From left: Michael Harris, Karen Smith and Peter Ashbourne share a laugh at Jazz in the Gardens at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Sunday night. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

There was a pleasing mix of amateurs and professionals at the first Jazz in the Gardens concert for the year held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Sunday. The fair-size audience was enthusiastic throughout the show and after Karen Smith had sung her last scheduled song, there were calls for more.

Encouraged by the MC, Michael Anthony Cuffe, Smith obliged and with as much energy and charm as she had displayed in her several previous numbers, she sang All of Me. That brought an end to the 2 1/2-hour show, which had started at 6 p.m. and during which all the performers had given their all.

The concert kicked off with Cuffe introducing the Edna Manley School of Music (EMC) Jazz Ensemble, comprising three current and three past students of the college. The former are Rafiq Williams (violin) and jazz singers Symone Thomas and Abbygaye Dallas, and the latter are Andres Lopez (keyboard), Alvis Reid (bass) and Jeremy Ashbourne (drums). Also playing with the group was an EMC lecturer, Courtney Fadlin (saxophone).

Thomas' first two songs, Autumn Leaves and Love Me Forever were mellow and her third, Jimmy Cliff's The Lion Say was energetic. Dallas' songs, St Louis Woman and A Night in Tunisia were very lively, with lots of scatting in the second tune.

Both singers and band displayed lots of talent. With the passing of time and additional experience, there's no reason why they should not eventually join the E-Park Band, the other ensemble that entertained the audience.

The name arose from the band's formation in 2005 specifically to perform at Emancipation Park for the National Housing Trust's Christmas concert series. Musical Director is Peter Ashbourne and the singers are Smith and Michael Sean Harris, a lecturer at the EMC.

According to the band's fact sheet, there are 11 instrumentalists, five rhythm and six wind performers "the smallest number of players that can successfully simulate a big band sound" and the repertoire includes jazz, show, cabaret and popular music pieces, instrumental and vocal.

Band Manager Rosina Moder (wife of Peter and mother of Jeremy Ashbourne, and a musician herself) told The Gleaner that the band hopes to obtain sufficient corporate sponsorship to be able to perform throughout the Caribbean. If this is possible, Jamaica's musical reputation should soar in the region. The band is excellent.

With musicians of the calibre of Desi Jones (drums), Dean Fraser (saxophone), Ian Hird (sax and flute), Dwight Pickney (guitar), Othneil Lewis (keyboards) and Glen Brownie (bass), one expects no less than the highest quality sounds. In addition to good quality, there was variety.

Much-appreciated songs

A lively jazz tune, Shuffle City, was followed by a Brazilian medley, then Duke Ellington's Cotton Tail. Here Harris joined the band to lend his "mellifluous tones" (the MC's phrase) to the entertainment with Got to Get You Into my Life and then, in a duet with Smith, It's Delightful, It's Delicious, It's De-lovely and I Have Been Changed for Good.

These much-appreciated songs were just a taste of what was to come after the hors d'oeuvres break. The delight of the audience listening to the fine music was matched by - and caused by - the evident delight the performers took in delivering their music.

As traditionally happens in shows, the intensity kept rising as the evening progressed. Instrumental pieces alternated with songs. The former included an exciting dancehall jazz number (from Ashbourne's album Half Way Tree), Harris singing the Paul Simon song Late in the Evening, the mento tune Healing in De Balm Yard, the Blood Sweat and Tears number When I Die (Harris), and even a Grace Cock Soup jingle done by Harris and Smith.

As the shower of musical items continued, the audience got more and more spirited, dancing in their seats or on their feet and, as mentioned, wanted more when Smith tried to sign off with a rousing rendition of the popular R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

The next in the Jazz in the Gardens series of concerts, which is sponsored by The Jamaica Pegasus hotel and Capital and Credit Merchant Bank, will be held on April 26.