Julie Dexter performs at Jazz on the Hill Saturday night on the grounds of St. Mary’s School on Virgin Gorda. Photo: JASON SMITH

By 11 p.m. on Saturday, the skies above Virgin Gorda were clear of clouds. Small clutches of concertgoers dotted the hillsides outside St. Mary’s School, sitting in lawn chairs and on blankets. Only the constellations above and the lights emanating from the school’s outdoor stage punctuated the night’s darkness.

 

Julie Dexter performs at Jazz on the Hill Saturday night on the grounds of St. Mary’s School on Virgin Gorda. Photo: JASON SMITH
Then, Julie Dexter, a British vocalist who headlined the school’s annual Jazz on the Hill fundraiser, opened her performance with a song referencing pleasant weather.

“Blue skies, make me smile. Yes it does,” she sang.

Ms. Dexter, who now lives and records in Atlanta, Georgia, performed late into the evening, usually flanked by her band members.

This year’s concert featured improved lighting and sound quality, as well as a second stage set up temporarily to better accommodate performers, according to Laura Fox, St. Mary’s principal.

“You always want to make sure you’re trying new things and keeping things interesting,” Ms. Fox said.

 

See the June 5, 2014 edition for full coverage.

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