Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
WINSTON SILL, Freelance Photographer -
Samantha Gooden performing at the Custom Brokers Association of Jamaica Dinner and Dance, held at the Devonshire, Devon House, on Friday.
IT WAS the week before Christmas and all through the city, employees were dolling up, it was time to look pretty. As Christmas draws nigh, companies and institutions are celebrating the season with office parties and the like.
In keeping with this tradition the Customs Brokers Association of Jamaica held their Dinner and Dance at the Devonshire on Friday evening.
The event was held under the theme 'The Synergy Continues' and aimed toward strengthening the unity among custom brokers.
Charles Hyatt put his masterful talents to bear as host for the evening, which passed fairly well, despite the very late start. "The evening's proceedings will commence long after it was promised," Hyatt said just over two hours after the promised start of the event. He promised, however, that based on the whiff he had got from the kitchen, the night should be well worth the wait.
The night's entertainment featured Jon Williams and Samantha Gooden. Williams started off the live entertainment with his skills on the electric violin which wowed the audience. He began with Peanut Vendor which was met with lack lustre applause. "Applause is the artiste's food, so don't starve him," encouraged Hyatt. However, by the time he completed his version of Tony Rebel's Jah is Standing By My Side no applause encouragement was needed.
SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
Williams then turned to the spirit of the season with Let the Christmas Ketch You Inna Good Mood. At the end of the piece, Hyatt summed up the audience's response. "You ever 'ear anything as fascinating as that?" he asked.
With Samantha Gooden's arrival, Williams turned to the keyboard, on which he accompanied the vocalist. She began with the classic 'Memories' and drew applause from the first line. As she made her song selections relevant to the audience and the occasion, Gooden displayed both a rich voice and showmanship.
She soon got the audience to engage in some audience participation with You Send Me. For this piece, she wandered into the audience finally selecting a very willing man to serenade. From there, Gooden moved to Stand By Me. For this song she demanded even more audience participation as she tried to get various men to play the other half of a duet. While some were willing, a few ducked her attempts.
The full onslaught of audience participation, however, came when she delved into the Christmas repertoire. Though she kept it simple, beginning with We Wish You a Merry Christmas, it took much cajoling to get the audience to sing along. They showed much more participating spirits with Felize Navidad.
Gooden ended her performance, bringing an end to the live segment with O Holy Night. Though a covering of clouds had long since covered the stars, the song remained a beautiful selection to set the tone of the season. After a silent auction, the audience was left to dance the night away to the sounds of Bass Symphony Disco.
