This first night of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival belonged to American R&B crooner Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds.

One just had to listen to the unabashed screams of the females in the audience just before, during and after his one-hour-and twenty-minute performance, to get a sense of who had come to see and in whom they were well pleased. From the moment MC Norma Brown-Bell introduced the Indiana-born multi-Grammy-winning singer/songwriter the screams only intensified from then on. With a cool, calm demeanour, confident swagger and boyish looks that defy his 50 years, Babyface stepped onto the stage opening with chart-topper, For the Cool In You. What was to follow for the next 80 minutes was a string of hits that he has either written or recorded. When an artiste has 41 No ones to his credit what can one expect but and absolutely awesome performance.

And so he gave his audience the hits, Whip Appeal, Never Keeping Secrets, My My My, and Song for Mama. However, there was a treat in store for the females up front. He then launched into songs he had written for Boyz II Men — I’ll Make Love to You and End of the Road, he then unbuttoned his shirt and jumped from the stage into the arms of his absolutely famished female fans and they made a meal of him. Each wanting to get their time with Babyface.

By the end of the performance, TV personality Candice Buchanan screamed, “I got a hug from him and it’s my birthday,” singer and Rising Stars judge Nadine Sutherland dripping wet from the performance burst into song, “This is for my Babyface,” spouting the first line from her own song.

The performance was indeed a lesson for his fellow artistes, showing the art of holding the full attention of an audience, captivating while of course entertaining. One of the highlights of the performance was his tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, with whom he has also collaborated. Babyface related how he first met Jackson by pretending to be a news reporter, when he was in the 8th grade of high school. He then delivered a soulful and touching rendition of Jackson’s Gone Too Soon.

Prior to Babyface one of the other major acts to take the stage was soul singer Joss Stone. Dressed in a simple mini dress and her characteristic bare feet, Joss oozed soul as she took her audience on a smooth ride, each track fuelled by jazzy, funk-infused rhythms which just floated on the cool breeze blowing through the Trelawny venue. She paid homage to Jamaica in the track Bad Habit which is set to a easy Reggae rhythm and then raised Marley’s Turn Your Lights Down Low, which drew thunderous applause from her appreciative Jamaican audience.

The lot fell to the 70s group, The Whispers, to put the cap on night one. Unfortunately, a light drizzle just ahead of their performance sent many packing, however, it was their loss as the quartet delivered a splendid performance.

Those who stayed and even endured more showers, The Whispers staged a party and the faithful danced up a storm. From their opener, And the Beat Goes On, to the denouement,

The mega hit Rock Steady, it was another top-class performance complete with slick choreography– even the member who had to perform from the confines of a stool as a result of a broken foot, he too got into the movements albeit from a seated position.

The night’s opening acts was local singer Cherine Anderson, pity there was only a limited number of patrons inside the venue just after 7:00 pm when she hit the main stage delivering all her popular tunes

The Trelawny Multi purpose stadium has been artfully transformed into a festival venue, however, it lacks the intimacy and aesthetics of previous locations — The Aqueduct, Cinamon Hill and the Rose Hall Great House.

The festival wraps up tonight with great performances expected from the empress of soul Gladys Knight, Hall & Oates and the Reggae ambassadors Third World.