The latest in the bi-monthly Jazz N Cabaret in the Gardens of the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston was a diverse presentation — a fusion of sounds performed by Jamaican artistes.

Held on April 29 and staged under the theme, ‘Feast For The Senses: East Meets West’, good vibes reigned as performances by entertainers from the east and west ends of the island, were well executed. After Ozou’ne and the PON FYAH Band raised the curtain in fine style, singer Jasmine Black set the mood with pleasing renditions of jazz standards such as Body and Soul, made popular by Billie Holiday; and Sarah Vaughan’s Broken Hearted Melody.

These were followed by Marlena Shaw’s Woman of The Ghetto, the Diana Ross original Touch Me In The Morning, the popular gospel song Hallelujah and Marcia Griffiths’ Melody Life.

In terms of novelty, poet Tomlin Ellis ruled with his Tribute to Jamaican Music with Write And Chant. He paid homage to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown with Path To Redemption and Dancing Mood, respectively.

“I am trying to write and I’ve put together a set of poems that would pay tribute to Jamaican music. I remember living in Holland; Bob Marley had done one of his stops on his Babylon By Bus [tour] and I was going to school in the morning [after] and I saw some people happy and just jumping up shouting, ‘One love, One love’, and I was moved. So I’m now writing something for Delroy Wilson, I was so moved by his humbleness… eventually I just want to put together a full package,” Ellis, co-founder of Poets In Unity and Poetry Society of Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer.

He appealed to young performers to write and chant like trailblazing poets Claude McKay, Louise Bennett, Mervyn Morris and Mutabaruka.

He was followed by pianist Kathy Brown, whose individuality and sense of musical style marked passionate interpretations of Mongo Santamaria’s Afro Blue, the Gershwin standard Summertime, Trinidadian Othello Molineaux’s Annabelle Return as well as her original, By Sunday.

Althea Hewitt engaged an enraptured audience with her appetising repertoire which included Get There, Lullabye of Bird Land, To Sir With Love, and Simply The Best. She was joined by Keith Anthony, director/dance instructor of Salsa Jamaica and dancer Kaydian, who showcased their fleet-footedness.

Alex Welcome lived up to his name as he was warmly embraced by patrons for his humour and delivery of I Who Have Nothing and other ballads.

After an intermission, the task of closing the delightful evening was assigned to Kahlil, a quartet, which like Alex Welcome is from the west. Their set focused on Top 40 hits including The Bee Gees’ Staying Alive, Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, The Four Tops originals Same Old Song and I’ll Be There, The Spinners’ version of Working My Way Back To You, Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing, and The Drifters’ Stand By Me, Up On The Roof and Under The Boardwalk.