By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THERE WAS life and death in Luciano's near 90-minute performance at 'Rock Away', held at Norbrook Mountain, St. Andrew, on Saturday night.
The apex of the life came after a moving rendition of No Night In Zion, as requested by someone in the somewhat small audience, and before, as Luciano said, "I go down memory lane".
"I need a moment of silence to share a blessing," he said. The blessing was the birth of a daughter, born at 4:03 a.m. on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours before his announcement. "I give thanks for the blessing of life, when I see the youth come through an' everything in place. Princess Menen Nene McClymot," Luciano continued, announcing her name to not only the people but the hill, trees, grass and river in and around the natural amphitheatre of Norbrook Mountain.
There was at least one person, though, who wanted more music in short order, but Luciano counselled him. "Music is not a rush ting. Me tell you all de while," he chided gently.
The death came after he delivered Sweep Over My Soul, as the bass throbbed and the percussions pulsed. "I want to thank you so much for supporting me over the years. The Messenger will never let you down," he said. This gratitude to man was immediately followed by a solemn request to higher power. "If my ego should get the better of me slew me, even in my deepest sleep. Cut off mi breath, from way dung inna me trachea," he said.
There was a hush and Luciano said, smiling, "arright". He reaffirmed his speech with song, coming down from the stage to stand with the audience as he sang not only that "I know that he is my friend, but also that "if you must follow me (the Almighty), first you must forget yourself". The 'yourself', Luciano dropped in, is the ego.
He was not forgetting the state of Jamaican music, though. "Right now lots of things going on. Some devil works a go on in the music. The Almighty grieve," Luciano said, making mention of 'Wartel'. "De Almighty grieve. An de Messenger grieve. But a fulfillment of prophecy. Cause dem haffi show up dem colours," he said, before expressing his wish for a New Day.
In the very early going, Luciano may not have been grieved but he certainly was peeved when some chatter started as he was reading the Bible, the Scripture coming from Corinthians 1, verse 11. "Be ye followers of me," Luciano began, reading to a hushed audience. Then there was some chatter and Luciano would have none of it. "I need reverence when I am reading. Touch them Jah!" he said, singing a note before saying "I go again" and beginning from the top.
