Emancipation Park feeds memories on Gong's 66th birthday

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

One of the more memorable moments on an evening of memories for Bob Marley at Emancipation Park, New Kingston, on Sunday evening, came through movement, not melody.

Marcia Griffiths, one third of the I-Threes, which provided harmony for Marley on his tours and recordings after the trio of Bob, Peter and Bunny split, up to Marley's death in 1981, called Judy Mowatt back to the stage to sing Trench Town Rock. "Let's live some memories, my sister!" Griffiths said exultantly, calling for them to do it I-Threes style. That style turned out to be movement, Griffiths moving to stand close to Mowatt and starting a rapid up-and-down shoulder movement, forearms extended outwards and shaking also.

The audience thoroughly enjoyed the memory in movement.

Presented by telecommunications company, Digicel, which last week announced a partnership with the Bob Marley Foundation, Sunday's concert pulled in a large audience to celebrate Bob Marley's 66th birthday.

In his MC's role, musician and teacher, Ibo Cooper, gave the audience intermittent reminders about Tuff Gong and, in their brief tribute performances with the support of Fab Five Band, the guests recalled Marley's musical magic.

So, on the downside of 7 p.m. Queen Ifrica included No Woman No Cry in her set, while the Inna Di Yard Band, which included hand drummers, made a personal connection with Bob Marley.

After starting out with The Lord's Prayer, Sangie Davis said "I give thanks for the privilege of working with him (Bob Marley). And I had the privilege of writing with him ... . Tonight I just want to do one of my favourite Bob Marleys."

That turned out to be Give Thanks and Praises, especially suited to the band's acoustic approach. Dennis Brown was not left out of the mix, the Davis-penned track about 'trying my best to make ends meet' still relevant to the tough economic climate.

Ras Magma's delivery of Time Will Tell, which he punctuated with spasmodic kicks, did not emulate the Marley calm in approach, but went over well with the audience, which Kiddus I then encouraged to Cheer Up.

Passionate about people

Mowatt opened with Thank You Lord and declared her desire to be "more than an ordinary servant", closing with Put it On.

"Bob was passionate about people. Bob was a lover of people," Mowatt said.

Griffiths' Dreamland opening delighted the audience, and she swung into Small Axe before calling on Mowatt for the memory in movement and music, the two closing with the uptempo Iron Lion Zion.

Freddie McGregor delivered War, Marley's sung rendition of a HIM Haile Selassie speech, to very good effect, before rocking the audience with Prophecy, into which he interjected a 'free buju' take-off of the Banton's Driver A. And after Push Come to Shove, which sparked a rare 'pull up' for the night, McGregor made his support, for the drive to make Bob Marley a National Hero, public.

One Love is the near-standard closing song for all things Marley-related, but McGregor's delivery of the Marley anthem was not the end of the celebratory concert, as Cooper called on Griffiths, Mowatt, Ifrica and Nadine Sutherland for a wrap up with Nice Time.