The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

RAP star Common turned an evening at Jon Batiste’s Jazz Club into an unforgettable experience for Lori Edmonds Gregory when he serenaded her on stage during the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.

Lori was among the scores of music lovers who attended Nawlin’s Nightcap, featuring chef Nina Compton and The Essence Band, at Baha Mar. Guests arrived dressed to impress in vibrant dresses and dancing shoes as cocktails and food were served. The atmosphere became more lively when Common took the stage.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper delivered a medley of classic hits, including “Come Close”, a song about love and choosing a soulmate. The crowd erupted when he invited a free-spirited woman to join him on stage.

Lori, who was seated in the front row, seized the opportunity. She was escorted to a chair beside the rap star, who held her hand as he performed. Dressed in a lemon-yellow outfit, she was cheered on by the crowd, with one woman shouting: “You go girl, dance the night away.”

Common also delivered a freestyle that incorporated Bahamian culture, mentioning “conch and Bamboo Shack”.

Speaking to The Tribune, Lori described the experience as amazing and the highlight of her day. The unexpected moment added to her planned weekend of masterclasses with world-renowned chefs.

Lori, a chef and caterer based in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, said it was not her first time attending the festival. After attending last year, she knew she had to return.

She said she had learned new cooking techniques during the masterclasses and believed The Bahamas was the best place to be.

“I just feel they do a superb job of throwing the festival and the food is out of this world,” she said.

The evening also featured a curated menu blending New Orleans and Bahamian flavours. Dishes included chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, barbecue shrimp with coconut grits, and bread pudding with rum caramel and soursop cream.

Nadia Bowe, Baha Mar’s executive director of sales and marketing, said the event was sold out. She said Common’s interactive performance brought an electrifying energy to the evening.

Nawlin’s Nightcap was held on October 22 as part of the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, which ran from October 21 to 25 at Baha Mar.