Grammy-award singer Samara Joy brought a measure of joy and comfort to the audience that turned out for the Pure Jazz – Ladies in Concert segment, Thursday, at the Pavilion in Rodney Bay.
Samara weaved and winded her way meticulously through soul-searching jazz beats that were rich in sound and undoubtedly sweet.
At Thursday night’s showpiece, she credited the influence of a string of jazz greats for molding her career and Samara sang her heart out hitting the high notes with a crescendo of lullabies, ballads, and soulful renditions.
“Every day is a new adventure,” she sang, as she presented the audience with literary insights into the pieces performed.
As she sang some of her sweetest hits (and other jazz favourites), patrons showered the singer with applause and cheers that could be heard throughout the Pavilion.
With a hearty combination of an original and known jazz tune, Samara winded down her set to deliver, ‘Lonely Woman’ ‘Peace of Mind’ and ‘Dreams come True’.
As customary, the Pure Jazz segment appeals to hard core ‘jazz -aficionados’ and Thursday’s set was compact with female vocalists delivering to the max.
Another top act featured was Vaughnette Bigford-and the Trinidadian entertainer did not disappoint.
Performing a number of hits including ‘How Could I Leave’ by Dennis Brown, Teddyson John’s ‘Allez’ and others, Bigford delivered a star-like performance and for a moment seemed like the headliner herself-before Samara Joy came on that is.
Backed by an electrifying band, she wooed the crowd her with her incredible talent and it was hard to sit still even for a moment.
Local acts Christa Bailey and Shannon Pinel were just as unforgettable and shone as brightly as ever. Bailey captivated the crowd with her stunning vocal range delivering an awe-inspiring performance that showcased her remarkable versatility.
Pinel’s unforgettable melodies were also hard to resist. Her performance was pure poetry and a testament to the depths of passion. All eyes were glued to the singer, who like Bailey, is already making a name for herself.
Dexter Percil, Head of Marketing at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority had nothing but praise for the all-female cast and the Pure Jazz event.
“We just want to make sure the product we put forth is of good standard and of high quality. Saint Lucia as a brand has lots of equity. We were rated as one of the number one jazz festivals in the world so we just have to continue improving,” Percil told The VOICE in an interview.
Noting that young people are a huge part of the Festival, Percil said that “if you looked at the Opening Night you would have seen a cadre of young and upcoming artistes. If you look at (the lineup for) mainstage you will see Arthur and Ezra… so it’s a progressive approach in terms of how you can introduce and involve locals in different components of jazz.”
According to him, “it’s all about ensuring that there is presence of our locals in every aspect of the Festival.”
The Jazz and Arts Festival continues today and tomorrow with Sunday being ‘The Ultimate Celebration’.
“I just want to ensure that everybody comes to the weekend shows” and that there is “a smooth and seamless execution of the Festival,” Percil said.