Jazz and rain — a great combo
The curtains came down on an exciting Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival at the Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios last Sunday, amidst torrential rainfall.
That did not stop diehard fans — who sheltered under tents, gazebos and playhouses — from soaking up the sounds of local and foreign musicians.
The concert opened with drummers Phillip Supersad, Ouida Lewis and the Aquabo Drummers who mesmerised with haunting beats.
The affable Harold Davis showed his dexterity on the piano and vocals, teasing with Bill Withers’ Ain’t no Sunshine.
The Hornsmen — Mickey Hanson on flugel horn, trombonist Harold Tingling, tenor saxophonists Everald Gayle and Harold Foulds and trumpeter Vivian Scott — thrilled with smooth sounds of jazz, ska and reggae.
Guitarist Rupert Bent played an entertaining set with his segment entitled Conversations.
Mary Isaacs literally brought sunshine to the stage with her red and gold outfit. Backed by the Desi Jones Band, she did sultry renditions of the pop standards Our Day Will Come, To Love Somebody, Don’t Stay Away, Perfidia, My Baby Don’t Care and At Last.
Brazilian band Ba-Boom was the proverbial icing on the cake with their perfection of Jamaican dancehall, reggae and ska rhythms.
They closed the 22nd staging of the event by inviting the drummers and festival director Myrna Hague on stage for a rocking jam session.
