FINAL-year performances at the Edna Manley College last week were a breath of fresh air which reinstated my faith in the necessity of training our young, talented entertainers.

This year saw 12 final-year students captivating the audience with their acquired skills and hard work. Each night, from Monday through to Thursday, saw the music auditorium at Edna Manley College packed to capacity and then some. The audiences were blown away by a variety of genres of music — R&B, gospel, pop, reggae and jazz. There were many powerful performances of original compositions put together by the students, many of whom were multi-talented.

The graduates displayed how versatile they were as entertainers; even though they were music students, their performances measured up to international standards and were definitely more entertaining than much of what we’ve become accustomed to on stages recently.

Karmardo Blake is an excellent bass player whose solo piece was described by his lecturer as being so technical that it’s beyond his stage. However, he delivered it seamlessly to his audience. Thomas Lewin’s drum solo piece was also said to be the most technical piece ever performed by an Edna Manley student. He also displayed versatility as a musician with his xylophone medley as well as a vocal piece.

Geneva Williams was the only female performer of the final-year students with most of her songs being originals. She held the audience captive with her rendition of Beyonce’s Crazy in Love. Conray Richards electrified the audience with his vocal ability with his rendition of Jamie Foxx’s Fall For Your Type and a Ray Charles medley. Bass player Andrew Ayre’s duet with Maurice Gordon on guitars gave the audience something to rave about as he displayed a combination of genres and a few electrifying original pieces.

The second bass player, Roel Miller, put on an incredible show for the Edna Manley audience. His duet with Azzuri Campbell singing Forever And A Day took top spot in his performance. Vocalist Leon Campbell performed a combination of genres which included a few original pieces. He did an excellent rendition of Alton Ellis’s Girl I’ve Got A Date which would have given Ellis goose pimples.

Kevor Williams started his set with a few early blues pieces which included Rocking Robin and Route 66’which got the audience up and moving to his beats. His originals included a hit song by his band Pentateuch Black Face. Jon-Marc Talbot opened with Stevie Wonder’s Lately and a rendition of Ne-Yo’s Closer.

Their tutors included Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper — co-ordinator; Derrick Stewart and Ouida Lewis — percussions; Michael Harris and Lori Burnett — vocals; Courtney Fadlil, Samuele Vivian and Maurice Gordon — guitars; Major Joe Williams — wind instruments; and Orville Hammond — piano.

Director of music Roger Williams, himself a past student of Edna Manley College, who single-handedly championed the institution of this degree programme, must be very proud of the results. To quote the University Council of Jamaica, “Edna Manley College is an elegant institution with the most qualified faculty especially in the areas of jazz, pop and all the Jamaican genres.”

On another topic, for the last 10 years the Calabash Festival had been held at Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth over the Labour Day weekend. Unfortunately, as everyone knows, Calabash is taking a break this year and so the hoteliers, business people, farmers, fisherfolk and residents have come together to launch the Treasure Beach Bread Basket Festival, which will include a Farmers’ Market.

The organisers of the festival believe it has been aptly named as it is to be held in St Elizabeth, which is considered the bread basket of the nation because most of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by Jamaicans are grown in that parish. In addition, farmers and fisherfolk will have an opportunity to sell their produce and catch to the thousands of patrons who are expected to flock the festival.

The farmers’ market gives patrons the option of purchasing vegetables, produce and fruits at Kingfisher Plaza in Treasure Beach.

The Treasure Beach Bread Basket Festival will take place from Friday, May 27 through to Sunday, May 29. It is slated to begin with a Culture Night at Taino Cove hosted by Jamaican storyteller Amina Blackwood-Meeks and will feature Cen’C Love, a singer, songwriter, musician and daughter of the legendary Bunny Wailer; the Grange Hill Jonkunnu Band; the Manchioneal Cultural Group performing Quadrille and Bruckins and Senor Daley of Klassique Disco.

The Talking Trees Literary Fiesta will be held on May 28 at which time there will be a recorded talk at 2 Seasons Guest House before moving into a ‘Readings’ segment to be headlined by Nigerian author A Igoni Barrett, winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short-story competition and the 2010 Chinua Achebe Centre Fellowship.

An Evening of Song will take place at Frenchman’s Reef Restaurant, featuring classical music, Jamaican folk songs, Negro spirituals, show tunes, jazz and more.

Saturday’s events conclude with A Night of Great Entertainment at Jack Sprat Restaurant. This event will take the form of a stage show featuring headliners Reggae star Tanya Stephens, Protoje and Rootz Underground.

The Treasure Beach Bread Basket Festival culminates on Sunday, May 29 with the Sunset Resort Bread Basket Brunch offering a fare of the finest products of St Elizabeth, together with live entertainment.

The Treasure Beach Bread Basket Festival’s final event will be a Fashion and Art Show at Calabash House, featuring the launch of the Masai line of Caribbean fashions by Jackie Cohen of Mutamba, and Art Wearables by Elizabeth Eyre Seltzer, fabric artist and designer. The art exhibition will showcase several Jamaican artists, including some from the Treasure Beach community.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com