Jazz on the Beach rocks Tobago

Saxophonist Arturo Tappin turned Jazz on the Beach into a lively Saturday afternoon party and had people dancing in the sand and sea with a happy mix of soca, pop and R&B selections. The Bajan artiste and top T&T musicians made the fifth anniversary of “Jazz on the Beach” a fitting celebration at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel. The musicians added another level to the Tobago Jazz Experience.With the sun blazing, faithful supporters flocked the beach on Saturday for the free show which also included performances by Leston Paul, Errol Ince, Douglas Redon, Earl Caruth, Russell Durity, Patti Rogers and Arthur Marcial’s Jazz Ensemble.

Beginning with Tempted to Touch, Tappin immediately had the sizeable crowd swinging. When he followed with Michael Jackson’s Bad, almost everyone had abandoned their seats, and by the time he played Ready to go Right Now, the audience was overcome with joy. He kept the pace up with I Just Wanna Dance With You and Roll It Gyal and ended his almost hour-long performance with a serenade through the crowd. Earlier in the afternoon, Patti Rogers opened the show with a soothing session and Arthur Marcial ’s Jazz Ensemble followed her’s with a classic performance.

Rogers returned to “Jazz on the Beach” after a two-year break because of cancer treatment. Her offerings included Fragile, Walk on By, Night and Day, Just My Imagination and a pleasing adaptation of Destra Garcia’s pan song, Calling Meh. She was backed by Douglas Redon who also worked on Garcia’s original version. When Arthur Marcial’s Jazz Ensemble took to the stage, it brought seasoned musicians from Comets and Kalyan bands together for the first time in 25 years.

“Jazz on the Beach” producer Carl Beaver Henderson could not contain his delight at having such a wealth of talent reunited on stage. The band’s skills took the audience back to that era when being a “music” band in T&T conveyed a different meaning. Marcial’s musicians were well received as they smoothly delivered, with quality and ease, favourites such as Masquerade, Broadway, World’s Greatest, Tay Lay Lay and Ethel. Saturday’s Jazz on the Beach ended with yet another quality session that included Errol Ince, Roderick Maynard, BJ, Earl Caruth and Leston Paul.

Jazz on the Beach continues to be an excellent free show that draws visitors to Tobago. This year’s event, which was again sponsored by businessman Bob Yorke, was dedicated to musician Dave Marcellin, who died on Thursday. He played at the event in previous years and his band, Dave Marcellin Jazzete, was scheduled to play at yesterday’s programme. The two-day programme ended yesterday with performances from Tappin, Vaugnette Bigford, Anders Kappel Tabanca Blues and Terry Shaw Jazz.

The Tobago Jazz Experience 2011 which began on April 23 came to an end last night at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. International acts Randy Crawford and Joe Sample along with 12 the band, Chantelle Esdelle and Moyenne, Silver Stars, Alternative Quarter, Kay Alleyne, Elan Parle and Kariwak Players closed off a busy weekend of events.

Activities included major productions such as “World Music Night” on Thursday and Pan Trinbago’s “Pazzazz” on Friday. “Pazzazz” highlighted performances by Silver Stars, Steel Explosion, All Stars, Buccaneers, Jason “Peanuts” Isaacs, Ken “Professor” Philmore, Emmanuel “Cobo Jack” Riley—who was playing in TT for the first time in 40 years, and Candace Alcatraz and Elan Parle.