SINGAPORE – Following the confusion over the weekend at the Singapore International Jazz Festival (Sing Jazz) regarding the changes in line-up, which saw performance sets shortened (and were even cut), the third and final day of the music event went smoothly, with some of the best jazz bands in the world giving listeners an education in music.

A total of eight acts took the stage in the blistering heat at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands on Sunday (March 6). The weather was so punishing that many in the audience carried umbrellas as they watched the performances, and the waiting time as people queued for beverages lasted for more than half an hour at its peak. It is no wonder Level 42 bassist Mark King, who was sweating profusely in his floral shirt during his band’s set, remarked: “It’s a tad warm, isn’t it?”

Not that anybody seemed to mind. Level 42, a British jazz-funk band that has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, performed an hour-long set with classics such as Running In The Family, The Sun Goes Down and To Be With You Again, much to the delight of fans.

Mexican pianist Hector Infanzon and his band also blew everyone away with a performance that engaged the audience in a musical dialogue of sorts, with each musician battling to show off their skills on their instruments.

The true highlight of the festival was, of course, the performance by Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, which is on its final world tour. The Cuban ensemble played in the early evening to a packed audience, many of whom leapt up to dance along to the rhythms of its music.

But the party really only started when 85-year-old music legend Omara Portuondo took the stage, three songs into group’s 45-minute set. The crowd cheered loudly when the singer, who had to be helped on and off the stage, picked up the hem of her dress and began dancing too.

By the time the final act, Seun Kuti and his band Egypt 80, came on, the audience was primed for a good time. And boy, did the Nigerian musicians give them one. Kuti, who began performing with his father’s band at the age of nine, was a dynamic performer who seemed to dance, sang and played the saxophone with all his body and soul and eventually ripped his sweaty bright yellow shirt off in the heat.

Influenced perhaps by his enthusiasm, many in the audience went forward to dance along to songs such as Follow Follow, Black Woman and Higher Consciousness, even though it was already around 10pm by the time they began their set.

It is a pity that Sing Jazz had to cut the Lush Limelight segment of the festival, which would have seen Singaporean musicians like Dru Chen, Weish, Fauxe, Mediocre Haircut Crew and Tribal Tide playing in short 15-minute segments before international headliners on Saturday and Sunday.

Even though they were given the opportunity perform during the Lushloveslocal x Singjazz segment, which kicked off each day’s proceedings, it would certainly have been nice to hear a Singaporean voice among the world’s very best.