Alicia Keys wows Jazz Fest

(CNS): With a long list of opening acts at the sixth annual Cayman Islands Jazz Fest and a wide array of local artistic and cultural displays to explore, it was close to 11:30pm when Alicia Keys finally took to the stage at the smart and sexy Camana Bay site – a late start for most who expected the show to be over at midnight. She enthusiastically announced her pleasure to be in the Cayman Islands before jumping right into her performance. Wearing tight black pants and a silver sparkled top, Keys moved effortlessly between her piano and the front of stage. (Photos by Judy Canseco)

Keys glided seamlessly from her latest singles, “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” and “Empire State of Mind”, and other songs from her fourth studio album “The Element of Freedom” (set for US release 15 December) and old classics such as “Fallin’” and “Woman’s Worth” from her debut album in 2001. Fan favourites from her second album, “The Diary of Alicia Keys”, included “You Don’t Know My Name”, “If I Ain’t Got You” and an explosive duet with former back-up singer and evening co-performer, Jermaine Paul of “Diary”. “As I am”, “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” and “Teenage Love Affair” were welcome submissions from her third album “As I Am.” Keys surreptitiously exited the stage after about 45 minutes while her band and backup singers continued to woo the audience. She soon returned to take her anticipated encore with mega hits “New York” and “No One”, the former being a duet with superstar rapper Jay-Z in its original form, but Keys gracefully adapted the rap lyrics to piano friendly cadences, once again surprising everyone with her immense musical talents.

Jazz Fest is arguably one of the most dynamic events in Cayman, garnering attention from both local and international audiences as well as performers. This year’s jazz fest, which ran 3 through 5 December, experienced something of a facelift, with both a change of main venue as well as the announcement of perhaps the most famous international musician to perform on our shores. With 9 Grammy Awards under her belt, Alicia Keys has an international fan base that transcends age and genre. The announcement of her inclusion in the Jazz Fest this year undoubtedly attracted a whole new range of audience that may otherwise never have attended the event, and quite likely never had before.

Having entered into a five-year contract with the Department of Tourism to host the event, Camana Bay spent months grooming the proposed 8-acre site with landscaping and irrigation to accommodate an anticipated turnout of about five thousand. Rumours circulating over the past week claimed seven thousand tickets were printed and being sold, despite the venue only being able to accommodate a crowd of five thousand. The turning away of ticket-holders and even rioting were speculated by some, but as anyone who attended the show on Saturday night saw, there clearly was plenty of space for everyone and most seemed to be on generally good behaviour, perhaps due to the overt amount of security on site.

One issue that did manifest and seems to do so consistently at the Jazz Fest is that between those who wish to stand and those who wish to sit. Perhaps in an earlier incarnation, presenting more traditional jazz acts, the Jazz Fest lent itself well to an entirely seated audience. However, some critics of the festival’s organizers feel that with more soulful performers such as Chaka Kahn, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke and Alicia Keys on the bill, it’s time to re-think how the venue is structured. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to sit during an Alicia Keys concert,” says Helen Reid, a Cayman resident for 3 years and 2-time attendee of the Jazz Fest. “But of course if people want to sit, it’s their prerogative, I just don’t think they should be telling me to sit because they can’t see when I want to be up dancing. It’s a concert after all. The performers work hard to entertain us and they deserve to see all the people who want to dance and enjoy their music to the fullest.”

Local resident, Sandra Catron, agrees that there's an issue when it comes to sitting and standing at the Jazz Fest. "I'm not one of those people who needs to be up and dancing all the time so I appreciate being able to sit and have a good view. When one person stands, everyone has to stand to see over them and then no one gets to enjoy their seats. But I think organizers really need to address the issue because I totally understand that some people want to dance. Perhaps they should section off the area in front of the stage with one side for dancers and the other for seats."

The view of the stage, whether seated or standing, was assisted by large screens on either side displaying the camera angles being captured by BET (Black Entertainment Television) who had exclusive filming rights to the entire event. There were even screens at the back for those not interested or brave enough to penetrate the inner seating. The large VIP area was moved from the left of the stage to front row centre this year, providing VIP access in its purest form to the lucky insiders.

Local songstress Andrea Rivera and her band Los Tropicanos opened the evening with a charged set of current pop, dance and Caribbean covers as well as some original work. Another well know local musician, Devon Edie, and his ensemble Absolute Joy soulfully serenaded the crowd with their unique arrangements of classic reggae, jazz and calypso. One of Cayman’s up and coming male vocals Jeffery Wilson squeezed in a quick 3-song set of up-tempo R n’ B.

Perhaps the most delightful surprise of the evening was Elle Varner. A native of California, her funky, eclectic tracks commanded immediate attention from the youth in the crowd. Her powerful voice bellowed fun and interesting tunes that were a cool mix of hip-hop and jazz while her quirky cuteness completed the perfect package. Next up was Barbados native, Arturo Tappin, whose sexy saxophone interpretations of classic reggae and soul really exemplified what Caribbean jazz is all about. The last act on the opening bill was Jermaine Paul, a New York native and long time collaborator with Keys. Paul’s rich and smooth RnB tones maintained a vibrant energy that really got the crowd steeped in anticipation for the main attraction.

During the opening line-up many people chose to explore the food vendors, bar area and the several Cayman cultural booths set up along the rear of the space. Local artists Gordon Solomon, Nikola McCoy-Snell, Nasaria & Randy Chollette, as well as Caymanite artist and sculptor, Horatio Esteban, displayed impressive arrays of works, once again proving Cayman artistic talent to be of international caliber. Esteban was also commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind sculpture for Keys as a tribute to her work and visit to the Cayman Islands, though this presentation was not made on-stage.

Also on display in a shared booth with the Cayman AIDS Foundation were T-shirts designed by local designer Luigi Moxam for his “Tink Again” campaign, aimed at empowering young people to take charge of their sexual health. In response to world AIDS day on 1 December and also in light of Keys’ outspoken international support for HIV and AIDS awareness, the Foundation was also selling CDs of 4 songs specifically composed by local musicians to acknowledge the threat, prevention and social implications of HIV and AIDS in our community.

It was close to 1am by the time crowds were pouring back into the Camana Bay town centre but most were still reeling from such a diverse and complex range of talents and performances, so the process wasn’t as arduous as expected and once again, security and event staff kept the lines moving in the right direction to ensure everyone’s safe arrival to their vehicles. Long time fans of the Cayman Jazz Fest thought the event a true achievement for organizers, with most wondering how it could be possible to top such a monumental headline show. Fortunately, we only have to wait a year to find out.