Gospel artistes deliver at Tobago Jazz Experience

IT was billed as a holy land experience.

And for those who attended the gospel night at the opening of the Tobago Jazz Experience: The Return on Thursday at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, the cast did not disappoint.

In fact, many patrons felt the show was of an exceptionally high standard with some of the local gospel artistes, most notably Jaron Nurse, Positive (Joel Murray) and Blessed Messenger (Tyronne Dominic Walters), among others, equalling and in some instances, even surpassing the performances of their international counterparts, Jonathan Nelson, Todd Dulaney and Chosen Remnant.

A new addition to the Jazz Experience catering to a demographic not previously represented at the event, patrons got the opportunity to not only reflect on Jesus Christ’s journey through song and worship but to also experience his transformational power.

Several of the "messengers" punctuated their performances with touching anecdotes about how Christ intervened and worked wonders during dark periods in their lives.

One such artiste was the Carenage-born Nurse, who, during his performance, got a sizeable section of the audience to move from their seats and onto the dancefloor, singing, clapping and dancing, in front of the stage in the main auditorium.

Nurse, dressed in white, opened his set with the popular Dance For Jesus and later, Tell Somebody About Jesus.

Saying that the community in which he was raised is still known for crime and violence, Nurse revealed that one of his cousins has been missing for more than 30 days.

This inspired him to sing Fed Up, in which he essentially condemns “all dem gun men dem” for the country’s escalating crime situation. His message resonated with the audience.

During his set, Nurse also performed briefly with gospel singer Nicola Dalrymple.

The audience revved up, Blessed Messenger kept the pace going with a highly-energetic performance to one of his signature selections, Famalay, among others.

The Bethel native, who won the Caribbean Artiste of the Year award at the Sterling Gospel Music Awards in 2019, focused heavily on families, saying they were continuously under siege from ungodly elements in the society.

He told the crowd, “You are my famalay.”

When Positive appeared on stage, the crowd was already in a frenzy. He sang several hits from his impressive collection, including Never Let Go, We Serve A Mighty God and Encounter.

The artiste told the audience he rose from the “depths of depression and despair” to become a powerful messenger of the Word.

He recalled being told that he would never have been successful in life “But the Devil is a liar.”

Positive also shared that the house in which he was raised in John Dial was not even as big as the stage in the Shaw Park auditorium. He also recalled as a child wearing one pair of sandals for four consecutive years.

But the dreadlocked Positive said later in his life he realised that God has always been faithful to him.

Guyanese artiste Samuel Medas, also singing in the latter part of the show, delivered an exhilarating performance in which he, too, reflected on his modest beginnings growing up in a small, country village.

Medas, 34, said he learnt that he had multiple complications when he was born but despite the best efforts of doctors, it was prayer that helped him to improve. He said many people who grew up with him in the church have walked away from the faith.

“But my Father is a king so I am royalty.”

Medas also lamented what he considered to be the “politics” within the church.

He observed that rather than practising God’s teachings in their lives, many people in church seemed more pre-occupied with positions, titles and bad-mouthing others.

In separate performances, American artistes Nelson and Dulaney, with their crisp voices, closed the six-hour show.

The men, who were accompanied by their bands and back-up singers, each enjoyed lengthy sets, singing hits for their vast repertoire among other perennial gospel favourites.

Nelson, from Baltimore, Maryland, told the audience they should be grateful to have survived the covid19 pandemic.

The singers said they were also heartened by the warm reception they received.

“I am a Tobagonian,” Nelson declared.

Wowing patrons in the early stages of the show were Canadian gospel group Chosen Remnant, THA Secretary of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport pastor Terance Baynes, Shantal Lindsay, Marc Isaacs and the Axis Band.

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris delivered opening remarks.

Today, the Tobago Jazz Experience heads to the Speyside Recreation Ground, where performers will include acclaimed Jamaican artistes Everton Blender (Everton Dennis Williams) and Ritchie Spice (Richell Bonner) as well as Nailah Blackman, Gardah Knight (Christopher Joseph), Benjai (Rodney Le Blanc), Franz Job, KMC (Ken Marlon Charles), among others.