Tanya Stephens delivers at UBTR live jam session
IN THEIR first major entertainment event since the reopening of the sector earlier this month, Usain Bolt Tracks and Records brought nightlife in Kingston to exciting heights on the weekend. With Tanya Stephens as the main act for the return of their live ‘jam sessions’, the restaurant and bar was a hotspot for concert-starved patrons. Knowing all too well that it would be ‘first come, first serve’ to be admitted to the premium event on Saturday night, partygoers turned out in their droves from early. When The Gleaner team arrived at the venue a few minutes ahead of the 7 p.m., showtime, the Marketplace hub was already buzzing with excitement.
But before one was allowed access to the venue, temperature checks and proper hand sanitisation were done at the ticket booth set up outside. The ‘no mask, no entry’rule was strictly enforced, and several patrons were seen being cautioned on the proper way to wear the now mandatory face covering. Inside the venue, tables appropriately socially distanced could be seen scattered across the establishment. The atmosphere was inviting. The latter was afforded due to an easy assist from ZJ Sparks who doubled as resident deejay and host for the night. The experienced disc jockey took charge of the turntables and had patrons catching quite the vibe with some early juggling. She did well to keep the eclectic atmosphere alive before the main act graced the stage. Speaking of the stage, it was immediately evident to The Gleaner team that the performance area had received a recent elevation. In keeping with stage set-ups on the international scene, the area was constructed at a safe height to prevent unwanted close interactions between the audience and the performer.
Before long, it was time for the lady of the evening to take her place on stage. Clad in a simple black blouse, a pair of white jeans pants and black, high-top sneakers, Stephens climbed the staircase adjacent to the stage and greeted her eager audience. Ear-shattering screams echoed throughout the venue as her fans (particularly her female fans) welcomed her. No doubt anxious to hear her deliver some of her greatest hits, the audience could hardly contain themselves when she asked what song they were most looking forward to hearing. She was bombarded by requests and proceeded to deliver a few of them a capella style as her technician sorted through her track list. Admitting that she had no specific set list for the event, just her impressive catalogue, Stephens said she was hoping to thrill the audience with her hits. And that she did as she served up one classic after another. The entertainer had the audience moving out of their seats towards the front of the stage, phones in hand to capture every moment as they sang along to every song. Handle The Ride, After You, These Streets, Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet, and Bum Wuk were among the hits she performed at the start of her set.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tanya Stephens performance show if the singer did not stir up some controversy. Tackling gender stereotypes and monogamistic ideals, the entertainer questioned why women are judged more harshly than men for engaging in some of the same practices. Declaring that she was born to shatter every norm, the singer encouraged women to live their best lives even if that meant having more than one significant other before getting into her mega-hit single, It’s a Pity. Her almost two-hour set also saw her dishing out hits such as Still a Go Lose Him, Tek Him Back, Take Good Care of My Man, and Little White Lie. Throughout the night the entertainer was also joined on stage by a few performers she dubbed close friends. Queen Ifrica and Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths also turned in brief performances, adding to an already intoxicating night. Griffiths performed songs such as When You’re In Love and Electric Boogie. Queen Ifrica thrilled with a short but spicy performance of Below The Waist. Despite requests from the crowd to go on for a little while longer, organisers ended the event promptly at 10:30 p.m. in keeping with the new 11 p.m. curfew time.