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By Issa Kelly Port
Kaiser Sports Club – St. Elizabeth, Jamaica With curse words piercing our ears
and his statement, “Don’t turn off the mic.
I warned you.” Jesse
Jendau’s disrespectful behavior stole the show at Rebel Salute. Jesse Jendau’s call and response of
‘Israel!’, the sharing of his view, “If Israel gives up the herb….we
would be slaves for the next 1,000 years” and a blessing for Sizzla that sounded
Ahamric, had a more positive vibe. But
his calling out of Patterson, some of his comments on race that created tension in the
crowd and the distribution of the African Black Mountian herb proved to be too much. The crowd became hyped beyond his control. In what seemed an attempt to get closer to the
herb, people started jumping over the fence near the front of the stage. Soon another part of the fence gave away and there
was a rush of people into the media pit and backstage.
During Jendau’s tirade you could see Tony Rebel waiting for an
opportune moment to work with Jendau to release the stage and the microphone. Tony went up, repeated the Ahamric blessing for
Sizzla led by Jendau and then both left the stage. Later
I heard Jendau comment he was, “Just gathering my warriors.” I can only hope his ‘warriors’
didn’t harm the one-year-old girl in a stroller near the part of the fence that gave
way and the two young boys sleeping in front of the stage.
I was not informed of any injuries nor did I see any occur. The show
was taken from Sugar Minott. Sugar, who has
paid his fair share of ‘dues’, closed the show with energy and professionalism
accompanied by the stable of performers from his label, including his daughter. He asked the question “Where did all the
cameras go?” After looking around and
seeing that a good part of the crowd had left and people were packing up he said that
he’s “The clean up man….no matter…..[We’ll] really give you a
show.” He commented on the disrespectful
behavior of certain artists and how some went over the time allotted causing the show to
run over. An hour later he was still going
strong, when I had to leave. Sizzla came on just after Jesse
Jendau and lit the stage a fire with his performance and profanity. Whistles were blowing, flags were flying, streams
of fireballs were in the air and the morning was coming.
I later learned that each performer signed a contract stating they would not
use profanity during the show. It seems a
man’s word or signature means little these days. As the sun started to radiate through
the sky Grammy Nominee, Luciano radiated on stage singing ‘It’s Me Again
Jah’. With all the commotion that
happened prior to this point tears came to my eyes as Luciano sang, “Ahahhhhh, Glory
Hallelujah!” Educate, motivate and give
direction, all three of these pieces are important to empower the people. Luciano stated that, “Rebel is about
righteousness.” He sang ‘Sweet
Mama Africa’, ‘Your World And Mine’ and ‘Give Me Strength’. The powerful performer Junior Reid
was all over the stage and was moving so quickly that his turban came undone at one point
and he let his locks fall for a short time. The
crowed, exhausted by Sizzla and calmed by Luciano, was participatory during Reid’s
performance, but not enthusiastic. From all
around you could hear people calling out ‘More Fire, More Fire!’ as Capleton
entered in a killer black and white zebra outfit. Although
the crowd was shrinking, he tried to re-ignite the fire started by Sizzla. The flames were fanned again as Capleton was
burning everything. Host, Tony Rebel, shared much of his
stage time with his son. Tony and his son
playfully bantered back and forth as they challenged each other in DJ and dance styles. Another special guest was Swade, who came back on
stage with Tony to perform their hit single that can be heard all around Jamaica
‘Just Friends’. Tony
also performed ‘Jah Is By My Side’
and ‘Are You Satisfied’. Women of reggae were strongly
represented with Queen Ifrica, Angie Angel, Silvia Tella, Lady G and Marcia Griffiths. One of the original queens of reggae, Marcia
Griffiths, came out in a fabulous red and black outfit.
She carried us on a musical journey through her past and our memory with ‘Land of Love’, ‘I Shall Sing’
and a pleasant acappella version of Bob Marley’s ‘Real Situation’. She also tossed in some of her dancehall work with
Penthouse Records. Lady G and Ms.
Griffiths treated us to their duet ‘Woman’.
Lady G flexed her DJ style showing how a real woman handles her business,
her first time on stage and again during the duet.
She flexed hard on the same rhythm of ‘Woman’ as Ms.
Griffiths gave her room and encouragement. During
her encore Ms. Griffiths sang ‘Solomon Was The Wisest’. United Kingdom was represented by
Silvia Tella’s beautiful mezzo-soprano voice. Smoothly
gliding across the stage she entered singing the Jamaican National Anthem in a sweet
reggae rhythm. Ms. Tella, showing great
class, gave a big up to the hard working Co2 band.
Angie Angel was pleasant and Queen
Ifrica seemed intimidated, but redeemed herself and showed her versatility with an
acappella rendition of Alicia Keys’ ‘Fallin’, as well as giving her back-up
singers a chance to show their talents. The well seasoned men of reggae:
Culture, Admiral Tibet, Everton Blendah, Barrington Levy, Mutabaruka, Carl Dawkins, Richie
Stephens and Bongo Herman, were showing why they remain popular. Two out of three ain’t bad and it was our
lucky night. Two of the original members of Culture were together again. Joseph Hill appearing in a red hot, long
jacketed suit was looking and sounding excellent. Founding
member Albert Walker, dressed more casually, delighted our ears. Telford ‘Telly’ Nelson rounded out
the trio with his humble and sweet harmonies. They
sang ‘Addis Ababba’, ‘Down In Babylon’ and Peter Tosh’s
‘Equal Rights’. I was introduced to Admiral
Tibet’s music just a few years ago and was not disappointed in his live performance. He came to do some serious rasta business with
‘Time So Serious’ and ‘War Between Dem and Babylon’, among others. A well-rested Everton Blendah gave us a
sample of some of his best songs ‘Warmonga Man’, ‘World Corruption’,
‘Where Do The Children Play’ and ‘Lift Up Your Head’. I looked forward to the possibility of
hearing Daddy Blendah and The Original Rude Boy, Tony Rebel perform their remixed DJ
version of ‘Kanta Combination’ off Everton’s latest CD Visionary (track 16
and it rips), but like any good performer, they left me wanting more. Whoaooo aooo! Whoaooooo aooo!
