BAJANS?were?out in their hundreds to welcome the return of City Nights – The Concert, the first of its kind for many years, at Frank Collymore Hall Saturday evening.
The four-hour show staged at the refurbished hall at Church Village, The City, saw saxophonist Arturo Tappin and jazz singers Ci Ci and Marisa Lindsay laying on sumptious musical creativity. There was no doubt that these acts knew how to work the big stage.
An added attraction was Lew “Jiggs” Kirton, the first Barbadian to be on Billboard with the album Talk To Me, as he joined Tappin, Ci Ci and Lindsay.
The crowd comprised people from all walks of life: business, politics and showbiz. They just did not want to go home.
Barbadian artistes cum international ambassadors took the “swooning” audience, over 500 strong, on a musical ride that ended with a standing ovation. An emotional Tappin said that he was humbled by their response to the event.
The hall’s conservative space was transformed and energized by the ambience created from hand-clapping, foot-stomping disciples as Tappin and his band held court.
“You have been a wonderful audience,” he gushed.
The backup cast was (in the electric section) drummer Melvin Alick, keyboardists Darien Bailey and Kirk Layne and electric bassist Julian Griffith. The acoustic section featured Andre Daniel on piano, David Carnegie on drums, Marius Charlemange on upright bass. Joseph Callender and Mylon Clarke held down tenor saxes, while Kweku Jelani controlled the trumpet. Terry Mexican Arthur was responsible for the percussion and tenor pan.
