The Lethbridge Blues and Jazz rebranded a brand new festival— the Mosaic Festival, which debuted in Galt Gardens, Saturday, June 29.
A good sized crowd lounged in the sun listening to upbeat Latin and jazz inspired music featuring lots of keyboards.
I caught the end a of a massive jam from Juno nominated Venezuelan percussionist Luis Tovar’s band.
The keyboardists nose practically dug into his keys as he did battle with the old 88s digging out a hot solo then turned things over to a bassist who did his own solo.
Calgary based soul and funk musician Lynn Maric was up next after a quick changeover. It was more of the same. There were a heap of solos, another crazy keyboardist who added some theremin near the end of their set.
Lynn Maric Olagundoye crooned sexy, seductive soulful vocals
and did her best to get the quiescent crowd on their feet to dance to hypnotic grooves and extended jams. And everybody got to sol.“ Everybody bounce with me,” she exhorted to the crowd during “ All About the Struggle.” A few did.
“ Who’s going to be the first,” she asked, as more eventually followed in front of the stage with more to follow near the end of the set.
I missed local jazz favourites Midnight Channel and most of the audience was awaiting for reggae band Oral Fuentes, so perhaps most were waiting for that before they danced.
The band fit a half dozen songs into. their Hour and some long set.
Their keyboardist was just as impressive as Luis Tovar’s keyboardist, grinning and pounding away at his keys like NRBQ’ Terry Adams. He cut loose on the last song “ You Can’t Tell Me.”
— By Richard amery, L.A. Beat Editor
