Bermuda Jazz Festival got underway to a full house at Dockyard on Friday night. Bermudian Andrew Chamberlain and his quartet started the proceedings with the familiar question: `What's going on?' Chamberlain's version of Marvin Gaye's hit featured the guitar playing of Robert Berry and Bermuda's own bassist, Wensy Woolridge. A feature of Chamberlain's music provides ample space for his musicians to stretch out: Woolridge and Berry did. Actually Chamberlain's quartet was not the opening act of the Festival. That honour was accorded Deletta Gillespie. Despite the exemplary job by the parking attendants, this reviewer was caught in the maze-like parking arrangements and was unable to catch her entire performance. Guilty of tardiness, perhaps but I have resolved to catch Ms Gillespie's act at the Surf Club.

After his number, Chamberlain followed with an upbeat waltz again featuring Berry on guitar. His solo had Wes Montgomeryish echoes. A Chick Corea's tune with a light, boppish beat followed; it was an ideal fare for the animated audience. Chamberlain's fifty-minute set was workmanlike while Tony Cox ensured that the proceedings remained on an even keel with his superb timing and propulsive backbeats. The M.C., Lee Johnson, returned at the break. His sonorous voice continued to fill the night with doomsday like pronouncements.

Johnson described Austin as "the voice from heaven'', accurate but a bit excessive. Nevertheless, the pulsating crowd was ready, and Patti did not disappoint. Wrapped in sheets of cloth which did not mask her plumpness, Patti Austin showed off a voice that was as clear and refreshing as the night air.

She offered hits dating back almost thirty years to an appreciative and knowing audience. `Good Times', `Razzmatazz' and `The Real Me' were followed by literally a smoky version of the Jermone Kern -- Otto Harach's classic: `Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. Not only did smoke get in our eyes but some brain decided to mix in with the most carcinogenic fumes of all things, moth balls! Patrons at the back less affected by the environmental blunder gave her support, singing in unison to her RanB offerings. Patti's rousing rendition of `In & Out of Love' was followed by her signature duet, `Come to Me' sans James Ingham. Her enunciation and shifts in octave elevated the crowd to a Cup Match frenzy and party. Patti Austin on this night clearly kept the music playing and the crowd danced and sang along in and out of their seats. A true jazz artiste, Al Jarreau, followed Ms Austin. It was a difficult act to follow and the astute Jarreau acknowledged this fact from the outset. Nevertheless, Jarreau, the consummate musician, persevered, prevailed and ultimately triumphed. His five-piece ensemble, two drummers, bass, guitar and keyboards were excellent foils for his high-pitched and varied scatting. Joe Williams he isn't, but then Jarreau always had his own innovative voice from his inception in the late 60's. Too often we tend to make uncalled for comparisons with the familiar instead of accepting things on their merit. It's a question of growth and broadening one's horizons. Al Jarreau has done this. His improvisional `Bermuda' was warm and artistically clever. He, too, offered familiar fare: `We're in this love together' and Dave Brubeck's, `Take Five'. On Friday night the festival at Dockyard was a class act. Since its inception four years ago the Festival has shown growth and maturity. Both Bermudian and foreign patrons have grown in their appreciation and can definitely distinguish between "jazz'' -- pure jazz that is -- and rhythm and blues. There were murmurs in the crowd: Patti Austin should have been last, Al Jarreau should have been last.

The time is not far away when the Bermuda Jazz Festival will be able to set up on the stage -- jazz, and on another stage the other stuff. Can we afford to please them all? Rawle Frederick Al, George and all that jazz provide music for the soul: International stars a hit with Bermuda at Jazz Fest 99 Master of his own voice: Jazz Artuste Al Jarreau peerserved, prevailed an untimately triumphed with is varies scatting on Friday's opening night of the Bermuda Jazz Festival 1999.