The last memory I will retain from the opening concert of the 2002 Bermuda Jazz Festival will be a very pleasant conversation I had with promoter Choy Aming after the show.

Choy stated that this was a show that Bermuda won't forget for a long time, and I agreed enthusiastically.

My first memory will be an unpleasant one however, as it will involve some quite unimpressive thoughts about a certain door lady's attitude.

Suffice to say I entered the absolutely jam-packed ballroom of the luxurious Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel with a burning desire to give this show a bad review (hey, I'm only human!).

But alas! It was not to be.

Having been amongst the last to be seated, I didn't have to wait very long for the show to start.

It was already a half-hour behind schedule, but the capacity crowd certainly didn't seem bothered by the delay at all.

And when the Captain and VJ (no relation) greeted us with a quick and efficient introduction of Alex Bugnon, the party was on! Alex was impressive from the first note he and his accompanying trio struck.

His set was littered with familiar melodies and well structured instrumentals.

Favourites like `Shaft'' `Piano In The Dark', `Fire' and `Yearning' ("My heart, is yearning for your love") delighted us while original pieces like `Harlem On My Mind', `Night Groove' and the stirring `Sunset Over Manhattan' (which was written on September 12, 2001 in response to the 9/11 tragedy) held us in unrelenting awe.

The band was spectacular throughout the eighty minute set, especially the multitalented Vincent Henry, who flexed his musical muscle on the electric guitar, the saxophone and the harmonica.

The audience enjoyed every minute of Alex's time, and when he closed the set with the encore that he decided to do without even leaving the stage (to "save five minutes"), we had no choice but to honour him with a standing ovation.

That was the first of many standing Os to come, because when the legendary Manhattans took the stage, they set the night on fire!

Oh my goodness what a performance! But I'm getting ahead of myself aren't I?

Bootsie wasn't bad either.

See he came on after Alex and his crew left, and did twenty minutes of very high quality stand-up comedy.

He covered such touchy issues as the lack of live entertainment in our hotels, drunks at weddings, how "there's no F in rent-a-car" and the now closed New Queen Restaurant's ability to prepare whatever you ordered (even fictional dishes like `Ping Pi Po'). Funny stuff, and an excellent connecting act as well.

Too bad the next act wasn't quite ready yet.

Bobbi Humphrey did her part to help bide time by giving a little impromptu `teaser' performance: a sweet rendition of Lionel Richie's classic `Hello' on that magical flute of hers.

Then there was some slight stalling, but the crowd didn't get too juvenile, and when the Manhattans got to the stage at sometime around 11.15 p.m., all was forgiven and forgotten.

This show was phenomenal people.

The foursome exploded onto the stage in coordinating red and black ensembles and proceeded to bombard us with love songs as timeless as the wind and as beautiful as the night sky.

`Crazy', `The Love Song', `Feels So Good To Be Loved So Bad' and `You Don't Know How Much I Love You' fell from their exalted souls and landed squarely on our expectant hearts in quick succession. Eyes closed, arms raised and voices ascended to the sky ... this concert was downright religious people, and even the audience was a sight to behold.

I absorbed every second that this crowd of predominantly forty-somethings revelled in the music they grew up listening, living and loving to. Made me feel kinda warm inside.

Then the guys dove into `There's No Me Without You' and the audience sung the entire song word for word.

Just like church, but with some serious soul.

`Don't Take Your Love Away From Me' found the audience singing to each other, and the men standing up and admitting that they `beg' - only real men have the, er, guts to admit that they beg huh fellas?

Wow ... what a ride.

Standing and waving became the chosen reaction when the legends dove into the timeless `Hold On (We Can Make It)'.

And when Gerald Austin delivered a simply stunning solo rendition of Sam Cooke's `A Change Is Gonna Come', the table candles became lighters and the entire room held them aloft. There's nothing like being in an audience that is thoroughly enjoying a truly special performance.

This was a performance that will remain etched on my memory for some time to come, and judging from the standing ovation that Gerald was showered with, mine isn't the only mind that will be forever stamped.

David Tyson, Troy May and `Blue' Lovett returned to the stage after Gerald was through tearing the roof off, and soon the guys embarked on a journey through some instantly recognisable love songs from the seventies, right through the nineties.

`Love Don't Love Nobody', a breathtaking rendition of `End Of The Road' and `My Shining Star' ("Honey you, are my shining star, don't you go away" - you know the one!) were all delivered with exceptional grace and style.

The backing band was fantastic throughout the ample set as well, with expert direction from musical director and keyboardist Gary Mancinelli, and flawless playing from Justice Butler on drums, James Simmons on guitar, Jason Simons on bass and Harry Robbins on the other set of keys.

I mean this show was so masterfully conceived and constructed that when the guys closed with the heart-wrenching `Let's Just Kiss And Say Goodbye', the last and loudest standing ovation was pretty involuntary.

We HAD to stand up George!

The five minute plea for an encore fell on deaf ears, but the crowd was far from disappointed.

We filed out in an orderly fashion, smiling sheepishly, buzzing excitedly and raving that this is going to be a seriously entertaining festival.

And even if it ain't, the opening show was just about as unforgettable as they come!

Thank you Choy, thank you very much.