It was no idle talk from soul sista, Betty Wright, who in an interview prior to her Jamaican performance stated that she would be offering something old, new, borrowed and blue.

So at her Saturday night concert at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, Wirght could no do wrong, serving up a thoroughly entertaining set, much to the pleasure of her audience.

The 50-something year-old singer who released her first single in 1966, has lost nothing vocally, with the passage of time, and sounded everything like her classic tracks. On Saturday night one got the feeling one was listening to her on an extended play recording.

Wright was a study for all the overseas acts being brought into Jamaica to take note. She clearly understood her audience — knowing what to expect from them and what to deliver.

Known for her empowering anthems — After the Pain, Can’t Do What the Guys Do, Tonight is the Night, Thank You for the Many Things You’ve Done — she delivered all these and more, injecting her characteristic sassy, matter-of-fact vocal styling into each and every note.

She had her Jamaican audience right where she wanted them, and when she injected a little local reggae/ dancehall flavour into No Pain No Gain, she sealed the deal. She even complimented her local offering with some choice dance moves, which was just brawta.

At the close of her one-hour-long set, singer Freddie McGregor, who quickly traded centrestage for a position at front of stage to see the artiste he described as “one of my favourite female vocalists,” noted, “She should be up there still. Betty is someone I have known personally for years, and I catch her performances everytime I get the opportunity, just awesome,” McGregor said.

Wright would prove the perfect ending to a great night, even if the turnout was much less than the promoters, Stiletto Concepts, had expected.

Earlier, the audience was treated to another great showing by Mr Singy Singy himself, Tarrus Riley. One cannot remember the son of Reggae legend Jimmy Riley giving a sub-par performance, and judging by his level of ease and comfort in the spotlight, he does not seem to have any intentions of starting any time soon.

Under the guidance of him musical director saxophonist Dean Fraser, young Riley appeased the female audience with a lively and entertaining set, which included all the tracks that he has become known for. He has such a way with the audience, that even for those who had already witnessed his ‘clash’ with Fraser — voice Vs saxophone — it still seemed fresh and exciting. And when he told the females She’s Royal, those inside Liguanea Club rose to their feet.

Vocal powerhouse Tessanne Chin preceded Riley and she brought an air of intimacy to the show, opting for an acoustic set — performing favourites including Messenger and Hideaway accompanied by just two guitars. The set marked the first time both guitarists, Andrew Simpson and Adrian ‘Jerks’ Henry were playing together, but they were in sync and gelled well with Chin.

Speaking with the Observer following her performance Chin said she went for the two musicians in order to offer a twist to her performance. “I do a lot of acoustic sets for corporate events, and I just though I would lend some intimacy to this performance, by adding this live feel.”

The night’s other two performers definitely brought their flavour to the show. Dreadlocked balladeer Hezron turned on the charm for the ladies with his husky vocals. In addition to performing originals, he drew for Jamaican classics in Should I by Dennis Brown and Number One and Love is Overdue by the late Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs, which were well-received.

Prior to enjoying the Betty Wright set, Freddie McGregor delivered a set of his own. He had the audience swaying to perennial favourites Africa here I Come, Prophecy, I’ll Wait for You and a stirring medley of “hardcore Studio One sinting” — Let Him Try, Loving Pauper and Born a Winner.

— Richard Johnson