and nodding at the many persons who were complimenting him on a job well done.

At 11 p.m., with the moon shining once again, the Curtis Lundy Quintet commanded centre stage and smoothly took the night away.

The free concert was presented by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Jamaica Music Museum. Compère for the evening was Elaine Wint.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com