Gospel artiste Carlene Davis left the audience requesting an encore at the St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival’s Kingdom Night on May 8.

The widely attended event was held at Pigeon Island National Landmark.

“For me, it is good to know that your audience was blessed and enjoyed your presentation, but most of all it is always that lives are changed because of the message of the gospel and that God be glorified,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Davis reeled through the 45-minute set delivering songs such as
Handful of Salt, Nothing But The Blood, One Day At A Time, Goodness of God, Days of Elijah, and This Island. When she hit My Forever Friend, the audience erupted with cheers and applause. She flowed through the set with well choreographed dancing and singing from her musical trio of Latoya, Michelle and Alicia, while musicians Dave “Primetime” Green and the Right Band with Gregory Palmer on keyboards, Dale Brown on bass and Chris on guitar, offered energetic and well arranged musical accompaniment.

Much to Davis’s delight, when she left the stage, the crowd kept singing
Yahweh — her closing song — with lighters and phones illuminating the venue from a thrilled audience. She would return to join them for a last “Hallelujah”, as they say.

She said that the entire experience will forever be etched in her memory.

“The highlight from my set is hard one to pinpoint. From beginning to end they were so amazing, with the audience singing, dancing, hands uplifted, and praising God, with their phone alight under dimmed lights. Let’s not forget my backing vocalists and musicians who delivered an excellent set,” she said.

Other performing ministers included Jamaica’s Marvia Providence and Pastor Donnie McClurkin, who closed the night.