Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Lesa Terry on violin during Jazz In The Gardens.

The word has clearly spread among those who are interested in live jazz. That the place to be on the final Sunday of alternate months is the Jamaica Pegasus Gardens.

There, between 6 and 9 on those evenings, one is virtually guaranteed high-quality entertainment.

Executive Producer Nancy McLean and Coordinator Ken Nelson gave the large audience a fine line-up of musicians on Sunday's concert. The performers were, in order of appearance, Damon Riley and Friends, Sonny Bradshaw and the Jamaica Big Band, Peter Ashbourne and Ashes and special guest Lesa Terry, a jazz violinist from the United States of America.

The last named musician displays a penchant for gospel, and it was probably because of her music that the producers adopted the theme 'Gospel 'N' Jazz' for the show.

As it turned out, Terry's presentation style is low-key, certainly her selections - which included Every Time I feel De Spirit, Amazing Grace and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.

Terry, backed by Ashbourne and his band, was given pride of place in the programme, namely the closing segment. That meant the audience left the venue in a subdued, even solemn, mood.

Perhaps that was the producers' intention, but, judging from the response of some in the audience, ending with Bradshaw and the Big Band might have been a better idea. That way, the audience would have left on a high.

The Big Band was undoubtedly the hit of the evening. That outcome was no surprise once the members were introduced. Among the big names were Dean Fraser (saxophone), Marjorie Whylie (keyboards), Desi Jones (drums), Rupert Bent (guitar), and Riley (saxophone) who, though not as well known, had proved his excellence in the opening act.

Add to the number, jazz queen Myrna Hague, who was not only in excellent voice but who offered a 'fresh' set of songs. This reviewer complained recently that Hague was restricting herself to 40-year-old jazz standards.

While she did sing Miss Otis Regrets - written, according to Bradshaw in the 1940s - it was not one of her regulars; and her other numbers included the reggae hit Waiting in Vain, sung jazz style. She also gave us If I Never Sing Another Song and That's Life.

As usual, the band began with the national anthem followed by Take the 'A' Train. The former is Bradshaw's musical statement of his patriotism, the latter, the band's signature tune.

Most unusual tune

Next came A String of Pearls, followed by if not the most memorable, certainly the most unusual tune of the evening. Bradshaw called it Licky Licky Blues inna Wanga Gut Belly Inna Dancehall Style.

It turned out to be the Tiger hit, Wanga Gut, given an exciting arrangement by the band leader. Fraser on saxophone, Dale Haslam (bass) and Calvin Mitchell (percussion) had frenzied minutes. Later, Fraser had poignant ones as he played Marley's Redemption Song.

The Big Band's set ended the first half of the concert. It had started, in a lively fashion, with Riley and Friends. The latter were Dugal Clarke (bass), Shawn Depass (drums) and Andrez Lopez (keyboards).

Spiritual feel

After the intermission, during which the audience snacked on goodies provided by the hotel, came Ashbourne and Ashes. Though two of the group - Haslam and Jones - came out of the Big Band, the smaller ensemble had a very different sound, one quieter in volume and more sedate in mood.

Terry was playing for the first time in Kingston, though not in Jamaica, and she told the audience that she and the band were 'concentrating on music with a spiritual feel to it.' In sync with that statement were two other tunes that they played, Calvary and the Duke Ellington composition Come Sunday.

The emcee for the evening, the genial, witty Michael Anthony Cuffe, invited the audience back for the next evening of jazz, on December 28. That event, he said, would be 'The Best of Jazz in the Gardens for 2008', and he actually canvassed the audience for the names of musicians who should be brought back.

Sonny Bradshaw jumps during a lively set with the Big Band at the Jazz In The Gardens, held in the Pegasus Garden, New Kingston, on Sunday, October 26. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer