Love flavours June at ‘Jazz ‘N’ Cabaret in the Gardens’
IT WAS a relatively large audience which gathered at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Sunday for another Jazz ‘N’ Cabaret in the Gardens. A feast for the senses, with the theme Flavours of June, it featured seven Jamaican vocalists entrusted with the task of revealing the flavours.
As is customary, the concert boasted a backing band (Chris Tyrell and Friends), and a slew of up-and-coming vocalists — Andre Shepherd, Leonardo Carmichael and D’Suave.
D’Suave opened and established the case with love songs such as I’ll Wait for You and Will You Still love Me. He closed his set with the declaration, I Am Ready for Love.
A passionate Shepherd delivered Cruising Together and You are so Beautiful. But few will forget his rendition of the blues song I Am Jealous of The Wind and the gospel Halleluiah. Carmichael, who made his entrance with a burst of energy, took the audience through a selection of Latin, jazz and blues selection.
Veteran
Maria Myrie backstage, emerging after she had captured the audience’s attention. With World Cup love in the air, she too revealed her preference with a Portuguese song. Tears Streaming Down Your Face, Light Will Guide You Home provided the contrast to the uptempo Portuguese song. A reggae medley of love songs preceded her closing
gospel song, You Raise Me Up.
No stranger to the jazz series and now a finalist in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) 2018 Festival Song Competition, Tanice Morrison was inspirational. Her fun-filled set comprised love songs from different genre, including I Love You More Than I Can Say and It Must Be Love. Before performing her entry song, she explained, “There is nothing like some good Jamaican music,” before segueing into her mento rhythm entry, Jamaica Nice Yuh Nuh.
Although coming from a long studio session, Benjie Myaz was a true professional. His set began with People Make the World Go
Round. He was mindful to pay tribute to the ‘teachers’ who have guided him along his musical journey, and ended with a performance of his world anthem I Love You Higher.
No other performer delivered the full package of jazz, cabaret and feast for the senses as Rojjah. From his bright red pants and shirt which he paired with a white jacket, he was a dancing dynamite. Also a finalist in the JCDC Festival Song Competition, he unleashed songs such as All Night Long, preached with To
Love Somebody, threw in a Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley, before singing his entry song, I Love Jamaica.
And the audience enjoyed every minute of it. The next Jazz ‘N’ Cabaret will be held August 5.