Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
NEW KINGSTON, and more particularly Knutsford Boulevard, has been shoving its way into the psyche of Jamaicans as Kingston's hip strip. As such, it is easier to associate its entertainment value with a night of clubbing, which usually spills over from the clubs to clog the street even when everywhere else is quiet.
However, on Tuesday night when The Gleaner visited the Up On Di Roof restaurant, they found a quieter alternative. There, a lone guitarist sat above the straggling evening traffic left over from the hustle and bustle of the rush hour. The music being strummed is easy on the ears, providing a good way to wind down after a hectic day's work.
Shawn Richards, a student at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, is the night's musician. He would continue his set, with only minuscule pauses for just over two hours, ending somewhere after 10:00 p.m.
ECLECTIC RANGE OF SONG
Richards' performance for the night was never stunning, but it was certainly enjoyable as he delivered an eclectic range of songs that brought in Marley's No Woman No Cry, the Pink Panther theme, Killing Me Softly, and Careless Whisper as he dived into reggae, jazz, soul and adult contemporary music.
However, despite his competence, Richard's performance never truly soars because he is clearly playing from his fingers and not his heart, but what he offered suggested that when he gets to the place of his heart and his fingers colliding, he ought to be wonderful to listen to.
Only a light dining crowd was on 'di Roof', the outdoor portion of Up on Di Roof restaurant and at first, with the exception of the reporter, pen and my book, the bar was empty.
The air, after the afternoon's heavy showers, is just cool enough while potted ficas liberally placed around the space gives the restaurant a feel of a rooftop garden, which is enough to keep the mood tranquil, despite the sound of traffic passing below.
'UNPLUGGED'
According to the restaurant's co-owner, Michael Bernard, Up on Di Roof has been offering live music for several months. On Tuesday night they present 'Unplugged' which has been featuring Richards for several weeks. Thursday's feature, 'Jazz' with the band 'Wide Grin', is another staple.
Bernard explains that along with the regulars, audiences can usually expect a blend of different musicians, some of whom simply turn up. He said that the restaurant is attempting to encourage young musicians by allowing them to play before live audiences and get paid doing so. "Some nights it's stunning. Some nights its 50/50," he said, "but it's never ordinary."
Of course with nights like Tuesday where the restaurant patronage is low, the question of funding comes up and Bernard explains that Up on Di Roof is currently looking toward getting their live nights sponsored. He argues that nights of live music can work in Kingston. "Unless I'm mistaken if it were not for theatre, we'd have nothing else to do," he said.
So the restaurant on the roof in the heat of New Kingston is attempting to provide that alternative by serving up live music.
