By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Sonny Bradshaw eating healthy, while eyeing the camera. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THERE WAS jigging to go with the jogging and the smacking of hands along with the steady slap of sneakers on the jogging trail of the Emancipation Park, New Kingston, on Saturday morning.
'Music Is Medicine: Defeating Diabetes' was an early morning, relaxed affair, where good music fed the soul, fruit fed the body and a talk on diabetes detoxified the mind.
All for free.
There were many takers for all three, the stream of joggers and walkers slowing to a trickle and then a drip as more and more exercisers succumbed to the call of music and the punishment of the early morning sun.
Not that the heat stopped those seated before the stage from enjoying the music, not with Dean Fraser, Nambo Robinson and Dwight Richards leading the way on the horns and Sonny Bradshaw, Myrna Hague, Abijah, Tony Rebel, poets Cherry Natural and Black X, Ken Boothe, deejay Colla Colla and Luciano doing brief stints.
MUSICAL TREAT
Dean Fraser and Nambo Robinson led the way on the classic Sattamassagana, Sonny Bradshaw coming up to join them, to the delight of those present. Nambo abandoned trombone for vocals to do Spirit of Love, with the likes of Pele on keys, Gizmo on lead guitar, Alvin Haughton on percussions, Congo Billy and Judah on bass getting the feel of the slow number.
Sonny Bradshaw was in a folkish mood on his return, all horns joining him to make a sweet song to finish off, then he moved to keyboards to support his better half, Myrna Hague, as she sang a beautiful rainbow. She started to leave the stage, but more was required and she offered All of Me.
A smiling Dean Fraser stepped forward to ask for a moment and got it. "When I was about 14 I started to play in a band called the Sonny Bradshaw 7. And this is the song we used to play," Fraser said. He hoisted his horn, played the first bar of Jambala and there were screams from the audience.
SOLO EXCHANGE
Fraser beamed, Bradshaw beamed, they played the song together, exchanging solos, and there were beams of pure pleasure all around, even as Nambo Robinson played along in parts, unamplified.
Cherry Natural brought the word to the park with Be You and Woman, the ladies nodding when she said I don't have to be your clone/To prove to the world that I am in love with you.
The horn players took another run, with the full band in sync, Richards hitting a steady clip as he soloed, leaning backwards and stooping, eyes closed, as the power of music hit him.
"It nice me. This is just exercise and good music," Ken Boothe said, doing a clip of a new song on the social situation in Jamaica before hitting the familiar favourites Train Is Coming and Puppet On A String, among others.
Thank You For This Morning, Boothe sang to an appreciative audience.
They also appreciated Errol Dunkley's Black Cinderella, which he had to 'pull up' after the first line.
Tony Rebel was in an exercise mood, calling for the mix on Sweet Jamaica and doing knee lifts on the spot and across the breadth of the stage. There was an additional verse to the familiar song, Rebel hitting a defiant note as he said I will be the voice/I will be the pen If it cos' me me wealth/if it cos' me me fame.
The audience loved it. Yu see that last piece, it was written by me and Mikey Bennett. He is over there," Rebel said.
If Jah, in English and Spanish, went over well. As did poet Black X's Tek Tax.
Mikey Mystic sang Three Little Birds, Colla Colla advised the Past is history/Future is mystery in deejay style and Abijah went down on his knees to emphasise that I've been loving you too long. With his children in the audience, he brought a Revelation, as Brother Sam Clayton of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari joined the band on percussions.
'GROUNDATION'
The band played the groundation as Luciano strolled and did No Night In Zion, taking off his hat to let his locks come tumbling down. On Your World And Mine he came shook hands with a few persons sitting in the front seats, he went on his knees for It's Me Again Jah and everyone stood and danced for the show ending Lord Give Me Strength.
And, as the performers took a group photograph and Luciano led a chant of Peace And Love, the fountain was turned on and the sound of water washed over the sweat induced by song and sun at 'Music Is Medicine: Defeating Diabetes'.
