Jamaican jazz diva Myrna Hague is all bubbly when speaking of the final plans for this Saturday’s staging of Simply Myrna, which is set for the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

“Everything is going well, we just completed a rehearsal, tickets are almost sold out… everything is going very well,” she gushed. “We have a dress rehearsal set up and after that we are ready to roll,” she added.

Hague did admit that she got nervous a few days ago as she was missing her husband, the late bandleader and trumpeter, Sonny Bradshaw, but has settled down as is now very excited. She told the Observer that Mr Bradshaw’s spirit will be felt throughout the event as the opening number — The National Anthem — will be Bradshaw’s arrangement, and during the show there will be video footage projected on screens.

Last Sunday , Hague gave what is perhaps a prelude to this weekend’s show, performing at a fundraiser for the Ward Theatre at the Institute of Jamaica in downtown Kingston. During her two set, she performed jazz standards including Fly Me to the Moon, Misty, My Funny Valentine and Summertime.

An accomplished cabaret act, Hague is being touted to surprise her fans as she steps out of the expected concert mode into her internationally recognised role. The organisers of the event indicate that she is set to command the stage and expose the audience to the many facets of her life in entertainment and her wide repertoire in jazz, R&B, reggae, Latin, soul, pop and show music.

Meanwhile, Caribbean jazz man, Dean Fraser is scheduled to make a guest appearance on Simply Myrna on Saturday. Also appearing on the show will be the award winning Cari-Folk singers, and The Jamaica Big Band with Marjorie Whylie and Desi Jones.

Fraser is know for navigating musical boundaries, from Reggae to jazz to R & B, and stamping his own unique style on each one. Groomed in the Sonny Bradshaw school, he is not only musically gifted but disciplined and, as his colleagues will tell you easy to work with and a well loved member of the Caribbean music fraternity. Breaking out of the Sonny Bradshaw Seven, Fraser was a founding member of the band 809 while retaining his chair in the Jamaica Big Band. Currently the musical director of award winning Reggae singer/song writer Tarrus Riley, Fraser is also a successful record producer.