Tami Chynn sizzles with hot ballads at Blue Beat's Unplugged Series in Montego Bay, St James, last Thursday. - Photo by Hope Evans

WESTERN BUREAU:

In a polka dot ensemble, Kingston-bred Tami Chynn serenaded a hot crowd with old and new hits in the second performance of the Unplugged Series at Marguerite's Blue Beat last Thursday evening on Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay, St James.

Fans cooled down to Chynn's soothing ballads amid the blazing spotlights and atypical sweltering heat that lasted well into the evening. With the support of her fans, friends and family, she cooed softly, while sometimes busting out her able-bodied voice, in an intimate, jazzy setting.

After settling on a high, blue stool that nearly rivalled her three-inch stilettos, Chynn gave a quick shout out to a familiar face in the audience.

"Me nuh know too many people in Montego Bay," she said. "So when mi see dem me haffi seh wha happen!"

The diversity of the singer's song palate that night was made apparent with ballads that eased the soul and anthems which encouraged audience members to leave their apathetic significant others. Her ethnic background of Caucasian, Chinese, Cherokee and African-American is even more diverse than her song selection was, and just as assorted as her musical essence - an infusion of jazz, hip hop and reggae.

Recent collaboration

Chynn has worked with artistes such as Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Lady Saw. At Blue Beat, she spoke of her most recent collaboration with international singer and producer Akon of Konvict Muzik. Songs performed at the concert were also crowd favourites like Forever Your Girl and Frozen. Tami also sang renditions of the 1970s hit, Crazy, by Patsy Cline and Corinne Bailey Rae's Like A Star, giving them the Chynn twist that she called "eclectic dancehall". At one point, she invited her "reggae-rock" sister, Tessanne, who sat in the front row, to the stage to sing the duet, You and Me.

Giving the crowd an extensive look at her songwriting, concert and personal experiences, Chynn often explained background information about each song, including Sweet Love, a ballad she wrote in the bathroom while on tour.

The personal interaction did not stop there. Afterward, the laid-back singer braved the extraneous heat, mingled with fans and, in the end, was satisfied with her set.

"I had a wonderful time perfor-ming here," Chynn told The Gleaner. "It's not very often that I get to sit down when I perform and be among such a great crowd and good friends."