Cayman residents heard jazzed up versions of their favourite hymns and gospel songs at the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble’s ‘Blue in the Church’ performance at First Baptist Church on Saturday, 11 February.
The performance, which was the third event of the Cayman Arts Festival 2012, also featured the UCCI Choir during the second set.
The five-member Juilliard Jazz Ensemble was led by noted jazz guitarist Rodney Jones, who teaches at The Juilliard School in New York, along with four Juilliard students, two of whom are graduate students.
Jones, who has played with many of the world’s pop, R&B, blues and jazz legends including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie, said his father was a minister for 60 years, so he grew up listening to many of the songs the band would play. He said jazz and blues are closely connected to gospel music.
The first set, which was entirely instrumental, started with a long version of the children’s gospel song ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and was followed by the hymn ‘Great is thy Faithfulness’, the latter of which allowed Jones to display his immense talent. However, after that song, Jones left the stage to whom he called “the talented young people”.
Female saxophonist Jorday Pettay, pianist Kris Bowers, bassist David Baron and drummer James Macbride artfully finished up the first set with Pettay shining on ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’, Baron strutting his stuff on ‘Goin’ up Yonder’ and Bowers showing why he’s considered one of the best young jazz pianist in the United States on both ‘Goin’ up Yonder’ and ‘Just a Closer Walk With Thee’.
Jones rejoined the group after the intermission to play ‘Old Time Religion’ before the UCCI Choir came out to sing on the last three songs, which included ‘Oh Happy Day’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.
For an encore, the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble and the UCCI Choir gave a rousing performance of ‘Wade in the Water’ which started with Baron and Pettay taking turns with solos to start the number.
After the concert, the band members took some time to talk to attendees and sign copies of the group’s CD, which were on sale.
Related Videos
