SHE WAS NOT in the star-studded cast for the eighth Christmas Jazz, but 10-year-old Kelani White emerged as a star in her own right at the Plantation Garden Theatre last Sunday night.
What’s more, she was the envy of just about everyone else in the sold-out venue because she was up close with the likes of Marcus Miller, Kirk Whalum, Mike Phillips, Myron McKinley, Christian Scott and Gene Lake.
Just before the penultimate song was played, bandleader Miller invited White on stage to jingle the bells for Jingle Bells. Her first station was next to percussionist Michito Sanchez.Under the guidance of Miller, she eventually made her way to the front of the stage where she “jammed” with him and the others.
Even when the jingles got faint because of fatigue, White kept to her task. At one point she even got a little massage from Whalum.It was over the top when Miller gave her an opportunity to do a solo, just like the other musicians.
At the end of the mind-blowing presentation, White got a well-deserved round of applause from the audience for staying the course and being a great sport.When the DAILY NATION caught up with White shortly after the show, she was still overwhelmed and in complete awe.The budding singer, who sings “any type of thing”, said she had attended Christmas Jazz on two previous occasions.
This time she got to see one of her favourite musicians in Miller.What does the 10-year-old Wills Primary School student know about Miller, you ask?“He is a really bad bass player,” she said shaking her head enthusiastically. The still blown away youngster said it was “awesome” standing next to him.She plans to let all her school friends know that she not only met Miller but had the opportunity to play with him.“I’ll tell them I had fun and it was amazing,” White added.
Besides singing, she said her dad Ken tried to teach her to play the guitar, and she planned to take it more seriously now that she had met Miller.
White had the opportunity to see and hear the cast of amazing musicians do some crazy things to songs like O Come All Ye Faithful, Little Drummer Boy and O Holy Night.Based on the response when he took to the stage, a large segment of the audience went to see balladeer Kenny Latimore, who did not disappoint when he sang River and the popular wedding song For You.
Christmas Jazz went into unchartered territory this year by adding a second night. Sunday night was sold out more than a week in advance and last night was expected to be as well. (YB)
