Two shows for 2013's Simply Myrna - Strong support pushes Hague to expand

Davina Henry, Staff Reporter

After a spectacular two years of Simply Myrna, the event has now expanded.  Myrna Hague, Jamaica's 'First Lady of Jazz', told guests at the launch of the 2013 event that she was grateful for the support and confidence that she has been receiving over the years

The 2013 staging of Simply Myrna will once again be held at The Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, with the second event taking place in Mandeville at the Golf View Hotel.

The third staging of the event has meant an evolution, not only in the programme, but to Hague's work as an artiste.

"Simply Myrna has evolved in wonderful ways. For the first show we had a small group, for the second show we had a full orchestra with strings and for this third staging we added a second show in Mandeville. As we go on, we can't do the same things we did every year, so we are evolving," she told The Gleaner.

CD Launched

Hague also told patrons that after the death of her partner, Cecil 'Sonny' Bradshaw, she had to re-establish herself and her brand.

With the festive season upon us, Hague also launched her new CD titled The Best of Simply Myrna, which encompasses songs from her 2011 and 2012 staging of the event.

"This new CD is a combination of the first and second Simply Myrna's. We've taken the best of the live songs of the first and second stagings and put them together. In addition to that, we've created this EP specially for the Christmas season with two songs. One of the songs is not available on the CD [The Best of Simply Myrna], it is a special arrangement by Ralph Holding of an old song," she said.

The EP will feature When I Fall In Love and Honey, an original by Bob Andy.

The 2013 staging of Simply Myrna will feature performances from the Cari-Folk Singers, Desi Jones Band, and Jimmy James, formerly of The Vagabonds.

Simply Myrna will take place in Kingston on March 9, and in Mandeville on March 16, 2013.