Who knew Machel Montano had supplemental entertainment skills other than wildly gyrating?

The Trinidadian 'soca prince' made a good effort of validating his presence at the 14th Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival this past weekend at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium as he interjected 'bluesy' elements in his performance. He went from 'socacising' to playing the keyboard and the guitar, and singing a pair of soulful songs.

Montano's 45-minute performance last Friday night was also a stunning display of versatility. From soca to reggae, dancehall, R&B and salsa, Montano did it all.

"I feel truly blessed to be on a jazz and blues stage as a soca artiste," Montano told the patrons.

As expected, his set was dominated by soca songs and it resonated with most of the patrons as carnival season is just around the corner. Aware of the occasion though, Montano soon slowed it down, singing a love ballad, Don't You Go, while playing the keyboard. Later, he was handed a guitar for We Not Giving Up, which he dedicated to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

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Bob Marley's No War was also in the offing and towards the end of his set he did his renditions of Tony Matterhorn's Dutty Wine and Ding Dong's Bad Man Forward.

Montano, who introduced himself to dancehall fans in 1999 with Big Phat Fish, said when he was first contacted to perform at the jazz festival all he said was "I'm ready".

"I wanted to do something other than jump up at carnival time and I think that my music is widely accepted, so I was willing to do jazz," he said after his performance.

"My music expresses Caribbean unity. I've done songs with people from Cuba, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and all over the world, so I can pull out these songs when I come to these kind of shows."

Montano's adaptability will be on display next on February 18 when he opens for Beyonce in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

JAMAICA STAR