Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Bongo Herman, one of the performers at the celebration of the legendary Studio One and Treasure Isle labels, gets down to business with an enamel chamber pot at a recent event. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ON FRIDAY night the third try proved to be the charm for the celebration of the legendary Studio One and Treasure Isle labels by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) at its Haining Road, New Kingston, headquarters.
The show had been cancelled twice before due to rain and although there were afternoon showers, there were clear skies over the substantial audience which turned up for the tribute in song.
The Brentford Road-based Studio One was owned by the late Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, while Treasure Isle was run by Arthur 'Duke' Reid.
With Junior Sinclair doing emcee duties and the DP Band on the stand, led by guitarist Dwight Pinkney, Evening Time and How Could I Live were among the opening songs.
The Reggae Tones paid homage to The Paragons' John Holt with Tide Is High and Smiling Face before Dudley Sibley took it back to Studio One with We're Having A Party, complete with a guitar solo from Pinkney. A sole trumpet was featured on the slower My Whole World Has Ended, Sibley giving a one, two, three count to end on a bang with the band.
There was more applause when Sinclair noted that Sibley is "a Studio One pioneer. That man helped create some of the rhythms you have been hearing."
It was kept in the Studio One vein for Angella Stewart to honour Marcia Griffiths, an early 'wheel up' coming for Melody Life as the members of the audience cheered the first line. "I hope you are enjoying the songs of Studio One," an all-black dressed Stewart said, before doing Mark My Word.
COMMITMENT
Earl Morgan of the Heptones showed his commitment to the cause as he performed Sea of Love and Pretty Looks on the eve of his mother's funeral.
Ken Bob honoured Delroy Wilson of Studio One in outstanding fashion, the audience erupting on the opening lines of How Could I Love Someone and causing a restart. Bob skanked enthusiastically and effectively as the horn intro was played again, ending with a repeated 'baby, baby' and twitching, shaking body movements. "A love do it. If dem did have some sweet like these (indicating members of the audience) them coulden go road go mek war. But dem mek de devil conquer dem," Ken Bob said, the DP Band hitting the music and Bob beginning Wilson's They Trying To Conquer Me to an eruption of applause. "They trying to conquer natty dreadlocks," he sang and again they cheered.
Mary Isaacs sang in for Treasure Isle's Phyllis Dillon with Perfidia and Don't Stay Away, Carlton Manning turning out in an all brown suit with Ken Bob and Ras Mandito doing harmony as the cheers went up from the beginning of Kiss Me Once. Jimmy Riley's voice was strong and clear as he represented his colleague in The Uniques, Slim Smith, with Watch This Sound. After 'Conversation' Riley left, but the calls for more from him were insistent and he returned with an unrehearsed snippet of Love And Devotion which cracked the house and sparked a 'forward'.
Bongo Herman stuck to his percussion instruments, saying that although it was not a song on his label, Dodd liked when he did Car Pound Drifter. Addressing his drum with style, moving around the instrument and using sometimes stiff-armed movements, Herman paused occasionally to smile with the cheering audience. He went into his bag of percussive tricks, climaxing with an enamel chamber pot, to gusts of laughter, and getting it to ring as he played.
The trio of The Jays, decked out in solid shiny green, gold and red shirts, kept it Truly in a Studio One vein, while Stranjah Cole returned the concert to the Ruff and Tuff times of Treasure Isle. "I used to be a talent scout for Duke Reid when I was a little young boy," he said. His silver jacket shimmering, Cole dropped legs, calling up Scully from the audience to sit on a stool for a combination on When I Call Your Name.
After leaving the stage briefly Cole returned for an extended Bangarang, eking out a sing along from the audience.
There were apologies for the absence of Alton Ellis, Sinclair assuring the audience that it was unlike him not to turn up for an engagement.
