By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Gentleman relaxing in Jamaica last week during an interview with The Gleaner. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
GENTLEMAN, THE reggae artiste from Germany who is 'reborn a yard', took a sprinkling of onlookers along his 'Journey To Jah' on Friday evening.
He was the guest at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Reggae Studies Unit's weekly forum, held in the Inter-Faculty Lecture Theatre. The presentation concentrated on a lengthy DVD about the making of his latest album, Journey To Jah, released in March last year, followed by a much shorter question and answer session.
A slight delay between Carolyn Cooper's introduction, who spoke of 'the work Gentleman is doing, when Capleton and Bounty Killer go to Germany, to ensure an audience for them', and the showing of 'Journey to Jah' DVD brought Gentleman's personality out. Seated to the end of a lower tier in the lecture theatre, the khaki-clad Gentleman turned around, beamed, indicated the black screen and said: 'So 'ow yu like de DVD? It nice, no true?'
There were chuckles from the audience.
When 'Journey to Jah' began, a fascinating tale of not only the making of an album, but also a glimpse into the absorption of a white German into Jamaican culture, as well as insight into the German reggae scene, unfolded in live and living colour.
If the DVD and album title was to be expanded, it would become 'Journey to Jah-mekya' as it started with a shot of an airline schedule, showing Kingston/MoBay, then passing familiar landmarks like Becky's Auto Supplies along Hagley Park Road. Then Gentleman appeared, against a leafy Jamaican background and spoke - like a born Jamaican.
ROOTS REGGAE
'Mi like de dancehall ting, de hype, de boom boom. But roots reggae is what last in my eyes,' he said.
He narrated a musical journey which began by checking the Firehouse Crew ('de wickedes' backing ban' in de wor') and working in the Tuff Gong Studios to lay rhythms for Empress, Love Chant, Jah Inna Yu Life and Danger Zone.
Then it was up to Richie Stephens' studio to get on his 'Acid Rock' rhythm for Leave Us Alone, which turned out to be the first single from the Journey To Jah album.
It was illustrated that it was not a hit and miss process, when Gentleman said that he went back to Germany for the festival season and tested Leave Us Alone on the audience. It worked.
Then it was back to Jamaica, where Dean Fraser 'spice up de tune wid him horns' and the back-up singers put in the harmony. Junior Kelly came in to combine on Danger Zone and then it was off to Bobby Digital for the roots rhythm of Them Gone.
WHITE PEOPLE
That led to a link with Morgan Heritage and there were shots of Gentleman and the Morgan clan ripping up a show of mostly white people.
If the Jamaican bond needed to be cemented any further, there was a trip to Black Scorpio's studios and a chuckle over the nickname of Gentleman's manager, Stephan 'White Scorpio' Schulmeister.
There were encounters with Capleton, Jack Radics, Luciano and Mikey General.
As the DVD continued, it was illustrated that the music production and promotion process is not a simply about making the music and having fun, as there was a side trip to India for the making of the Dem Gone video, then the making of the Runaway extended play single, then an extensive tour with the Far East Band and a subsequent live album.
The lights came up to applause and Gentleman, who is in Jamaica to make his next album, fielded some questions before doing an abbreviated two song performance.
