Impressive line-up for Gospel Jazz night

Gospel jazz. It seems like a 'sleeping giant' among music genres in Jamaica. However, not to the organisers of this year's Best Dressed Fun In The Son festival.

The festival, which is slated to take place Wednesday, March 16-Saturday, March 19, is a return to Fun In The Son's original format - that of being the Christian offering of various styles of gospel music; and what's an alternative without being both bold and impressive? As such, among the events scheduled to occur is a Gospel Jazz event next Wednesday night, March 16, at the Redbones Blues Café, New Kingston.

The live hybrid of gospel and jazz, will feature commanding jazz performances with a gospel twist by Dennis Rushton, Chris McDonald, Tamara Cushnie, Jon Williams, Kathy Brown, Ian Hird, Paul McKenzie (Smiley) and Desi Jones.

The event, which is also an affordable one will have an attractive entry fee of $500 and will begin at 8 p.m.

"The Gospel Jazz night will be the perfect opportunity for jazz and gospel lovers to experience the best of both genres. The musicians on the night's line-up are well-known in jazz circles and also to most Christians, but it is also a great experience for lovers of live music to come out and have a splendid time where God will be glorified," says Tommy Cowan of Glory Music, organiser of the Fun In The Son festival.

Member of the production team for the Gospel Jazz night, jazz aficionado Tony Munroe says the event represents a long-overdue marriage of the two genres. "Both gospel and jazz are two genres which find their origins in the American South and (at the time) jazz represented the anti-establishment of the day. So this is definitely a marriage well overdue."

Superb talent

In reference to the night, he further stated, "I am certainly looking forward to the creativity of Dennis Rushton, as his Jazz interpretation of gospel music is so dynamic that it would be worth travelling miles to see ... this is definitely a night where all these talented Jamaica Jazz musicians, including Ian Hird, Tamara Cushnie and all the others on the line-up can showcase their superb talents."

In addition to the Gospel Jazz night, the Best Dressed Fun In The Son festival will also comprise of a 'Word and Worship' series, which will be held at Jamaica College on Tuesday, March 15 and Thursday, March 17; a gospel praise party dubbed 'Metamorphosis' on Friday, March 18 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre and on Saturday, March 19 the festival culminates with the free grand concert at the UWI Mona Bowl.