Last week's staging of Television Jamaica's (TVJ) All Together Sing was yet another stepping stone for golden-note returnees Manchester High School who again wooed the judges after rendering a Grammy-befitting performance a week earlier.

The school took the stage with a mixture of Tarrus Riley, Romain Virgo, Morgan's Heritage and a splash of T.O.K. It was a musical collage that was nothing short of the awesomeness that they brought to the competition in previous weeks.

Top judge, Dennis Rushton, said the school rendered a "top-quality performance".

"If I may put my mouth on the line, some ah say Portmore, some ah say Cassava Piece, but a Man-chester me say."

off a little bit

Second judge, Michael Sean Harris, commented that the panel had "made the right decision to bring you back ... very creative, well executed".

Guest judge, king of the dancehall, Beenie Man, said that the school's piece was beautiful. "The choir was off a little bit, not much - maybe ah quarter key, not even a whole key. But that was beautiful."

Hydel Group of Schools started off their run with Beres Hammond and Buju Banton's Can You Play Some More. A few seconds into the song, the choir actually did a 'pull-up', restarting the piece as the words of the songs requested. The singers then went straight into the one-drop classic, What a Bam Bam.

Rushton said he was very pleased to see the choir had stepped up its game as there was a cloud of doubt hovering about its survival in the competition.

Harris said he had "no problem at all" with the piece, while Beenie said it was "wicked".

St Hilda's had a go at Konshens and Tarrus Riley's Good Girl Gone Bad and Queen Ifrica's Lioness on the rise.

Beenie, in his critique, said: "First of all ladies, unnu beautiful. Sometimes yuh nuh follow de voices. Drummer, yuh need fi lick de drum more."

Rushton believed that the performance was OK in points while Harris liked it but asked that the choir try to project more.

technical mishaps

Black River High rendered a well-rooted swing of Sizzla's Solid as arock and Bob Marley's Exodus before going into an uptempo version of Beres Ham-mond's Can You Play Some More. Despite having had to restart four times due to technical mishaps, the choir went through nonetheless.

Rushton was impressed, stating that the choir had stepped up its game.

Harris commented that the school looked as if it had come to compete.

Beenie Man said that the song was beautifully done.

DeCarteret did Junior Gong's Itwas written and Queen Ifrica's Lioness on the rise, as well as Konshens and Tarrus Riley's Good girl gone bad.

Rushton was impressed.

Harris said the mix was very interesting.

Beenie commented : "Ya ya ... . Mi like it, especially Good girl gone bad. Mi respect it. Drummer, yuh need fi knock de drum. Great performance."

St George's College and Ocho Rios were sent packing from the round of seven.