Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer 
GREGORY ISAACS
WESTERN BUREAU: FROM THE ska of Derrick Morgan through to the dancehall of Frankie Paul, Saturday night's Foundation Music Showcase at the Mas Camp Village in New Kingston presented a virtual history of Jamaican singing styles to a large audience.
Alton Ellis and Leroy Sibbles provided the rocksteady groove, while Admiral Tibet and Natty King put on fine displays of roots reggae singing. Ken Boothe bemused with sparkling vocals and twinkling toes, John Holt ended the show's first segment in tremendous fashion and The Mighty Diamonds gave a receptive audience three part harmony.
LOVERS' ROCK HITS
However, a hoarse Gregory Isaacs' attempt at doing his lovers' rock hits left the thousands at the venue icy cold.
The roots came first, with Admiral Tibet. To the music of Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band, he dropped the line "de war between me an de Babylon jus' cyaan over", like an explosive device; there was the same response when he advised "don't try to dis me girl", ending with Leave People Business Alone.
Ken Boothe took the Showcase on a walk down Freedom Street, immaculately turned out in light green jacket over black undershirt. The jacket was opened and the sweat started coming down on Silver Words; when he asked for the lovers to be heard on Everything I Own, they sang along willingly. There was a backward trot and a forward skip for Puppet on A String and Ken Boothe ended with a shake to the crescendo of the band, a leap timed to bring him back to the stage with the musical climax, and a raised finger to say goodbye.
Derrick Morgan, a long silver coat in shining contrast to his black hat, started slow and easy, but the pace was increased with In My Heart and Don't Call Me Daddy. Leaning on a cane and smiling, Morgan took it down a notch with the mostly spoken Rudies In Court, ending with a sonorous 'court adjourned', and then it was skanking ska time, to the delight of the audience. Morgan built the pace song by song, the thousands dancing delightedly to Hey Fat Man, They Got To Come and Time Longer Than Rope. When Morgan hit his closing medley of honouring other performers in song, including Toots with Seven Books of Moses and Monty Morris with Money Can't Buy Life, ending with one explosive line in "you done take my belongings and give it to your Chiney man", the cheers were thunderous.
CRISP HARMONIES
The Mighty Diamonds and Leroy Sibbles appeared in that order, the former coming up with crisp harmonies on Right Time and exiting with Pass De Kutchie, Sibbles, honouring his Trench Town roots with Fat Girl and a very good rendition of Marley's Who The Cap Fits. And from a slow, powerful start with Tribal War, through Carpenter, Love I Can Feel and Wear You To The Ball to taking a few requests a-capella at the end, John Holt was a hit.
Natty King's No Guns To Town and Mr. Greedy were the post 2000 - and post intermission - roots reggae contribution to the showcase, while Alton Ellis and Frankie Paul, in that order, brought the Foundation Music Showcase to an end. Mr. Paul sent the many faithful home into the Sunday morning chill with a series of choruses that anchored Sarah, the touch of red, green and gold with what Marley canonised as the Rastaman Chant hitting the spot.
