The gardens of Jamaica Pegasus hotel glowed with a captivating blend of red and purple lights, setting the stage for an extraordinary evening of entertainment.

The event was opened by co-hosts Dahlia Harris and Weston Haughton.

Sarina, a charismatic cabaret singer, made her début at Jazz in the Gardens captivating the audience as she took the stage in a stunning one-shoulder flamingo pink jumpsuit. It was the late Ibo Cooper, her mentor, who introduced her to Nat King Cole’s
Lush Life, a song she flawlessly delivered.

She went on to mesmerise the crowd with a soulful rendition of Tina Turner’s
Nice and Easy and brought the energy up with a powerful performance of Proud Mary. She showcased her raspy vocals in a captivating rendition of Stevie Wonder’s
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and concluded her set with a show-stopping performance of Aretha Franklin’s iconic hit,
Respect.

Andre Shepherd took the stage, exuding confidence in his burgundy blazer, and serenaded the audience with a romantic rendition of Smokey Robinson’s
Cruisin’. His smooth vocals captivated the crowd as he delivered heartfelt performances of
You Are the Reason and the timeless classic
Georgia. He closed his set with a soul-stirring rendition of
Oh My Love My Darling.

Dressed in dazzling sequins, Maria Myrie showcased her bold voice with Ken Boothe’s
Everything I Own. Her explosive performance left the audience breathless. She followed it up with a soulful interpretation of Chet Baker’s
My Funny Valentine and paid homage to Tina Turner with
Rag Doll, showcasing her raw and emotive vocals.

Everton Pessoa brought a true jazz experience to the stage, dressed in a striking burgundy suit. He kicked off his set with Ella Fitzgerald’s classic
Take the ‘A’ Train, arranged by his bandmate Sonny Bradshaw. He seamlessly transitioned to Bobby Darin’s timeless hit
Mack the Knife. Pessoa encouraged the crowd to clap along and enjoy the music. Surprising everyone, he picked up the trombone and played the Jamaican classic
Rookumbine. The audience was then treated to a spirited rendition of Tom Jones’
Delilah. He concluded his set with Lou Rawls’
You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine, which set attendees dancing.

A portion of the event’s proceeds went to the Women’s Centre, and a special presentation was made to Marcia Griffiths in honour of her 60 years in the music business.

Surprise performer Queen Ifrica, fresh from Rebel Salute, took t0 the stage captivating the audience with her rendition of
Below the Waist.

Montego Bay powerhouse singer Tammy T, dressed in a bubble pink dress, was the highlight of the evening. Her voice thrilled with Nat King Cole’s
Orange Colored Sky. She followed it up with Troop’s
All I Do Is Think of You, which had the 90s babies in the audience grooving to the beat. Then she delivered a deeply soulful rendition of Michael Bolton’s
When I’m Back on My Feet Again, which brought many in the audience to tears, accompanied by a rock-infused guitar solo by Ken Roy Mullings. She closed her set with a medley of Alicia Keys’
A Woman’s Worth and
Fallin’.

The final act was Rojah, a native of Ocho Rios and the lead singer of the band formerly known as Toot & the Maytals, now known as Obessa. Rojah took the stage in a vibrant green floral print blazer, wowing the crowd with Lionel Richie’s
All Night Long and Rod Stewart’s
Forever Young.

Rojah then launched into Ken Boothe’s reggae classic
Freedom Street, followed by a crowd-pleasing rendition of Toots’
That’s My Number, which had everyone rocking in their seats. He commanded the audience: “Give it to me one time!” They rose to their feet. He closed the night with the powerful song
Like a Rock.

Yolanda “Cathy” Nunes served as the executive producer with Nancy McLean as the associate producer ensuring smooth operations throughout the night.

Dwight Richards took charge of music coordination, while Ken Nelson managed production coordination.

The band, consisting of Dale Haslam on bass, Kenroy Mullings on guitar, Othnell “Ottey” Lewis on drums, and Christopher Tyrell on rhythm, added a dynamic flair to the performances.

Jazz in the Gardens seemed to have provided a perfect balance of energy and entertainment for a great Sunday evening.