By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
IF SINGER Ghost's smile at Theatreville, West King's House Road, last Thursday was an indication of his expectations for his new album, he expects tremendous returns from the 15-track set.
A full-house of music industry personalities, members of the media and, of course, a few spooky fans and members of the ghostly retinue, turned out for the launch of Under The Moonlight at the St. Andrew venue.
Initially there was more to hear than to see, as a series of interviews with various persons about the album and Ghost's career, including the singer himself and producer Mikey Bennett, were played. Not only were Ghost's credentials as a 'young veteran', from Ghost and Culture to Monster Shack to the present established, but Mikey Bennett also spoke about Ghost approaching him to cover Michael Jackson's Speechless.
One song became many and became part of Under The Moonlight.
When the man of the hour showed his face, it was almost as if he was the man in the moon, as a spotlight picked him out, framed in a black-bordered circle. With Emerge from Negril providing the music, Ghost started a short and entertaining performance with, naturally, the title track Under The Moonlight.
Clad in full white and showing a set of matching teeth throughout his time on-stage and most of the evening, Ghost moved into Seven Days, dedicating it to all those who have a 'wife or girlfriend, a husband or a boyfriend and things jus' a escalate'.
Ghost proved himself the ideal showman, rolling his waistline to delight the ladies an the rub-a-dub of Here Is My Shoulder, dancing on a speaker below the level of the stage and, without missing a step or a note, moving through the audience to deliver Speechless.
The Altar showed Ghost's versatility.
The women reacted favourably when he took off his jacket while on stage and ecstatically when he moved into Speechless. Ghost crooned to a woman or two, handed out roses to more, then moved back to the stage. When another singer was introduced the mood turned spiritual, though not sombre, with One Day At A Time and I Go On My Knees To Pray topping off the performance side of the evening.
Under The Moonlight was produced under the Music Ambassador imprint and is distributed by All Access. The 15 tracks on the set are Under The Moonlight, One More Chance, If Walls Could Talk, Speechless, Here's My Shoulder, Seven Days, Let's Stay Together, I Want to Know What Love Is, Caribbean Queen, Slowly, Satisfaction, Tell It Like It Is, Selfish Lady and Love You (Remix).
The launch is only the beginning of promotional efforts for the album, as Mikey Bennett told The Gleaner that Ghost will be performing in St. Croix on Valentine's Day and The Bahamas the following day.
"By the end of this year I want the best reggae revue," Mikey Bennet said. He is confident that Ghost is the person to do just that.
"Him need an audience. Him need to sing. Him need him ladies screaming. And when artistes need that you can't stop them," Mr. Bennett said.
