Pop-Jazz Fusion, NeatltyTied With Strings

Jazz in the Gardens

The Intermittent rain played a bit of a trick o nthe organizers of Jazz in the Gardens Sunday last. No sooner had the decision been taken to move the proceedings inside the Pegasus ballroom than the rain essentially eased for good.

Not to worry. If patrons forget couldn't see the stars come out, they saw - heard - quite a few on the inside, established and rising.

Oneo f the night's finds, Locksley Dixon, opened the show, that is right after Deis Jones, Dale Haslam and Chris McDonald got the audience warmed up. Joined by two 'back-singers' Dixon let his guitar do the singing and scored well on the 1st Michael Jackson tribute of the night, "Will You Be There"

The night's other find, Negril-based guitarist Lincoln Thomas, also channeled Jackson in "Gone Too Soon" and also showed his deft touch on pop gems like John Legend's "Ordinary People" and James Ingram's "One Hundred Ways"

Special guest Sherry Winston, a flautist form the US, opened with Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" and took the audience on a funk-filled journey that included MJ's "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"

In between those were commanding performances from the likes of Rupert Bent Snr ("Concierto de Aranjuez" segueing neatly inro Chick Corea's "Spain") Seretse Small and Maurice Gordon (who tutored Gordon as well as Haslam at various periods)

All made for a very intersting "Conversation" repped by guitars. the series contiunes October 25