By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
FROM THE beginning of the official programme, bang on time at 8:00 p.m., it was clear that the launch of Dwight Pinkney's More Memories + would be of the same calibre as the album.
The Fabulous Five Incorporated's instrumental rendition of the National Anthem brought the packed house at the Jonkanoo Lounge of the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston, setting the stage for an evening of quality music.
It would be some time before the man of the hour, Dwight 'Brother Dee' Pinkney took the instrumental feast in another direction as he plucked and strummed his guitar, but it was time well spent.
Patrick Lafayette of KOOL 97 FM was gracious in greeting everyone, even those who were not well-wishers, 'because tonight all we have is good vibes'. After a brief explanation of the radio station's mandate, Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM) president Desmond Young put More Memories + in another perspective, an independent one.
"Jamaican music has been getting some stick from all about. It is instructive that a project like this is a result of musicians owning the means of production- owning their own studios and producing what they believe they should produce. We have moved from 10 studios in Kingston to some 200 plus, some in bedrooms, bathrooms," Mr. Young said to laughter. "It is a sign of people investing in themselves," he continued to a few murmurs of assent.
"My only thing is that none of the songs (on More Memories +) were songs I sang on, but I was on the first album," Mr. Young said to more chuckles.
SAME VISION
Co-producer of the album, Keith Francis, said that it was very good working with Dwight Pinkney. "We have the same vision, clean products. So you can look forward to more clean products," he said.
Guest speaker Marjorie Whylie, introduced by Mr. Lafayette as the lady that 'when she play, after she done play you belch', had a bellyful to say about not only the state of music, but the media coverage of the live music scene.
Then it was time for 'Brother Dee' to say his piece, with his guitar, as, along with Fab Five, he presented a few pieces.
The opening number, How Could I Live, ended with a flourish of drums, guitar, horns and bass to strong applause. "That was a little song I wrote. Mr. Dennis Brown helped me make it a big song," Mr. Pinkney nonchalantly informed the audience.
Marjorie Whylie may not have moved to the microphone to accept the joking offer of a solo slot for the next number, I Want To Go Back Home, but she sang along from a seat in the front row, as did a significant portion of the audience.
Keith Francis replaced Frankie Campbell on bass as Mr. Pinkney moved on to cuts from Jamaican Memories By The Score, as well as More Memories +.
Controlled howls of approval met the first plucks of Sleep Walk, at one magical moment Mr. Pinkney and Mr. Francis leaning backwards at exactly the same angle at precisely the same time. A trip to the west turned up Guantamera ('we have Jamaicanised it'), Mr. Pinkney removing his coat for the Spanish number. "Is not any and any song you can play in jacket and tie. You have to loosen up," he said, cracking his shirt's top button.
He audience loosened up as well, as they sang along to the chorus.
Someone Loves You Honey came as a request from Keith Francis to his wife, Patrick Lafayette punctuating the end with dog howls and barks from his seat at the front to the left of the performance area.
When Brother Dee went up on the line 'lets get together to fight this holy Armageddeon' in One Love, a wave ran through the already rippling audience. Appropriately, the musicians ended on 'give thanks and praise to the Lord' - instrumentally, of course.
The verbal vote of thanks by Brother Dee had to be done as a matter of formality, but it was well-nigh impossible to express gratitude in a better way than the music he had just played.
The album launch of More Memories + completed, the Fabulous Five and Merritone took over for the after-launch party.
