We’re sorry for the puns in the title. First and last piece like this [No promises].
Rounding up a weekend filled with soulful and groovy music, the Dubai Jazz Fest 2015 brought us some pretty memorable moments with James Blunt, Sting, John Legend, Lindsey Stirling, Esperanza Spalding and Christina Perri’s fiery performances. For those of you who missed it, here’s the scoop from the event [and pictures!]:
Night One: A jar of bonfire hearts
Kicking off the extravaganza on the first night, Christina Perri had audiences rapt as she played the touching and low-tempo ‘Jar of Hearts’. From then on, it was all up. Her set moved into a mix of fast, toe-tapping hits, ending the energy-packed performance with her latest ‘Human’.
On this breezy Dubai night, following Perri, James Blunt took the stage, with the opening number ‘Face the sun’ – a powerful wave of energy and emotion. Quickly followed by several upbeat tracks from his new album, ‘Moon Landing’, Blunt exclaimed to the crowd “I’ve got an evening of misery for you!” [Take a peek at exclusive pictures from Blunts’ performance here]
After playing classics like ‘You’re Beautiful‘ and ‘Goodbye, my lover‘, Blunt ended the night on a high note, with ‘Bonfire Heart’ and finally, the hauntingly beautiful track ‘1973’ that made the entire arena tremble with sing-along voices.
Night Two: A dancing violinist & Sting classics
On night two, Lindsay Stirling very quickly had us know that violins were incredibly cool [and that you can dance while playing them]. Running from one end of the stage to another without parting with her black violin, her ginger ponytail flowing, Stirling told the audience “What’s up Dubai’ were words I never thought I’d ever say. This is like Disneyland – only bigger. And for those of you who don’t know what I do, I am a dancing violinist.”
Following Stirling, Sting, the man who needs no introduction, walked on-stage to have the entire amphitheatre gasping and panting. Playing his guitar and sporting a bushy beard, he went from the iconic track ‘Lose myself to you’ into ‘I am an Englishman in New York’, looking younger and more in tune than he ever has in the U.A.E. He took the adoring crowd down memory lane with unforgettable tunes including ‘Message In A Bottle’ which helped his band, The Police, secure a place in ‘The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame’ in 2003. Sting’s stationed performance met the crowd’s expectations with landmark songs, while the smartphone videos capturing his performance served as testimony to his perennial appeal, transcending generations.
Night Three: Jazz Meets Legend
All this excitement was the perfect build-up to the third and closing night of Dubai Jazz Fest 2015. We won’t forget Esperanza Spalding’s crackling set as she oscillated between cello, electric guitar and bass [with that enchanting voice!]. The four-time Grammy award winner’s jazzy gig offered a melodic feast for jazz lovers and newbies alike.
Check out Esperanza Spalding’s ‘Black Gold’ video here.
Offering a fitting end to a three-night party, Legend came on to treat us with an uplifting repertoire of hip hop soul, blues gospel and jazz tunes. Sitting by his piano, fingers gracefully tapping the keyboards, he had each one of us hanging by every word, while he sang ‘Bridge over troubled waters’ and the teasing ‘Tonight [best you ever had]’. But you know when the crowd went really crazy? When Legend whipped out the Middle Eastern rendition of last year’s most popular romantic ballad ‘All of Me’, heard live for the first time globally, since Sony released it last month.
What a weekend it’s been. We can’t wait for Dubai Jazz Fest 2016.
Who would you like to see come to town? Tell us in the comments below [and maybe we can make it happen]