I caught the end of a special Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival presentation of TendaVillage at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday March 25.

 I missed all of their originals but was in time for a solid set of R and B flavoured, jazz tinged ’80s covers.

 Lead singer Kate Melvina soulfully sang from behind a bank of keyboards, belting out songs that were on the air longer than most of the band members, keyboardist Brandon Smith, drummer Graeme Rife,  bassist Cam Dougall and  guitarist Linden Conroy had been alive, which she observed, asking  her band mates how old they were in 1982 when Prince’s  “1999” was released.

“ She  brought back the sexy side of the ’80s with  her rendition of Lionel Richie’s’“All Night Long,” and delved deeper for some smooth contemporary jazz before returning to the ’80s for some Hall and Oates.

 Another highlight was  their version of “Proud Mary,” which had the crowd singing along.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor