Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Mary performed with Boris Gardner during the concert which also featured Dwight Pinkney and Dennis Rushton. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Mary Isaacs, with the DP Band led by guitarist Dwight Pinkney, presented a mixture of moods to a full, seated house at RedBones The Blues Café on Friday night.

Before the main event, though, Pinkney played Dance With My Father and Jasmine sang for a "symphony of love". She followed with Knocking on Heaven's Door, reggae style, Charmaine Limonious clambering on stage from the audience for spontaneous harmony duties.

After a break, at close to 10:00 p.m. Don Topping's lanky frame took centrestage. "Here at RedBones we like to keep the integrity of the art alive. And the artiste tonight has that reputation," he said and with that Mary Isaacs was on with a smile. "All singers like to get a vibe from the audience, and I am going to get that vibe from you tonight. We are going to do some jazz, some R&B and do some reggae," she said.

Isaacs started with the R&B, going for Stacy Lattisaw's I Found Love on a Two Way Street, but hit some vocal potholes on the first line.

Better start

Isaacs went jazz for her second song, getting off to a much better start, rocking as she sang I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree and Dennis Rushton taking a solo on keyboards. Isaacs' right hand went to her hip as she started Summertime on a cool night at RedBones.

"I love all men. All different sizes, all different nationalities," Isaacs said before going reggae with Someone Loves You Honey. There was a whole lot of snapping and clapping when the music of My Baby Just Cares For Me began, Isaacs's voice going low to deliver in fine style and Rushton delivering a strong solo.

"I lived in New York for many, many years. Too many to remember. Worked with a band since 1975, branched out as a solo act in 1982. This was one of my favourites," Isaacs said to introduce It's Gonna Take a Miracle. It was finally the ladies turn, as Natural Woman went to all the females in the house. There were cheers as Boris Gardner stepped up to do Unforgettable with Isaacs and yelps as he sang his first note.

I love it

It was back to reggae with If You Knew How Much I Love You, the mixture continuing with At Last, Pinkney rising from his stool for a solo. It was Rushton's turn on Our Day Will Come, Isaacs saying "I love it, I love it" as the audience sang along.

It was her day as well, Limonious bringing out Isaacs' birthday cake. There was merriment and puffing before Isaacs did Memories for the birthday people.

Isaacs ended "You're the best thing that ever happened to me on a high and she closed with the reggae of Perfidia just past 11:00 p.m.