Corporate Area enjoys Gospel Jazz

Fun in the Son's first event goes off without a hitch

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Clouds drifted slowly as stars shyly peeped at the action beneath a Wednesday evening sky. The shy stars were reacting to a group of talented musicians who, with saxophones, violins, keyboards, and guitars and at times with their vocals, were making 'Gospel Jazz'. The musicians, who included Dennis Rushton, Chris McDonald, Jon Williams and Kathy Brown, were at times mesmerising, at others humorous and entertaining as they ministered to a gradually swelling house at Redbones Blues Café.

The show was one of the features of the popular gospel extravaganza Best Dressed Fun in the Son. It got off promptly at its 8 o'clock scheduled start with light humour from Seymour Heron.

With his two saxophones and sound tracks he began the first-ever staging of a gospel jazz show at the venue.

First playing All Hail the King, the minister and saxophonist went on to give a tantalising rendition of the Bob Marley classic Three Little Birds. Before he played so beautifully though, he gave a brief sermon submerged in an anecdote. The playing of Beulah Land brought to an end the first of a number of good performances.

He was followed by a band which included Paul McKenzie on bass, Christopher McDonald on keyboard and Desi Jones on drums. After playing two instrumental selections, the group concluded their act with McDonald vocalising Heaven Help Us All.

Ian Hird's talent was shown with his saxophone rendition of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Then he switched to the flute, producing sounds akin to running water in Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Thee.

But it was Kamilia 'Candy' Isaacs who got the audience talking. Showing a wide vocal range she began jazzing up the crowd with the slow Swing Low Sweet Chariot and closed her short act even more slowly with My Tribute.

Musical ministering

Jon Williams was not to be outdone. Choosing the violin and the keyboard, he began with Just a Closer Walk With Thee.

"That good," said a male voice in the audience. He concluded his musical ministering with My God is Sweet on violin.

Intermission brought Tamara Cushnie to the stage. And the gospel song winner sang two songs, previously unfamiliar to the audience, very powerfully.

And by the time Dennis Rushton and Kathy Brown were brought on by MC Andrew Lawrence, the size of the audience had changed. Those who had left missed out.

Brown was mesmerising with her four selections. On keyboard, she commenced with Kumbaya, followed by Amazing Grace, Awesome God and Glorious (a song she arranged).

After the show, while giving credit to Jones and her bass player, Brown told The Gleaner it was the first time that she was performing instrumental gospel jazz, though she had arranged gospel songs for choirs like Nexus and the University Singers.

The talented musician and physician now has her eyes set on creating a CD of instrumental gospel jazz.

But the entertainer and comedian of the evening was the 'multi-hat' Rushton. Prior to playing When the Saints go Marching On, he and the two members of his band gave a playful act. The team was later joined by their lead singer Toni-Ann Baker. Together, the four gave a memorable presentation of Amazing Grace and R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly.

At the end of an evening of beautiful music, a delighted Tommy Cowan, one of the organisers of Fun in the Son, explained that the present format of pre-Fun in the Son events was practised in Ocho Rios, but that this was the first time for Kingston and St Andrew.

Another feature is the Word and Worship sessions conducted at Jamaica College. Tonight, there will be an event called Metamorphosis at The Liguanea Club. There are also plans for visits to places of worship, such as the Chinese Benevolent Society and the Jewish Temple.

Fun in the Son 2011 will culminate on Saturday at the Mona Bowl, University of the West Indies, Mona, with an all-day extravaganza, beginning at 10 a.m.