Music: The Alibi defending great music with no excuses

Jazz.

Its a word the very mention of which us enough to turn noses up or contort faced with disgust. And yet, even in today's narrow band of music appreciation among the general public, there are those who have and sustain a yearning for live music that consistently pushes boundaries and defies convention, without attacking sensibilities or eardrums.

It is to that contingent that proprietor Mark Nelson seeks to cater with the latest iteration of The Alibi, the supper club and lounge he formerly operated from the now defunct Barron's Plaza on Constant Spring Road. There, regulars were accustomed to jazz offerings from the likes often Dr Kathy Brown, Alex Martin-Blanken and others.

Now neatly ensconced on the upper level of the Lee Gore Centre (on the grounds which once sustained the popular Peppers nightclub), Nelson is continuing to bear the standard for high-end entertainment provided without the " airs" that one might generally associate with such a venture.

On Wednesday nights, the compact yet airy venue welcomes music lovers to experience the varied and dynamic stylings of keyboardist O'zoune, supported by drummer Cliff Bond and Shurwayne Thompson on bass. Over the past few weeks since the series began, the trio have tackled a number of jazz, pop and reggae " standards" with great aplomb. This includes what may arguably be the signature tune, a truly exquisite reading of Alicia Keys' Billboard Rn'B Chart topper "Unthinkable(I'm Ready)".

The band has also accompanied a stellar roster of featured vocalists, including Mari Isaacs and Carol Gonzalez, with the likes of Maria Myrie and Clancy Eccles Jr. still to come. On the most recent visit, up and coming jazz vocal aspirant Azurri gave yet another impressive account of herself, delivering the goods on such cabaret staples as " Don't Know Why" and "Fly Me To The Moon" and throwing in Erykah Badu's "Tyrone" for good measure.

For his part, self-confessed music lover Nelson is angling the Jazz Night to dovetail into an overall entertainment package that encompasses Selectors' Sessions on Fridays ("The Bounce") and on Sundays ("Easy Skanking") that will be  structured to more conventional music aficionados.

His menu choices, almost exclusively Jamaican and Caribbean, are equally unfussy, and buttressed by a wines and spirits befitting a former Wray & Nephew/Lascelles sales exec.

Nelson has other plans for the venue over the coming months (including the obligatory Sunday Brunch), but is carefully monitoring the progress, including positively feedback, and allowing both the "Jazz night" and the venue as a whole to grow based word of mouth in recognition of its attributes (location, parking, quality offerings).

He may not be able to convert the masses, but he is committed to consistently winning over those who may be in search of a great live music experience but unsure of where, in the again burgeoning nightlife landscape, it might be had.

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