Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

In its third year, the annual North Coast Jazz Festival continues to develop a reputation for quality and excellence. The Festival, held at Sir Solomon Hochoy Grounds in Blanchisseuse on May 25, drew its largest crowd so far.

One of the main highlights of the event was the presentation Blanco by veteran masman Peter Minshall and the Callaloo Company. Acccompanied by tassa drums and dressed in all white, vulture-headed figures, Pierrot Grenades, Moko Jumbies, and the famous Tan Tan and Saga Boy puppets danced and paraded to open the Festival. Thespian Cecelia Salazar was also a part of the pageant.

The opening musical act, the gospel group Gates Praise, pleased the crowd with their gospel renditions. Kashiff Wilson and his Kwartet, including his sister Delissa George wowed the audience with their music and vocals. Songstress Sharon Phillips’ smooth vocals and energetic delivery had the crowd singing and waving along as she sang Diana Krall’s Cry Me a River, Ray Charles’ Georgia, Stephanie Joseph’s Trouble, Etta James’ At Last, Voice’s Year For Love and Shadow’s Stranger.

Vocalist Mya Scott kept the audience enthralled with her strong vocals and warm delivery as she sang Feeling Good, From Now On, David Rudder’s Ganges Meet the Nile, Lose to Win, Kitchener’s Bee’s Melody and Shadow’s Dingolay, and as an encore, Full of Vibe. Pannist Natasha Joseph entertained with Jane, What a Day, Black Gold with vocals from Karla Gonzales, Ken “Professor” Philmore’s Pan By Storm, Kes the Band’s Savannah Grass and Shadow’s I Come out to Play. Her energetic performance had the audience dancing and singing along. In keeping with the theme of paying tribute to Shadow, the musician’s son Sharlan Bailey took the audience on an emotional journey with Believe, Dingolay, Soca Boat, and Pay the Devil.

The closing act of the Festival, rapso band 3 Canal, drew a majority of the audience to the front of the stage as soon as their set began. Patrons danced, sweated and sang along with new and old hits like Run the Riddim, Good Morning, Good News, Giants, Illuminata, Walk In Beauty, The Borderline, Shadow’s Toe Jam (Jacob), Talk your Talk and their original hit Blue as an encore.

The acts were backed by Dean Williams and Friends, including Simon Mendoza, Andre Jack and Gerion Williams, and background vocals were provided by Karla Gonzales, Dionne McNicoll-Stephens and Shellon Antoine.

Presentations were made to Bailey and Karega Mandela by event organiser Louis Lee Sing, in recognition of their contribution to music in T&T in general and the North Coast Jazz Festival in particular. Lee Sing also said the continued success of the Festival is part of a drive to build a thriving bed and breakfast industry in Blanchisseuse.