FRIDAY NIGHT was a case of musical multiple personality at the 'Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival'. It was a different genre of music for every performer that appeared on the stage at the Cinnamon Hill golf course, Wyndham Rose Hall Resort, Rose Hall, Montego Bay. It was a night of reggae, salsa, jazz, R&B and country.
The hot Cuban rhythms from Elio Revé Jr. y su Charangón helped to warm the chill night air when they started off the show. They were soon followed by a blend of smooth vocals over driving rhythm and bass as Susan Couch delivered a largely reggae set. Abandoning the ivories for most of the performance, the accomplished pianist delivered tracks from her upcoming album In The Rhythm. Undoubtedly the highest point of the night was Kenny Rogers' performance. Along with a few of his more recent hits, such as Buy Me A Rose and Have A Little Faith In Me, with a voice as silvery as his hair, Rogers thrilled with some old favourites.
The audience sang along lustily to Ruby, Lucille, Coward of the County, Islands In The Stream and The Gambler. The Gambler performance featured clips from all five movies by the same name and then a hilarious spoof featuring Coolie, dubbed The Gambler VI.
The night also featured a great jazz set by pianist Monty Alexander. It was through his performance that the description 'jazz and blues' was validated on Friday night.
Alexander's performance easily spanned the breadth of his career. He interpreted pieces by Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, and Nat King Cole and easily mixed them all together with his own original works.
Alexander even brought a little mento to the stage when he invited the Mount Peace Mento band to join him towards the end of his
performance. It was a grooving set, and the audience loved it.
It was time to get funky when Bobby Womack brought his
blazing blend of rhythm and blues to stir up the rhythms of the night even further. Dressed in a scorching-hot and sparkle-encrusted suit, slammed the audience with hit after hit, and they screamed for more.
With Womack as the energetic tour guide, the audience gladly tripped down memory lane singing gems such as Harry Hippy, I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much and A Change Gonna Come.
When he reached, If You Think You're Lonely Now he gave the audience a little something extra as he switched the lyrics. They were singing along happily when at the bridge, he sang If you think you're lonely now, wait until I leave you're a--." The audience screamed in delight.
Womack left the stage singing, "I wanna take you
higher", and it was certainly a mission he accomplished.
Cassandara Wilson
