Myrna sings for Ward Theatre

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

The City of Kingston is not only one very charming metropolis, it has many secrets and wonders in its historical, architectural, cultural, and social composition. It is also a city of many beautiful and sometimes hidden treasures.

Sadly, over time, some of these treasures have succumbed to the ravages of time and the absence of a national fund to maintain or rehabilitate these national treasures.

One such treasure is the majestic Ward Theatre. Located in the heart of downtown Kingston, the historic landmark was donated to Kingston in 1912 by the late Colonel Charles James Ward, and is the nation's largest indoor theatre. It has a history of hosting a number of internationally acclaimed dance troupes, musical ensembles, actors and singers. It is also the home of the national pantomime, and stage to many national acts, actors, performers and performances.

Sadly, the Ward Theatre is in a state of disrepair, causing the doors of the landmark to be shuttered, while the foundation, created to maintain the facility, struggles bravely to raise the funds to restore it to its pride of place.

Morning of jazz

Next year, the Ward celebrates its centenary, and to restore it to a semblance of its glorious self, the foundation has been staging or sponsoring a number of events designed to raise funds to assist in the restoration.

On Sunday, the foundation, under the patronage of Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda, hosted what proved to be a delightful morning of jazz under the theme 'Jazz for the Ward', featuring Jamaica's first lady of jazz, the incomparable vocalist and entertainer, Myrna Hague; saxophonist-flautist Nicholas Laraque and Dr Carol Ball on piano.

Dears, simply put, it was a musical feast and a social humdinger of the finest order. And luvs, it was just what the doctor ordered, and then some, as in recent years, Kingston has seen the glorification of the underground music and the promotion of the subculture at the expense of mainstream cultural entertainment. That has left those not given to attend mass-produced events in open spaces with a mostly hostile audience, starving for an evening or morning of entertainment, devoid of the fear of being attacked and or abused.

In this respect, Jazz for the Ward was like an oasis in a wilderness of incivility and coarseness that passes for entertainment/music in some quarters. And luvs, it proved a welcome departure from the existing and much-promoted status quo.

Hosted at the Institute of Jamaica's lecture hall, Sunday's concert was more than just a rich musical treat as the absolutely fabulous venue proved a fabulous theatre for such a concert. The hall itself is like concert-style auditorium equipped with a wonderful stage and seating, and acoustics that could shame many a established venues.

Stellar performance

So imagine, the awesome voice of Myrna Hague belting out such jazz faves as Wonderful World, My Funny Valentine, Misty, and Fly Me to the Moon, accompanied by Nicholas Laraque on saxophone, and Dr Carol Ball, on piano, on the first one-third of the programme before Laraque's performance.

Dears, it was most pleasing and entertaining as Laraque was somewhat of an unknown musical quantity, the indomitable Hague, is a musical giant among the pantheons of jazz and she gave no less than the stellar performance expected of her. Her rich, throaty, at times raspy and sensual vocal cords resplendently colourful in the texture and nuance of the jazz genre that distinguishes the greats from the pretenders.

Laraque proved no less a professional horns man, delivering Someone to Watch Over Me, The Way You Look Tonight, Cherry Pink, Super Star and How Glad I Am pretty nigh unto being flawless!

We are talking a man at home and completely relaxed with his saxophone here, as he caressed, and coaxed the instrument, working it both as an extension of his prowess and as an instrument of musical pleasure. There was no denying his star quality and boundless talent!

Following on the simply marvellous performance by Laraque, Hague returned and she wasted no time in getting into the meet of the morning with songs: Who Can I turn To, Smile and Summer Time before what should have been her curtain call, My Romance, but the audience would not have departing so quickly and to persistent choruses of "encore! encore! encore!" the diminutive lady with the big voice obliged. Our Love Is Here To Stay is not a popular stanza, but with Hague performing, the audience loved every moment of it! Watch out for her concert, Simply Myrna, later this evening, at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

Following upon a morning of simply fabulous music, guests were treated to an equally fabulous Sunday brunch.

Among the notables out were chair of the Ward Foundation, Ruby Martin; chair of the Institute of Jamaica, Vivian Crawford; patron of the occasion, Ambassador Leonora Rueda of Mexico; Glynne Manley; Lady Golding; R. Danny Williams and wife Shirley; United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater; Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi and his wife Yoko; Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuño and husband Alex Crowther and their daughter Jimeni.

We saw outgoing deputy chief of Mission of the Mexican Embassy, the very affable Abraham Montes de Oca; deputy chief of mission of the Venezuelan Embassy, the lovely Madhai Hernandez, and husband Marcelo Munoz; deputy chief of mission of the Argentinian Embassy, Ramon Corvera; wife Deidra and their lovely daughter Winnie; deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Chile, Enzo Barra; Cecil and Rosie McKeever; Dawn McCauley; the charmingly lovely Susan Blades Scott; legal powerhouse Margaret Jervis; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello.

Also out were noted jurist Patrick Bailey; the charming Nicola Crosswell-Mair; Allan Rickards and wife the lovely Claudette Jackson-Rickards; Cedric McDonald; the charming Pat Gooden; Hugh and Ouida Dunphy; Rosina Moder; Ian and Gillian Rowlands; Winsome Thomas; Herbie Miller; the lovely Bascilia Fray; Edgar Gallimore; siblings and legends, Monica McGowan and Gaverly McGowan; Winston and Marguerite Barrett; the charming Winsome Dawson, plus a number of others.