Delightful jazz for dads - Ocho Rios festival ends on a high note

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Imagine this - a band with members originating from Cuba, the United States, India and Sweden, playing Vietnamese reggae at a jazz festival in Jamaica!

Well, the Mynta band, based in Sweden, brought that situation to reality in a delightful way at the closing concert of the Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival 2011, Sunday at Turtle River Park in the resort town.

A small crowd at the start of the festival grew into a moderate audience with many dads turning out with their families for the Father's Day event, the final in a week of festivities to mark the 21st staging of the festival.

It was the Japan Jazz Trio that opened the show with what MC Keith Brown described as "their very distinct sound".

Led by classical guitarist Ryoji Yamaguchi, the trio entertained with their brand of music and performed some tracks from Mas Alla Del Tango, the latest CD from Yamaguchi and bandoneon player, Yukie Kawanami, released in April.

But it was Mynta who first really delighted the crowd. Led by Christian Paulin on bass, Mynta appeared courtesy of the Swedish Embassy, and the embassy couldn't have given a better gift - jazz would have found some new lovers, thanks to the Mynta Band.

The jazz fusion band performed tracks from their latest album, Meeting in India, released in 2010.

The band was refreshing, lively and hugely appreciated by the audience.

Ginetta's Vendetta, returning to Jamaica for the ninth time to perform at the jazz show, didn't disappoint. Alternating between blowing her trumpet and her commanding vocal presence, she led the audience through songs such as Summertime, All Blues, My Funky Valentine, and Behind Those Eyes, the last two from her latest CD, La Dolce Vita.

Dr Kathy Brown played keyboard for Ginetta before going on to perform with her friends, who included Karen Smith. But it was Mikey Spice that surprised.

Crowd delighted

Not known widely for his involvement with jazz, the gifted singer and guitarist delighted the crowd with the jazzy It's Alright, before moving into some Jamaican traditional songs such as Evening Time, Island in the Sun and others.

The Fabulous Five closed the festival with the ska reunion, leading off with tracks from the legendary Skatalites and Don Drummond. The band also paid tribute to the late drummer Lloyd Knibb, who died on May 11.

Sunday's Father's Day jazz brought a fitting end to a week of festivities to mark yet another year of the festival started by the late great Jamaican musician, Sonny Bradshaw.

The festival featured shows at various locations across Jamaica, with Ocho Rios hosting the majority. There were free concerts at Island Village and Sunset Jamaica Grande, one of the sponsors of the event.

Among the performers were N'Faly Kouyate and Dunyakan and Kiralina. Kiralina, especially, thrilled the hotel's guests with her excellent vocal performances. On her farewell performance Wednesday night, she delivered a soul-filled rendition of You Saved My Life, before heading to the airport a couple of hours later.

Said Charmaine Deane, the resort's director of corporate communications: "This is our sixth year working with Ocho Rios Jazz Festival and we're always supportive of the festival. This year, we had the Mynta Band, Ginetta and Kiralina out of Canada, and it was amazing! The guests really enjoyed the performances. Overall, it was a very good experience for us, and we will continue to sponsor it every year."