Photo by Janet Silvera
LEFT: Lionel Richie creates beautiful music on stage at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday night.
Photo by Adrian Frater
RIGHT: Transport Minister Mike Henry (left) was clearly caught up in the groove on Thursday's opening night of the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival as he whispers in the ears of his wife, who lovingly plays with his face.
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
"EXCEPTIONAL", "AWESOME", "sexy", "soul-inspiring" were some of the expressions from the lips of satisfied patrons who hungrily ate and obediently chorused every musical note that echoed from Lionel Richie at the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday night.
Like sprinters competing in a race for life, jazz lovers, highly anticipating a performance matched only by Kenny Rogers a few years ago, ran from the back of the Rose Hall Aqueduct to greet the Grammy award-winning American singer, songwriter and record producer.
Richie came prepared to titillate the tear ducts, inspire the hearts and provide the setting for lovers to openly show affection. Looking sexier than ever, he opened his set taunting the women with his Motown hit, Easy, and like fire not ready to be cooled, the former lead singer with the popular 1970s group The Commodores, staked his claim for the most exciting and scintillating act to grace the stage of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in recent times.
'Him a fire!'
Taunting the women with Mandarina Girl and lovers with Still, Richie's pouted cherry lips pointing at the women was enough to send shivers to the loins and envy to men not privy to this type of attention.
"We will fix you up Lionel, just one week at home," shouted one female in the thick crowd that invaded the front of the stage. "Him a fire!" shouted another woman.
Asking his band to leave the stage so he could have a one on one with the audience, the soul-stirring artiste was at home with the romantic ballads, Three Times A Lady and Truly, resulting in hysterical screams from the large female crowd.
Moving the tempo from soft to lively, Richie had the audience eating out of hands, as he drew hit after hit. All Night Long, a number-one hit for him, Se La and Say You, Say Me, combined with over 25 years of music, caused the declaration from many, "Who needs Diana, when there is a Lionel?"
The Tuskegee, Alabama-born artiste was worth every cent spent to enter the Rose Hall grounds on Friday night.
Effortless performance
His act was complemented by an effortless performance by Georgia's own, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample. The Rio de Janiero Blue smooth operator, who played with the audience as if she was in a jazz lounge and not an open field of thousands of people, gave a set that confirmed her soul heritage.
Young Canadian, Nikki Yanosfsky delivered again this year. The powerhouse teenager with her fabulous stagecraft, solid and crisp delivery was the icing on the cake, richly baked and presented by Turn Key Productions.
Creating waves on stage, she appeared barefooted, skipped around like the child she is, and without any contention, outdid all of Thursday night's performers.
Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
WHILE MUCH smaller than the main stage, the 'Art of Music' stage, dubbed the 'small stage', became larger than life on several occasions on Friday night as the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival continued to churn out high-quality entertainment.
"But this is where the real entertainment is," remarked Warren Johnson, a major player in the entertainment industry in western Jamaica, as he watched singer/ percussionist Denver in action.
"With better lighting and sound, this could be awesome. People need to know that this is definitely as good as, if not better than, the main stage," added Johnson.
Denver was among several acts, inclusive of the multi-talented School Band; the dazzling Portland-based Razor Band, the charismatic songbird Melonie and United States-based singer Mark Shine, who commanded attention on the small stage, which dazzled alongside the main stage, featuring superstars Lionel Ritchie, Randy Crawford and the Lou Gramm Band.
Versatile
The versatile Denver, who was as adept at singing as he was on the percussion drums, regularly drew rich applause as he gave superstar-like treatment to songs such as, Honour, She is Complicated, Who You Are and We will Stand, which were all delivered with crystal-clear vocals.
To see Denver on the drums was a revelation, as his fingers danced around the instrument with much vigour, creating a sound that had patrons staring both in awe and admiration.
"I believe he is very good and this opportunity could be the springboard to establish him as one of the new generation of stars," said renowned musician Ibo Cooper, of Third World fame, who was a part of a team that selected local acts for the small stage.
Songbird Melonie, who does back-up vocals for the likes of reggae stars Anthony B, Coco Tea and Buju Banton, was brilliant as she blended reggae and R&B to stunning effect. Songs such as, I Got Your Back, I Can't imagine, a sizzling cover of Bob Marley's, Is This Love and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, were stunning.
The US-based Mark Shine, who shared his set with Inner Vibes, two talented rappers he described as, "young lion" and "little eagle", was quite good as he commanded serious attention.
Between appearances
Performing in the break between the appearances of Randy Craw-ford and Lionel Ritchie on the main stage, Mark Shine caught immediate attention with his song, Yes We Can, which featured parts of a recorded speech by US President Barack Obama against pulsating drum and bass.
When the Inner Vibes joined Shine on stage, the tempo lifted substantially as they sparkled with songs such as, Set Us Free and Don't be Addicted and Jamaica Land.
The School Band, a collection of student performers and the Razor Band, which both performed in the early segment, were quite good. The students, who did instrumental justice to songs such as, Quando, and Spanish Harlem, unveiled a new star on the congo drums in diminutive 13-year-old Stephon Foster, a student of Steer Town Primary and Junior High.
While playing a short set, the Razor Band, with its dynamic lead singer Natresha Marsh, had the audience rocking and grooving as it sparkled with Lift Up Your Head, No Dis-respect and Welcome to Jamrock.
When the action on the main stage ended, the small stage became the focus of even greater attention as established stars Ernie Smith, Pluto Shervington and Dwight Pickney all combined to send home the fans in fine style.
Photos by Adrian Frater
LEFT: Director General of Tourism, Carole Guntley (left), comforts communications specialist, Deborah Hickling, who broke down during Randy Crawford's song, 'Fly Away', which was her mother's favourite song before she passed away two years ago.
RIGHT: Thirteen-year-old Stephon Foster, a student of the Steer Town Primary and Junior High, shows off amazing skills on the congo drums as he performs on the 'small stage' at the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.