By Garwin Davis,
Staff Reporter
Mutabaruka
WESTERN BUREAU:
IN TERMS of production and entertainment value, the 20th annual Martin's International Reggae and World Music Award, held Saturday night at the Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, was, from all account, a smashing success.
Despite the persistent rainfall throughout the weekend, it was a packed audience that showed up for the event and they were not disappointed.
The show got on the way approximately 9 p.m., with emcees G.T. Taylor and Tony Rebel alternating in the announcements of some of the early awards. With most of the names being called absent, there was a feeling of deja vu among patrons who were all mindful of the way the local award shows are nowadays with recipient not turning up to receive their awards.
That early glitch aside, and perhaps the disappointment of the crowd in the absence of Grammy award-winner, Beenie Man, to receive his Enter-tainer of the Year Award, the show was worth its weight in gold and had patrons leaving feeling satisfied.
With Tony Rebel showing that he had what it takes to be a top-class emcee and the introduction of the slides to announce each awardee, the Jamaica Grande Ballroom took on the appearance of a Grammy award show.
Dub poet and social commentator, Mutabaruka, gave a memorable performance and reminded all and sundry that he was still a force to be reckoned with in the music business. Veteran singer Pam Hall gave a credible performance, as did female vocalist of the year, Cecile.
George Nooks, who has the number one single in the country for eight consecutive weeks, God is Standing By, was majestic in his presentation and had the audience singing along in a frenzy, while performing the hit song. Lord Laro, the veteran calypsonian of the 70s, was also in vintage form and showed that he hadn't lost a step. His old classy hit Foreign Press brought back memories.
It was, however, the appearance of singer, Everton Blender, that really brought the crowd to its feet. Fully attired in a purple suit and arriving on stage belting out his trademark Religious Covenant, Blender was simply in a class by himself and could do no wrong. With favourite such as Lift Up Your Head and Get Up People Song revetting from his mouth, the singer left the stage with the fans begging for more.
Veteran Gregory Isaacs and Half Pint, however, were not too far off as both gave memorable performances. Isaacs, in particular, belted out hits such as Night Nurse and Ragga Muffin; his was the second encore performance of the night. Half Pint's delivery was also excellent and he appeared to have rediscovered the magic that made him one of the top performers of the 80s.
Other awardees were, Best Dub Poet, Mutabaruka; Best Sound System, Stone Love; Best Performing Group and Award of Honour for Spiritual Service through Music, Morgan Heritage; and Most Consistent Entertainer Ken Boothe. A community service award was given to Tony Rebel.
He also went back down memory lane with the anthem like "Tribal War", that was well received by the very appreciative audience.
It may not have been designed that way but with the exception of Mr. Lex, there were no other deejays on the show and the way it panned out, they were hardly missed. It is no longer a secret that singers are indeed having a new lease on life on the Jamaican entertainment scene and that the deejays may finally, after so many years ruling the roots, be forced to take a back seat.
And about time. The mere fact that artistes like Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have been dominating the local music scene for so long can be attributed to the fact that there is a shortfall in the quality entertainers the country has been producing in recent times.
