Ambassador Theatre comes alive with Easter Joy in the Bass

The nearly 80-year-old Ambassador Theatre on Collie Smith Drive, Trench Town, came alive last Saturday, with the sounds of music, ministry and testimonies at the Joy Town Community Development Foundation’s inaugural Easter Joy in the Bass.

Among the performers were Carlene Davis, Kevin Downswell, Goddy Goddy, saxophonist Verlando Small, Ronika Treleven of the Praise City International Transformation Church (PCITC) in Trench Town and singer Jason Davidson, with the word from Pastor Nikita Williams, a resident of Trench Town and a member of PCITC.

Founder and president of the Joy Town Community Development Foundation, Major Richard Cooke, expressed his pleasure that Joy Town was once again able to treat the community to another free Joy in the Bass gospel concert, “as the six concerts previously held during the Christmas season helped change the atmosphere, lift spirits and keep Christ at the centre of the season”.

Easter Joy in the Bass was produced by Glory Music, led by Tommy Cowan.

“The final planning began five days before the event because of unforeseen circumstances, so it was a challenging time. But, we know all things are possible with Christ. Little is much when God is in it and with all the challenges, there has never been anything like what we experienced,” Cowan said.

PERFORMANCES

The opening act featured duo musicians Dave ‘Prime Time’ Green on drums and Gregory Palmer on keyboards. Then the crowd erupted when the popular town crier, DP Coombs, was introduced. Known for his event promotional duties, much to everyone’s surprise, he performed an original song, Jesus I Love You. Digicel Rising Stars 2013 winner, saxophonist Verlando Small kept his audience engaged with renditions of Jireh, Above All and Goodness of God, while Dr Carlene Davis had the audience on their feet with her set including Handful of Salt, Nothing But the Blood and One Day At A Time. An impromptu new version of My Forever Friend was created live onstage, with the backing of Dave Green and Gregory Palmer.

The booming voice offstage of high-energy Goddy Goddy singing Brimstone, was enough to stir the audience into dancing. His other popular songs, such as When Now, Let’s Go Forward For God, Chaka Chi, and Bring the Money, saw him jumping from the stage into the audience, where he was surrounded by patrons taking snaps of him and recording his performance.

Pastor Nikita Williams brought some reflection and solemnity to the occasion through her sermonette which challenged her audience to seek purpose and faith and to look to the cross for a new beginning.

One of the island’s top gospel artistes, Kevin Downswell, a regular supporter of the Joy in the Bass concerts, spoke about growing up in an inner-city community and encouraged the youths to trust God, start moving forward with their lives and never give up. Downswell announced that he and Joy Town were committed to donating laptops to two young men of Trench Town, so they could pursue their purpose.

To close his set, Downswell was joined onstage by Pastor Nikita Williams for an altar call.