Hundreds turn out for a taste

Precursor to Jazz and Blues, a smashing success

Sadeke Brooks, Gleaner Writer

Hundreds of jazz and music enthusiasts flooded The Deck, New Kingston, for A Taste Of Jazz on Thursday night.

Gibby gave a rock-inspired performance with some heavy bass and drums while also treating the audience to some dancehall and reggae.

Pianist Dennis Rushton and his Aggregation Band also entertained. Rushton played his piano in a very dramatic fashion, even using parts of his body to play the instrument. They were later joined by singer Toni-Ann Baker who sang Bob Marley's Redemption Song and No Woman No Cry.

She was very precise with every word and her face was very expressive. She even gave the audience a taste of folk with Sammy Dead.

In between the performances, the patrons also played many games as they competed for tickets to Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. Of course, there were other prizes up for grabs as well.

Leba Hibbert got groovy as she sang If You Break My Heart, though there were sections of her set where the band drowned her voice.

With a song that was more popular than others, she got the audience rocking to every word.

Bryan Art got a good reception as he sang songs like Get It and Can't Stop A Man. Eventually, he did some of his more recent songs like Taxi, the first single from his album 20ten, and Your Love.

Black Zebra mixed reggae, rocksteady and rock as they energised the patrons. The band did songs like To The Rescue, Easy Like Sunday Morning and Rehab, before bidding the patrons farewell at midnight.