MONTY ALEXANDER and Cassandra Wilson were the major providers of jazz for the 'Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival' at the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, Rose Hall, St. James. After four days on the course's driving range, the festival ended on Sunday night with a rousing, though poorly-attended gospel segment.
The festival was bursting at the seams with great music, especially from the performances of Kenny Rogers, Alicia Keys, Beres Hammond, Michael McDonald and Bobby Womack.
There was lots of reggae, more than enough country, and a good helping of R&B. But despite its name there was not that much jazz. Fortunately Wilson and Alexander are both consummate artistes and so, made up for the lack.
Monty Alexander was the only repeat major act from last year's event. The jazz pianist played a blend of songs which spanned the length of his career. He began with an interpretation of two of modern music's giants, Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley. His interpretation of Marley's No More Trouble was particularly thrilling.
So too was his amazingly graceful rendition of What a Friend We Have in Jesus, which was dedicated to the night's honouree, Johnny Cash.
The best part of the performance, however, was the inclusion of the Mount Peace Mento Band. "Right now I want to reach back to the future and invite some of our heroes," Alexander said when he introduced the band.
With Alexander on pianica, the band delivered a rousing rendition of the folk tune Water Come a Me Eye. The much appreciated segment soon had the audience entertaining themselves, as duly moved, an elderly gentleman attracted much attention as he went on a 'wining' spree.
Alexander plays with such passion, that simply seeing him tickle the ivories makes his performance that much more satisfying. Every camera close-up that showed his closed eyes and head thrown back, helped to transmit his love for the music, which enhanced the entire experience.
His performance was a blissful respite for the jazz lover.
Cassandra Wilson delivered a funky groovy jazz set on Saturday night. In a chocolate dress which hugged her waist and hips before flowing about her knees, she began her performance with a selection of her works from her latest album, Glamoured.
Since the beginning of her career, Wilson has been a hard artiste to categorise with the blend of genres which bloom in her music. Her performance on Saturday was no different.
From Glamour she delivered Muddy Waters' Honey Bee, Sting's Fragile, Bob Dylan's Lay, Lady, Lay and the anthem of infidelity (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right.
A woman of many styles, her performance was always changing. At one moment it was soft and wistful and at the next grooving and sexy. She truly showed her ability to own any song, then as her encore she delivered a saucy jazz version of Tweet's Oops.
A wonderful musical experience, it was good that some authentic jazz also made it to the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.
