Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
( Left ) Jr. Gong brings Welcome to Jamrock to a close at Cinema 2, New Kingston, on Saturday. ( Right ) Buju Banton roars through one of his songs at 'Welcome to Jamrock' on Saturday. - PHOTOS BY CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WHEN 'THE Gargamel' Buju Banton gutturally crooned Our Father on the rhythm to Murderer at Cinema 2, New Kingston, on Saturday night, he was accompanied by his back-up singers plus thousands of 'Gargalites'.
Banton had gone out to a dancehall start, igniting the audience with Gold Spoon and Only Man, hit the rub-a-dub of Mr. Nine, had his heels touching his jeans and long locks standing on end in a mighty leap on Destiny, went roots reggae to chant only Rasta can liberate the people and sat for parts of Untold Stories, sung as much by audience as performer.
The prayer ended the penultimate performance at Welcome To Jamrock, the concert anchored to its near 2:00 a.m. end by Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley.
Jr. Gong climaxed a show in which the lyrical strength of his 'Welcome To Jamrock' album was displayed, songs being done at length. When he amended the lyrics to Welcome To Jamrock to say "Cinema 2 wave onnu hands if yu wid me" a forest of arms reached for the full moon and wiped the already clear 'windshield' of the night sky enthusiastically. Ky-Mani Marley came for a well received combination on Could You Be Loved and Eek-A-Mouse's mewlings and standout skanks helped put stripes on Khaki Suit.
HIGH PATRIOTISM
Stone Love, with Geefus and Iceberg at the controls, delivered songs as diverse as Baby Cham's Ghetto Story and Bob Marley's Natural Mystic during the band breaks.
Patriotism was at a high during the concert, many persons wearing designer Jamaica T-Shirts. Morgan Heritage summed up the feelings towards the island with lead singer Peter saying "Jamaica have nuff problem, but it is the nicest place in the world."
After Deeper and Deeper, Alaine said "you know wining is a part of our culture" and proceeded to sing about the fantastic female hip movements, a trio of dancers giving a delightful demonstration which she joined briefly. She closed with No Ordinary Love. Gyptian handled the time between his coming on stage and the band actually being ready quite well. But although he got appreciable response for the earlier songs he performed, the bulk of it was reserved for Serious Time.
Richie Spice hit the stage with Blood Again, high stepping on the mix, following with Earth A Run Red. The tempo slowed with Black Like Tar and Spice honoured the ladies with Grooving My Girl. Brother Spanner Banner appeared for Life Goes On.
A deep 'rockers' heralded Morgan Heritage, the family members in cream jackets and dark pants. They started easily enough, singing A Man is Still a Man.
MORGAN HERITAGE
"The same Morgan Heritage yu see five years ago is the same Morgan Heritage now. Rasta music, roots music for life," lead singer Peter said, following with I'm Still The Same from the Full Circle album. A Man In Love and a Gramps Morgan led She's Still Loving Me delighted the ladies. Laza rapped on Your Best Friend and Hertage's final song, How Come, hit the spot.
When the MC came out after Buju Banton left the stage with a Zum Zum, the audience demanded "whe Buju?" He came back, with New Kidz doing a cameo, Buju hitting dancehall again with Ova Me. Cinema 2 exploded. Dickie Dickie, Big It Up and Deportee led up to the rockers of Lover's Choice and the eventual prayerful end.
The recorded beginning of Confrontation had the hands going up and Jr. Gong, decked out in black, duly delivered the song to the delight of the audience.
He went back to the Half-Way Tree album with More Justice, a pair of female back-up singers doubling as feverish, coordinated dancers. With intermittent calls of 'sugar', Marley went into There Is No Love, honoured his supporters with "you have always been good to me, even when I'm not good to myself," then reminded "a me name Junior Gong". War and No More Trouble were delivered as they are on Bob Marley's live Babylon By Bus album and when Marley indicated the upper and lower intestines on In Too Deep there was a 'forward'.
It Was Written hit the spot, even without Stephen Marley, Khaki Suit was lapped up and Marley ended with Road To Zion, a white rag held high in his left hand.
"I wish the I them more love, more patience, more tolerance, less violence," he said, his voice rising into a slow Jamaica, Jamaica. It was the prelude to Welcome To Jamrock, Marley riding the mix to the delight of the audience and then with a "Rastafari guide" he was gone.
