The Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverley and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at the Prime Minister's Gala held Tuesday at Jamaica House, Hope Road, St. Andrew. 'Miss Lou' is the specially-invited guest for this year's Emancipation and Independence celebrations. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer IT WAS not 'Heineken Startime', the 'Ocho Rios Jazz Festival' or 'Stars in Action' yet it was all three.
The Prime Minister's Gala not only bridged what would be the normal line-up of the three events but also the generation gap as young people saw their older counterparts relive the music they grew up on.
Performances from Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Bob Andy, Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, Marjorie Whylie, Peter Ashbourne, Sonny Bradshaw and Myrna Hague thrilled the crowd that gathered at Jamaica House, Hope Road, St. Andrew for the annual gala. The 'Two can play' format for this year facilitated some awesome duets from some of Jamaica's premiere performers.
The days of the I-Threes were relived as Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley gave a conscious performance. The setting was thus; both performers alternating their hits before joining for a duet. Rita's Harambe and Judy's Black Woman and Sweet Lamb of God were all well-received and set the stage for their tag team effort, Redemption Song.
The unofficial 'instrumental section' sounded off with guitarist Dwight Pinkney and trumpeter David Madden. They kept the flow going during an evening where there could be few complaints from the audience. The versatile Peter Ashbourne manipulated the strings of violin and plucked the ivories, ever complemented by Marjorie Whylie, who was musically ambidextrous herself.
'THE FIRST COUPLE OF JAZZ'
Fittingly, they performed Evening Time which was written by Miss Lou, who no doubt recognised the tune from her front row seat. Dubbed 'the first couple of jazz', Myrna Hague and Sonny Bradshaw reminded everyone about Memories of the way we were and what it meant to have the St. Louis Blues.
A serious contender for act of the evening was the band Fab 5. The group, still led by the indomitable Grub Cooper, reeled off their hits to a crowd whose only wish was that they perform longer. They assured us that Yu Safe, took us around Ring Road, boasted about their Jamaican Woman and planned to have an All Night Party. They gave the crowd musical comedy by doing Shaving Cream and told all the ladies they needed a Good Buddy. The ease with which they moved from one song to the next can only be attributed to years of hard work, much practice and dedication. Their set led to flag-waving and jiggling and gave the guests an extra burst of energy.
Fab 5 was hard to outdo but the collaboration of 'Mr. Rock Steady' Ken Boothe and Freddie McGregor just managed to achieve the task. The heavens must have provided extra energy for Boothe since he has not lost a step. His foot movements were as bouncy as when he was a child and as dazzling as Sugar Ray Leonard's. Coupled with Freddie's smooth grooves, the two delivered an appetising treat. As if in a musical duel, Ken's Everything I Own, Puppet On A String and Train Is Coming were matched by Freddie's Push Come To Shove, Bobby Babylon and Stop Loving You. Apart they were sensational but in unison they were devastating, walking down Freedom Street.
Not just a musical affair, the night also saw stage veterans Grace McGhie and Charles Hyatt doing excerpts from Trevor Rhone's Two Can Play giving the crowd some hilarious moments.
Mowatt, Marley, Bradshaw, Andy, McGregor, Boothe, Fab 5 and Rhone were honoured by Prime Minister Patterson for their contribution to the arts in Jamaica. All the performers gave their respects to Miss Lou. When Miss Lou got a chance to speak she told of her work with Fab 5 when she brought them to a studio to do their first recording and on their first trip abroad. Miss Lou also received a special honour.
Bob Andy ran the last leg of this musical relay as he delivered a compact set. He and Gem Myers were Really Together, and told an enthusiastic audience that they were Young, Gifted and Black. He was indeed Too Experienced. Quite rightly, his I've Got To Go Back Home was the fitting end to a truly Jamaican evening.
