Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore. - File

Before Herbie Miller introduced the Skatalites at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts on Saturday evening, he mused "but then, who are the Skatalites today"?

He named some members of the famed outfit who have passed on, saying: "Jackie Mittoo, Tommy McCook, Roland Alphanso, today, Dizzy Johnny, we have sent them all home. They were called and they had to go."

A large picture of Moore glowed, with soft lighting, in one corner of the stage.

Two-part tribute

He then introduced the Skatalites, including Cedric Brooks, Lester Sterling and Lloyd Knibb, to play at the second of a two-part tribute to Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore, who died recently. The first was held at the Ashanti Oasis Restaurant, Hope Gardens, on Friday night.

It was the Skatalites plus, as the hornsmen in the original line-up were joined by wind instrument players of more recent vintage including Nambo Robinson on trombone, as well as Dale Brown on bass and Ken Stewart on keyboards. And,it was fitting that the horns, massed, and then in solos, led the tribute for trumpeter Moore from the beginning.

Before the actual tribute began, drummers from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church held a steady beat, a horn blowing from backstage. And, after Miller had thanked those who turned up on such short notice (the Skatalites were leaving the following day), and started the programme officially, the drummers continued, adding voice and Rivers of Babylon to their drumming.

Highly appreciated

Skatalites saxophonist Lester Sterling, accompanied by Desi Jones on drums, Marjorie Whylie on keyboards and Dale Brown on bass guitar, led off the lively Tenor Madness, keeping his mainly jazz set upbeat. Whylie and Jones' solos were highly appreciated, Sterling closing with Bangarang, a vocalist stepping up to alternate with the saxophonist at points.

As a seated M'Bala arranged his many percussive instruments, he looked up at flautist Pape and said "him supposed to be doing his solo now", to laughter all around. The flute was initially punctuated by a gong, M'Bala eventually added his full percussive range to the piece. On their exit, after the three-song set, Pape simply walked away, leaving M'Bala playing, but eventually getting up to stomp one tambourine-shod leg and move rhythmically off-stage.

Closed

After the Skatalites, Cedric Brooks returned with Whylie, Jones and Brown, Sting Ray on trumpet, for a music Journey, dipping into the compositions of Don Drummond, as had the Skatalites as a whole. Brooks walked his saxophone around on the stage before settling on a microphone, then turning to observe the soloing musicians. They closed with Satta Massagana, done slowly and intensely, most in the audience singing along.

And, as the evening closed, Ibo Cooper introduced yet another wind instrument, the melodica, himself and Brooks, along with Whylie, Jones and Brown, providing the music as Serena honoured Phyllis Dillon and Pheobe-Ann sang Silhouette for Dennis Brown.