Cafe Crooner - Mike Harris @ Susie's

Words, particularly for those of us who make a living from them, are so often inadequate. It would hardly be an overstatement to say that Michael Sean Harris is the best male vocalist we have in Jamaica - and indeed, have had for some time.


His awesome talents, as singer, songwriter and bandleader are sadly not enough to earn him widescale notice in the present rubric, notwithstanding the exposure afforded by his stint as Judge on TVJ's choir programme All Together Sing.

It was enough though, to lure a fair-sized crowd out to Kingston's Susie's Coffee bar and Terrace - where of course, the focus is not so much of java, but on harder brews and spirits. Time, and the early onset of influenza, meant we could not take in much, but we caught Harris belting out chestnuts like Third World's "96 Degrees in The Shade" and his own composiiton, "Everyday".

Susie's, through Seretse Small's Griot Music company features live music each Wednesday - No cover.

Pool Guys: Hotels seek to make splash with weeknight entertainment

At the two major hotels on the capital's Knutsford Strip, those seeking a late evening poolside recharge with food, drink and music are being well catered for.  At the Wyndham,  patrons who navigated the craft stall could hear the sound of 2010 Battle of the Bands finalists, Macca Tree Band
 delved into the Jamaican songbook, serving up ska and reggae hits. Down the road, at the Pegasus, guitar ace, Rupert Bent Snr got things started with the aid of his computer, smartly accompanying tracks that included the obligatory Bob Marley, but also pop/r&b gems like James Ingram's "One Hundred Ways" and Earth Wind And Fire's "After The Love is Gone".

He would later be joined by accompanists Othniel "Ottey" Lewis on keys, Dale Brown on bass and drummer Chris Tyrell, the latter having just returned from a European stint with Jimmy Cliff. Australia is next on the agenda for Tyrell, who's also pursuing some production and personal recording projects. EW&F returned to the lineup, this time with "September" and there was more reggae in the form of Third World's take on the OJays chestnut, "Now That We've Found Love".

The two venue join a number of smaller haunts in and around Kingston that are spurring the beginnings of a live music renaissance for the capital, one some three or four years in the making, but still in need of serious support, attention and investment.