None other then Barrington Levy got the crowds full attention and
participation. Everyone was sing (including
me) during his time on stage. He had the
crowd leaping, jumping and pumping arms with ‘Broadway’, ‘Under Mi
Sensi’ and he encored with ‘Murder.’ Shwing! Carl Dawkins entered sweetly singing
‘Rastaman Chant’. Among other songs
he performed one of my favorites, ‘Part-Time Love Affair’. Richie Stephens featured his mother in a
duet, his protégé DYC and I thought I saw and felt Leroy Sibbles and his hard hitting
bass up there. Bongo Herman also had his own
set as well as sitting in with some of the other performers. Bongo Herman is one of the top percussionists in
this business and he gave us a taste of his talents.
Should we
have expected anything less from MC Mutabaruka when he gave his opinions on events as they
happened? Thankfully, no. The opinion I most accurately remember was
his commentary on the attire of some of the rasta women.
He stated that they were dressed a little too immodestly. That statement vexed the crowd, they were booing
and talking back. But he continued his
explanation. Slowly they were seeing his
point and were turning in his favor, not completely, but he had supporters. In one of the women’s bio it was stated
‘She laments the haphazard approach to the industry by female entertainers, their
lyrical content and mode of dress.’ But in the first picture of the bio, the day I
saw her on the street and on stage she was not dressed in a way many rastas would find
appropriate.
The new comers and those that are
still getting time under their belt: Grammy Nominee Damian “Junior Gong” Marley,
Abijah, Natural Black, Swade, Lukie D, Ghost, V.C., Sugar Roy, Ras George, Lion Face,
Honey Comb, WaDaDa, Mantis, Rude Boys and Caribbean Pulse gave us hope that reggae will be
strong for years to come. Damian Marley, accompanied by Bunny
Wailer, brother Stephen and others from the Ghetto Youth Label filled the stage. With a strong performance and smooth moves there
was no doubt why he was nominated for a Grammy. Before the MC could finish his
introduction of this young man the crowd started calling ‘Abijah!’ His powerful lyrics and performance woke the crowd
and flags were flying in appreciation. He
sang his hit ‘Revelation’ which can also be heard all over Jamaica and I
can’t get out of my head. He filled the
stage with his spirit. I had the opportunity to hear a song
by Natural Black called ‘Israel Rise’ that he did for Chant Out Productions a
few years back (more about this label and an interview with the producer/engineer in a
separate article coming soon). The song moved
me and the only words I could get out was ‘WHO is that?’ Now Jamaica is becoming fully aware of the
treasure they have in Natural Black. It
is impossible for me to make a comparison because he has a sound of his own. I do know he is and will be a phenomenal force
pushing reggae music into the future. A bright spirited and bright-eyed
youth name LionFace, who hails from Kingston, had the early crowd whipped into a frenzy. He was all over the stage, playing the
crowd, the women were calling and the whistles were blowing. He free styled a nice little tribute to Tony
Rebel. We had the opportunity to meet and
reason backstage. He said his inspiration to
sing was, “His Imperial Majesty, through sufferation.” He hopes to impact reggae by, “making the
world know what the condition is. Who His
Imperial Majesty is, through righteousness. Repatriation.” I asked how he feels about the crowd’s
reaction, “Loved. They love what I have
for them.” When asked how he got the
name LionFace he told me, “through the growing of my precept [beard], people started
telling me my face look like a lion.” Sizzla
and Capleton have a new brethren coming up in the ranks.
Keep your ears open for this young man.
There will be good things coming from him in the future. Lukie D, Sugar Roy and Ghost gave us a change of tempo and moved us into a more lovers rock style. Ghost has a great voice but, please spare us the melodrama. WaDaDa has a sound reminiscent of Aswad and Mantis brings a singJ/DJ style of Anthony B. Honey Comb, who is Tony Rebel’s brother, proved that it must be genetic and with experience he could find success. Michael Fabulous inspired the early crowd with one road, one life, one way, although the title of the song escapes me. Caribbean Pulse dropped a little different style on us with a female lead singer and a male DJ that rocked. And Rude Boys, out of NYC, represented well. “This is no white man in front
of you, dis ere a black man.” said Ras George who appears to be of European decent. The crowd chuckled, clapped and called out for
more. With a pulsing organ slipped into the
mix, giving it a great ska feel, he sang “Police State”. One of the lines in the song is ‘they give us
rights, but don’t allow us to use them.’ Big
up Ras George, they loved you in Jamaica. Ark opened the show displaying the
versatility of reggae music by jamming on his violin.
Jenni Jenni and Barry G were the other two MC’s for the evening and
kept everything moving along with humor and information.
I will give another big ups to Co2 and Gumption Band. Gumption Band played whole-heartedly without a
break for over four hours. In closing I would like to recognize
the following people: Norrisa Scott and Miss
Sondra from Flames Productions for all their hard work behind the scenes that is rarely
publicly acknowledged. Sister Irie, host of
Conscious Party in Austin, Texas and who received a specific big up during Rebel
Salute’s recognition of the international press, for her guidance and friendship. My second family in Jamaica, I am grateful for
your hospitality and assistance. Montana
thank you for your support and patience. With
out all of you this article couldn’t have happened. |
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