SABRINA WILLIAMS

Her name is Sabrina Williams. She has won awards for her work in theater, jazz, cabaret and night clubs in many international venues, but now she’s working closer to home when she can, to be near her family here in Florida.

Born in Jamaica, she’s never better when putting that powerful, versatile voice into music of her homeland. But she can segue from reggae to the amazing “click” style from South Africa, then slide into “All of Me”, the American classic sung by such superstars as Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and, more recently, Michael Bublé.

Sabrina is well-suited for big venues, such as her concert with J. Robert, Frank Carroll, Jamaica Dave Walker and others last November at Residents’ Beach, as well as for the cozy, almost intimate ambience of Bistro Soleil’s piano bar.

Lisa at Bistro Soleil says Sabrina will be there tonight, Friday, February 19th and most Fridays through season. She starts singing at 6 p.m. and makes you wish she’d never stop. For details and updates, call Bistro Soleil at 389-0981
- Marco Eagle

Songster Sabrina Williams will be making her musical magic again this evening at Bistro Soleil, the lounge at the Olde Marco Inn. From 6-9 p.m., she’ll be performing with Dr. Kathy Brown, an excellent pianist. The two work together often.

Born in Jamaica, Sabrina is never better than when she puts that powerful, versatile voice into music of her homeland. But she can segue from reggae to the amazing “click” style from South Africa, then slide into “All of Me,” the American classic sung by such superstars as Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and, more recently, Michael Bublé.

For dinner reservations at Bistro Soleil, call 389-0981.
- Marco Eagle

- Jamaica Gleaner – Tuesday December 30, 2003 – Barbara Walker caps off ‘Jazz In The Gardens’ – Mel Cooke

The Jazz in the Gardens series held true to form with a high quality season-ending grand finale on Sunday night. The audience was appropriate for a presentation of The Best of jazz in the Gardens, as all chairs were taken at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel’s gardens by the well-dressed and the elegant. The line-up was also befitting a ‘best of’ with the Jamaica Big Band conducted by Sonny Bradshaw, Sabrina Williams, Freddy Roy and Maurice ‘Lady Love’ Charles and Whyie Wrythm on the ticket…...

Sabrina Williams mixed her songs with a little speech, including a reference to “some friends who went to a certain show on the 26th. And the next day they went to another show and it was so different” There were chuckles as there was hardly any mistaking what the show on the 26th was.
Sabrina Sang What A Difference A Day Makes, chortling “Now you can relax and let your hair down” to her errant friend in the audience. “Of course only the first line connects with that circumstance” Sabrina said. Sabrina performed The Click Song, made popular by Miriam Makeba, atating that a certain lady said she would bar the door if this was not a part of the night’s offering. Making the connection with Africa, by noting it was the third day of Kwanzaa. She made the link even more clear with the last emphatic click. “An you see all dem dance dere
, dem Salsa, dem Merengue, de whole of dem come out of Africa. Whether you want to Tatty or Butterfly or Bogle or Pon de River, de whole of dem come from out of Africa She said to applause.
Sabrina paid homage to Myrna Hague, as well as members of the Whylie Wrythm – Marjorie Whylie,
Desi Jones and Jackie Jackson – which was in excellent nick supporting her, before doing god Bless The Child. She wrapped up her set with My Baby Just Cares For Me, ending on an exclamation mark with a high soaring ‘Che-wheee!”
- Jamaica Gleaner

- https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20081111T220000-0500_142443_OBS_SINGER_REMEMBERS__MIRIAM_MAKEBA_AS_ONE_WHO_INSTILLED_BLACK_PRIDE.asp


- The Daily Observer –
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – Singer Remembers Miriam Makeba as one who instilled black pride - Basil Walters
Internationally renowned South African singer, Miriam Makeba died on Sunday in a hospital in Castel Volturno, Italy from a heart attack after a benefit concert. She was 76.

She is remembered by Sabrina Williams, one of Jamaica’s foremost performers, as someone who instilled a great deal of black pride in her. Williams said that Makeba was her greatest inspiration.
“Miriam meant so much to me ever since I was a child listening to the Click Song, the Retreat Song and Patta Patta. Miriam’s image instilled so much black pride in me. I was one of the few who rejected straightening my hair. Then came the black Movement. I read her autobiography and biographies as well as collected her records” Sabrina Williams told the Observer.
Williams said that having the biographies and collected numerous recordings of Miriam Makeba, she then learned all of Makeba’s hit songs and since then included them in her repertoire. “When she came to Jamaica in 1996, I made a point of going to her performance, spoke to her and gave her my recording of the Click Song produced by Sly Dunbar. I almost tear down the place to se her perform at Telefood at James Bond Beach. I even kept the ticket on which she signed her autograph” recalled Williams who presently does a regular stint on the cruise ship Discovery Sun.
“I called her name almost every day – especially for the tourists I sing for on the cruise ship discovery Sun. Sabrina Williams added.
Miriam Zenzi Makeba was born on March 4, 1932, in Johannesburg, South Africa……
- The Daily Observer

