Jazz Matazz, a superb show
PATRONS attending the second staging of Caribbean Jazz Matazz at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Florida, last Sunday, were left on a musical high.
Hosted by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), the event was a fund-raiser to assist UWI students across the region experiencing challenges in paying their tuition.
“Jazz Matazz is the best of what Jamaica has to offer. Thanks again for an elegant event,” said attorney Georgia D Robinson.
“Last year was good, but this year is better. This show was worth more than I paid,” said another satisfied patron.
The evening featured performances by guitarist Eugene Grey; singer Dobby Dobson, who filled in for AJ Brown who was unavoidably absent; and the inimitable Myrna Hague.
Grey, who opened the show, strummed up original selections which were well-recieved. He, however, closed with a Latin-flavoured rendition of Evening Time, the popular folk song by Louise Bennett-Coverley.
Veteran singer Dobson had the audience singing along to his many hits including Loving Pauper and Sweet Dreams.
His performance was sprinkled with humour as he interacted with the audience.
Jazz queen Hague took the stage to a warm welcome. She wowed the audience with the timeless Somewhere Over the Rainbow as well as Touch Me Baby and Only Love Sets You Free.
Hague displayed her versatility when she rolled into the reggae hit What About Me and paid tribute to the late reggae singer John Holt with Only A Smile.
At the end of her set, the audience was on their feet begging for more. She returned to the stage with a magnificent rendition of Raggamuffin, originally done by late reggae singers Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs.
Shouts of “Encore!” and “Bravo” with rousing applause brought the evening to a close.
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