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The
enthusiastic audience cheered and clapped as youthful band
Jus Cool struck the first chord at Jazzpoint last Saturday.
The sextet thrilled the audience as they combined pan and
jazz to give a performance that was nothing short of exceptional.
Beginning their set with Take it Slow, Jus Cool had members
of the audience singing along to the popular John Legend song.
Although the band’s eldest member is just 22-years-old,
their interpretation of the music was faultless.
Jus Cool then changed the vibes with Edwin Yearwood’s
Pump Me Up before they were joined on-stage by Sharon Anderson
who performed Patti La Belle’s I’ve Got Love On
My Mind.
Despite a few hiccups with the sound system, Anderson gave
a splendid performance, calling on the enthusiastic audience
to sing along. Following Anderson’s departure from the
stage, Jus Cool was accompanied by the entire audience as
they did Nappy Mayer’s Bring Back The Ole Time Days.
Pannist Jeron Lett’s obvious enjoyment was so infectious
that some members of the audience were unable to resist and
got to their feet dancing and singing along. The band performed
six numbers before leaving the stage.
Trombonist Atiba Morris fascinated many of the elders in the
audience who were heard commenting on the rarity of such a
young man choosing the trombone as opposed to other musical
instruments.
Jus Cool was followed by Ming and elan parle. The Caribbean
jazz group, which included Neil Bernard and Loris Adams, performed
a number of original compositions. Their music was well received
despite the audience’s unfamiliarity with it. Elan parle
wooed the audience with its style and as they moved into Lord
Kitchener’s Tay Lay Lay, the audience sang along lustily.
Also performing was the Clifford Charles quartet, featuring
Patti Rogers. Rogers sang Lionel Richie’s Hello, Rapture,
I wish you Love and Black Orpheus. They too gave an excellent
showing of themselves and the audience lapped it up. Michael
Dingwell was also quite good.
Jazzpoint was held at the Clifton Hill Club, Pt Fortin and
included a jazz visual arts exhibition highlighting jazz posters
and photographs.
Cuthbert Matthews also gave a jazz appreciation lecture in
which he looked at various jazz styles.
The show went well past midnight but members of the audience
remained until the very last chord was struck. On hand for
the show were 2006 National Calypso Monarch Morel “Luta”
Peters and Point Fortin Mayor St Clair Natta.
Jazzpoint is the premier fringe event of the Pt Fortin Borough
Day celebrations.
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