Smooth sailing with Mickey Hanson and After Six band

On October 1, bandleader and trumpeter Mickey Hanson, whisked patrons away on what he billed “a musical cruise” and what a voyage it turned out to be as they sailed from Kingston’s Grosvenor Galleries to a fabulous ‘Land of Make Believe’.

With a first-class musical crew, a repertoire that travelled effortlessly across borders and genres, and a few surprise guests who sent the temperature soaring, Hanson and The After Six Band smoothly sailed away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The evening was particularly significant for Hanson, marking his first public performance in several months while addressing an optical issue. For his return, the veteran musician assembled an impressive line-up comprising Charmaine Limonious on guitar and vocals; Carlton Jarrett on bass; Audale Martin on keyboard; Lukel Miller on alto saxophone; Obed Davis on drums; and Cuban percussionist Ricardo Diaz.

After revving up with Bob Marley’s Is This Love, the band first set its musical course for Cuba, delivering delightful renditions of Chan Chan and Guantanamera, with Bésame Mucho nestled between them. The familiar melodies quickly drew the audience into spontaneous sing-alongs.

The show reached its first major high point just before intermission with two contrasting performances. The first set closed with a suitably jaunty reading of Woody Shaw’s Moontrane, but not before Miller delivered an absolutely sumptuous interpretation of Body and Soul, confirming his place among the impressive young exponents of saxophone balladry on the local music scene.

Following the break, the musical voyage continued across the Atlantic to Europe with Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, famously interpreted by Miles Davis and Gil Evans on the classic Sketches of Spain album, and Andrea Bocelli’s beloved Le Tue Parole.

There were also stops in the United States, with Limonious lending her vocals to several pop and R&B favourites, imaginatively reworked by the band. Among the standouts were Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time and the Isley Brothers’ smooth classic For the Love of You.

Then came an audience request that raised the musical temperature even further.

The band’s handling of Summertime, with Limonious’ shimmering vocals riding effortlessly over its mid-tempo waves of sound, provided one of the evening’s most memorable moments. Remarkably, the tempo and arrangement were conceived and worked out virtually in real time on the bandstand, yet sounded as polished as though they had long been part of the prepared repertoire.

But, even then, the best was still to come.

In Jamaica, word of a good live show travels quickly, and fellow musicians are often tempted to “pass through” and add their own flavour to the proceedings. This night was no exception.

As Hanson’s imaginary S.S. Grosvenor prepared to return to home port through a rousing medley of ska classics, the audience received an even bigger send-off than anticipated. What followed could only be described as ‘The Great Horn Summit’.

Trumpeters Vivian Scott, Chico Chin and Andre Gayle, along with trombonist Everton Gayle, joined Miller and a visibly moved Hanson on stage, transforming the finale into an exhilarating celebration of Jamaican musicianship. Together, they romped joyously through Occupation Eastern Standard Time and other Skatalites favourites before putting the final stamp on an unforgettable night with the late Chuck Mangione’s Land of Make Believe.

It was a fitting conclusion to a musical journey that had travelled through reggae, jazz, Cuban rhythms, classical influences, pop, R&B and ska – and an equally fitting welcome back for Mickey Hanson.

Buoyed by the warmth of the audience’s reception, Hanson is already eagerly charting the course for his next outing.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com