The opening night of the 2003 Bermuda Jazz Festival was - well - festive. The atmosphere was immediately exhilarating, and the music was simply heavenly at times.

The Saltus Jazz Band and the Bermuda Boys Choir provided delightful warm-up fare for an evening that would draw 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the near capacity crowd throughout the night.

Marcus Johnson opened the professional set with another fine performance; leading his Marcus Johnson Project through about forty minutes of the highest quality instrumental Jazz, and getting the audience in the mood for some serious musical heights. Those musical heights were absolutely reached and kept by the sublime Mike Phillips, who wielded his saxophone like Arthur wielded Excalibur - slaying the dragons and vanquishing the unbelievers with every note he struck.

Mike was an instant favourite, due mainly to the fact that this phenomenally talented, confident and charismatic kid oozed personality like Kilauea oozes magma.

His set opened at sometime around 9.00 p.m. with a subtle shower, which had subsided just before his first piece came to an end, prompting this self proclaimed 'untypical man' to quip, "Mike Phillips played the rain away!"

That may be a matter for debate, but what is not debatable is that this man delivered an absolutely spectacular fifty minute set on the opening night of the 2003 Bermuda Jazz Fest. That, my friends, is a matter of historical record now.

Highlights of this wonderful set included the amazing "Beatin' Off It" (a song during which Mike simulated the sound of the drum with his sax - yep, you heard right), his 'magic stick' tribute to the swing greats (including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong) and an astounding walk through the crowd on which Mike struck a note on the horn and held it for what seemed like a good five minutes, refusing to let it go until he made it back to the stage.

That was the point when all of us realised exactly why Mike Phillips is the only nonathlete signed to Michael Jordan's Jumpman Management Company.

Mike is also signed to Jordan's Hidden Beach Records, and after witnessing his performance on Thursday night, I'm quite sure more than a few Festival attendees will be looking out for his next album release.

Regina Belle was next to hit the stage after a quite wonderful introduction from the funny and incomparable Sherri J.

Regina has always been a favourite of mine, but she did not deliver her best performance on Thursday night. Something was missing from her fifty minute set. I mean, she sung all the hits: "This I Love", "What If", "Baby Come To Me" and a somewhat unfortunate rendition of "Make It Like It Was".

She delivered them all with attitude and competence in her signature smoky alto, but nothing she did sounded full enough. Perhaps the complete lack of back-up singers was the only problem, perhaps Ms Belle doesn't quite have it anymore, I can't say.

What I can say is that the fans sitting in my immediate vicinity were utterly unimpressed with Regina's efforts, and a short walk through the crowd revealed that the sentiment was pretty consistent throughout.

I can't say that Regina Belle bombed, she didn't. She did deliver a somewhat disappointing set though, and that was certainly an unexpected turn of events.

The disappointment did not last long however, because Freddie Jackson was simply sublime.

He exploded onto the stage at sometime around 11 p.m. and proceeded to scat, flail, bounce, gyrate, groove, modulate, undulate, pirouette, boogie, clap, scream, shout and sang, sang, sang (that's in present tense with a slight southern accent, please) his way into each and every one of our hearts.

Freddie opened his set with the sensual "Nice And Slow," and moved smoothly into the glorious "Love Somebody" before he stopped to woo us with his inimitable charm. He intimated that he recently lost 170 pounds and is having quite a lot of fun these days, which was quite remarkably evident in the way he delivered every single note of this electrifying performance.

Pieces like "Tasty Love," the up beat "Don't Let Love Slip Away" and the simply thumping "Jam Tonight" kept the crowd on its feet and the vibes in the stratosphere.

While classics like "You Are My Lady," the absolutely magnificent "All I'll Ever Ask" and the brilliant "Rock With Me Tonight" (for old time's sake - sing it with me now!) reminded us just how much we all adore this man's awesome voice.

The skies opened just as Freddie was saying his goodbyes, and I heard Sherri riling the crowd up for an encore as I was approaching the gate, cuddled up with my baby under our little umbrella, all warm and cosy with Freddie's voice still dancing in our heads.

Needless to say, we did not turn around.