Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Myrna Hague thrilled the crowd with her strong melodic voice at Jazz in May, held at the University of Technology on Sunday, May 18. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Sonny Bradshaw and the Jamaica Big Band managed to 'jazz up' every genre of music at Jazz in May, held at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology, on Sunday night.

When the show started at 7:30, Bradshaw took the microphone and told the audience to sit as the band did the prayer. As the prayer started, the patrons realised it was a somewhat remixed version of the national anthem.

The show continued and the band performed a traditional jazz piece, but managed to add a Jamaican flavour to it with the use of drums, conga, piano and bass guitar.

The brass section, of saxophone, trumpet and trombone, was not to be outdone by the rhythm during the performance of Rucumbine as it was precise and quite powerful.

An unconventional approach

During this selection, Bradshaw looked at the players like a teacher proud of his students.

He was also unconventional in his approach, as he skipped, jumped and ran across the stage to interact with the different band members. During Rucumbine, Calvin Mitchell and Wida Lewis played the conga passionately, forcing Bradshaw to dance and the audience to applaud.

The next selection was led by Dwight Richards, who sang and played his trumpet in a rendition of Ebony and Ivory. There was also a selection that Bradshaw referred to as 'Confucius' which, he said, was from the 1950s. This was uptempo, but sounded, in one section, recently composed.

Myrna Hague also thrilled the crowd with her strong melodic voice, especially during In Other Words. She left the stage, but the audience wanted more, so she returned and performed That's Life. This made some people tap their legs, shake their feet and heads.

Latin music was also in the mix, but with a Caribbean sound. There was also passionate drumming from Desi Jones when he led the band in 2001.

The two-hourlong show ended with the audience begging for more.