Ziggy (David Walcott) feeling the rhythm as he opened the show yesterday.

by TRACY MOORE

GILBERT ROWE, producer of the Barbados Jazz Festival, took Jazz On The Hill back to its roots this year with mostly a traditional jazz line-up.

Clearly, from the choice of bands, it was all about the sound of hard bop, fusion numbers, serious saxing, smooth bass sections, insane drum rhythms and piercing
steel pan.

Quintessentially jazz!

But even with all that came the low turnout in numbers, and, sadly, the lowest – on the last climactic day of the festival at Farley Hill National Park,
St Peter, yesterday.

However, those loyal patrons and jazz enthusiasts were in for a treat because of the attractive line-up, coupled with the ambience.

Starting the show on the right note was the popular steel pannist David Ziggy Walcott.

It was obvious why his band could not end the show – Ziggy, the Candor Music artiste, was really "hyped", and for more than 60 minutes he thrilled patrons to the point that the 500 or more attending were calling for more by the end of his set.

With the pan dominating, his Bajan-style jazz got people from their seats, dancing with hips swaying and heads rocking like they were hypnotised by the music.

It then took the internationally renowned Rippingtons to take it down a notch, smoothing it out with their contemporary style.

But they soon turned up the pace with their infusion of sax and guitar.

It was hard to keep still.

Then the headliners, the Cuban All Star Jazz Band, did "it". Latin jazz in its finest form was heard across fields, floating on the tradewinds across the hill.

As the evening closed in, the chilly winds competed with the hot sounds floating from the stage into the ears and hearts of patrons.

There was no doubt that Jazz On The Hill on its final day was at its finest.

* tracy moore@nationnews.com