LOCAL TALENT electrifies at opening of PUERTO SECO BEACH
From Michael Jackson’s hits to romantic ballads to the Flairy dance, guests at the official opening of the new Puerto Seco Beach in St Ann enjoyed a dazzling mix of musical offerings. The mood by the poolside changed from reflective to lively and back again.
Andrae Campbell’s ensemble opened the proceedings in smooth jazz style. Saxophonist Howard Foulds featured The Temptations’ Just my Imagination, as guests relaxed and mingled, followed by Spyro Gyra’s Morning Dance. The versatile band, brought together especially for the occasion, included Fould’s, violinist Kingsley Depass; Shawn Depass (drums); Dale Haslam (bass); Andrae Campbell and Othniel Lewis (keyboards) and Jerome on percussion. Vocalist Diamara Walker joined them for three songs – Gershwin’s Summertime; Aretha Franklin’s Natural Woman; and People Make the World Go Round. Dennis Malcolm’s dynamic version of All Night Long, also had the audience swaying.
Sashieka Brown has an effortlessly sweet, yet powerful soprano voice, displayed her vocal skills in a lively version of Art is Calling for Me, and the whimsical Poor Wandering One. Brown then teamed up with classically trained tenor Rory Baugh and brought a new electricity to the evening with The Prayer –a gorgeous duet popularised by Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Baugh then took a solo turn, with the romantic; Con Te Partiro’ (Time to Say Goodbye) – switching between Italian and English. His final soaring high note won cheers from the crowd. Crooning a soulful version of the evergreen 1950s torch song Cry Me a River, Baugh then turned to an operatic crossover classic, the aria ‘Nessun Dorma’, followed by the rhythmic Sway – another sultry 1950s classic.
The energetic Puerto Seco entertainment team then took to the stage, with the iconic We Are the World – a unifying anthem that never grows old. The tempo rose steadily from there, with the team bringing Guardsman Group Chairman Kenny Benjamin and several guests on stage for a workout, with popular deejay Ding Dong’s Flairy dance that left the audience breathless.