By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Brent Dowe sings, teaches at JAVAA Jammin'.
- WINSTON SILL/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOR A moment or two at JAVAA Jammin' last Friday, Brent Dowe was as much a teacher as a singer.
As with the best of teachers, however, the dictation was sparse, the demonstrations were many and, above all, Brent Dowe displayed an enthusiasm for his subject that made the average audience at the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artiste and Affiliates' (JAVAA) headquarters on Haining Road in New Kingston, avid pupils.
Not that the students were new to the Brent Dowe academy, what with the many hits from the Melodians' singer which are music staples, but the refresher course was appreciated and his normal accompaniment of two swelled and peaked if not in quality, then in quantity on the refrain of the seminal By The Rivers of Babylon.
There was no warm-up as Dowe anchored a showcase which began with Carey Johnson on guitar and strong vocals and included riotous comedy from Prince Edwards and a 'one song' from Dionne Hardy. Utilising music from a CD, Dowe hit high gear right away with Sweet Sensation, keeping the pace as slow yet as intense as fire turning a log into charcoal with Little Nut Tree.
WHAT REGGAE IS ALL ABOUT
"Yu know, this is what reggae is all about. Slow and easy. Get close!" Dowe said, demonstrating the 'slow and easy' in legs and waist.
He would demonstrate the 'get close' all by himself as the audience sang along 'the future is here my dear' later in his stint on stage, his black hat steady on his head as his waistline rolled. "A so we design di tune fi dance. No let har go. Rub till yu feel good," Dowe said.
He was very comfortable in the setting as well as with his stage in life. "Mos' a de people inside ya know me, cause me is a ol' man," he said. "Me know some people no like hear dem tune ya cause it remin' dem of when dem was young and it look so far ago. As long as yu alive yu mus 'come ole, for after life a jus' dead nex'," he comforted them.
And was very comfortable with his vocal range, whether going high or dipping and scooping up low notes.
His songs came from his life, one which advised a woman "I must let you go," with a touch of Spanish in the lyrics, coming from "those days when yu haffi write a tune every week. Cause de likkle money yu get las' week done! Mi jus' do dat (that particular song) true my woman did a gi me nuff trouble. An' me jus' tell har gwaan...," Dowe said, smiling.
During the song, Dowe had looked off-stage and smiled, a finger to his lips. It was explained. "An' as I look to my left I see the man who sing harmony and play bass on this song. Boris Gardiner!" Dowe hailed him.
Gardiner would combine bass and harmony vocally as he did the accompaniment to Dowe's rendition of Daddy's Home, Bunny Brown of The Chosen Few taking Gardiner's place and going high with his falsetto for the final 'stay'.
THE AUDIENCE WANTED MORE
He said his goodbyes, but returned to do Come on Little Girl, as the audience demanded that he 'stay'.
In the early going, MC Junior Sinclair had doubled his duties and gone slightly nasal in paying homage to Gregory Isaacs with Night Nurse and Tune In, before making way for Carey Johnson.
Johnson utilised his strong voice to deliver his interpretation of a series of hit songs, including Islands In The Stream from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, I'm All Out Of Love from the Air Supply catalogue and Enrique Iglesias' Hero. Dionne Hardy, the sole female performer for the night, also went the cover version route, with Alicia Keys' If I Don't Have You.
Prince Edwards tapped many a funny bone with comedy which he delivered with a dramatic, but not melodramatic, flair.
Congratulations were in order for Bunny and Scully on their Badge of Merit and John Holt for the Order of Distinction at the recent National Honours and Awards, as last Friday's JAVAA Jammin' went into the dancing segment on the downside of midnight.
