Nina Karle enjoyed jazz, looks ahead

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

She might have had a somewhat disappointing first time at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival but Karlene 'Nina Karle' Levy says she was grateful for the experience.

Levy was scheduled to perform Saturday night on the Heineken Small Stage at 11 p.m. However, due to the rain that poured for parts of the night, she did not get the opportunity to perform until after 5 a.m. when Australian group Air Supply's had ended its set.

"That was my first time. Because of the rain and band changes, I performed after Air Supply and everyone was leaving but it was still good. I got a very good response from them," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

"I was disappointed with the schedule changing like that but it couldn't be helped. I would have preferred if things worked out how I planned but the response was still good, I had fun with it. People stayed behind and enjoyed the show. People were still listening although they were tired. I would probably do it again. The experience was great."

The type of response she got from the patrons at the festival is similar to that which she received when she was in Japan.

"The Japanese people like to listen to reggae and R&B and they enjoy themselves. They love to listen to music and sing along even when they don't know the words," Levy said.

Initially Levy went to Japan to teach but realised that she could earn money from singing. Not only did she gain financially but she also improved as a singer.

"Singing as regularly as I used to in Japan, you find that your voice grows," Levy told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that she sang with a reggae group while there.

While in Japan she performed reggae, blues, jazz, gospel and R&B. Being able to successfully handle these genres eventually led her to perform at the famous Don Cornelius Soul Train Café in Tokyo, doing Motown covers and a capella gospel music.

One of her most distinguished gigs was singing the Jamaica National Anthem for the prime minister, the Right Honourable P.J. Patterson, during his visit to Japan in 1998.

But after five years, Levy made her return to Jamaica in 2001 with the hopes of building her career.

"I really wanted to sing more reggae and not so much in clubs and hotels. Coming back to Jamaica would open doors for me," she said.

In Jamaica, Levy did backing vocals for artistes like Joseph Hill of Culture, Richie Spice, Chuck Fendah, Sly and Robbie and Sinead O'Connor. She is also a member of LMJ, a female group that were the opening act for Junior Kelly on his 2009 European tour, promoting their album Inna Mi Roots. The group returned to Europe later in 2009 to further promote the album.

She recently did a track with Sly and Robbie and is waiting for it to be released. And, she is working on an album that she hopes to complete by the end of the year with songs produced by CashFlow Productions and Paul Kastick.

Although she still does backing vocals, Levy said the frequency has been reduced to accommodate her career growth.

"When you doing backing vocals you have very little time to focus on you. So for the past two years I have been trying to focus on me and getting LMJ work done," Levy said.

But she certainly doesn't plan to split from the group that she has been a part of for more than five years.

"I do like working in the group. I really like how the group sounds on stage. As long as it can work out I would like to remain part of the group," Levy told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that she will be performing at Jazz In The Garden at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel later this month.