Onc you see Sabrina Perform Miraim Makeba's click Song you never forget this songbird.....she has received many awards including Jazz artiste of the year.... - Sunday Herald

- http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060331/ent/index.html

Cuffe introduced Sabrina Williams as an 'adventurous singer who likes to try new things'. She was that and more. Big voiced, self confident, relaxed and friendly, she charmed the audience with her patter and energetic renditions of Orange Color skies, Natural Woman.... - The Gleaner

– San Souci’s 3rd anniversary

“Full moon has been known to send quite a few persons crazy and apparently this phenomenon struck again ….at Couples Sans Souci and Spa….
Guest came out all ‘glammed up’ for the poolside affair which featured music of Sabrina Williams accompanied by Kathy Brown who infused their unique musical flavor to the evening’s James Bond theme as Sabrina sang songs from the James Bond Movies. Looking like the Queen of Sheba on the River Nile, Sabrina caused quite a stir as she floated down the middle of the pool on a bamboo raft decorated with cushions, palms, flowers and candles. Cordless Mike in hand, her voice floated around the poolside – For Your Eyes Only, You Only Live Twice, to Golden Eye, Diamonds Are Forever were among the offerings and of course the unforgettable Gold Finger. This certainly set the tone to the start of an exciting evening.

As Sans Souci is a stone’s throw away from Golden Eye where ‘James Bond’ creator Ian Flemming penned his famous novels the evening’s theme surrounded everything James Bond….
- Pure Class January 25, 2009

- The Gleaner – Friday November 28, 2008 / Entertainment

Bank of Jamaica Lunch Hour concert – Remembering Byron Lee & Miriam Makeba

Featuring Errol Lee & the Bare Essentials & Special Guest Sabrina Williams
- The Gleaner - Friday November 28, 2008

- Pure Class – September 10 – 16, 2006 - Ed Gallimore’s 60th - Nicola Cunningham

No one can tell your story better tha you and so for his passage into senior status, showman Edgar Gallimore decided to throw a birthday celebration with a difference. He staged a mini theatrical experience and got some of his friends to help shoulder the load……..

This time he spoke of the pain associated with losing his beloved wife Jackie to breast cancer. For her Sabrina Williams sang Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings. As no dream has ever been impossible or unattainable for Ed…….

- Pure Class / Jamaica Herald

- Pure Class – September 17 – 23, 2006 – There’s something about Ed - Nicola Cunningham

You know that you are indeed special when you have not one, but two birthday celebrations within a week. This privilege is reserved for a chosen few, on of whom is Ed Gallimore……….

Sabrina Williams rendered one of Ed’s favourite songs, the African click Song…..and serenades Ed’s granddaughter Abigail and daughter Natalie.
- Pure Class/ Jamaica Herald

- The Daily Observer,
Thursday, March 9, 2006 – Michael A. Edwards

Whether it’s the location, the organization or a combination of both, the Jazz on the Green showcase in Cherry Gardens, which had its second renewal on Sunday evening last, has emerged as one of the top shows of its kind. Both hospitality and the performances were well executed, even if there was no single act that totally ‘owned’ the night. ……

Vocalist Sabrina Williams was inspired, doing a towering rendition of I Am Changing from the musical Dreamgirls as well as The Start Of Something Big (with yet another reference to the political changing-of – the guard) and a Miriam Makeba original………
- The Daily Observer

- Thursday, March 2, 2006 – http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060302/ent/ent1.html

A taste of standards brought the February installment of the monthly jazz in the Gardens showcase to a satisfying close on Sunday night. Brazilian Rosemarie Phillips, who was celebrating the one year anniversary of her first performance in Jamaica, was the night’s main act…….

A Tour of wonderland
Sabrina Williams took the audience on a tour of wonderland with the piece Land Of Make Believe where Snow White, Jack and Jill and others cavort in the imagination. The night’s theme was Celebrating ‘Black History Month’ and Williams explained that she had come dressed with the help of friends to suit the theme. “I had to get somebody to put on my clothes. When I go home is annoda thing” she told the amused audience. Williams took her incorporation of Africa further than her clothing by ending her performance with Many Rains Ago.

- Jamaica gleaner