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Calabash lives on

Published:Wednesday | August 31, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Music icon 'Bob Andy', born Keith Anderson (left), sips water while musicians continue playing for the audience at the Calabash International Literary Festival, held at Jakes Hotel and Cottages in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. Musicians (from second left) are Ibo Cooper, Sereste Small, Wayne Armond and Steve Golding. Bob Andy delivered well on his promise and had the audience's full participation during his stint. - Photo by Noel Thompson
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  • Musicians brought together for literary show create 'Jakoostik Vol 1'
  • Donald Waugh sits in for Steve Golding to complete guitar trio



Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

The closing Sunday evening sessions at the discontinued Calabash International Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth were highly anticipated. The literature of Jamaican songwriters was celebrated by the Calabash Acoustic Ensemble, guitarists Wayne Armond, Steve Golding and Seretse Small at the core. Keyboard player Ibo Cooper and guitarist/singer Billy Mystic are among those who have also been involved in the festival-ending sessions.

Calabash closed in 2010, but the ensemble's core has kept intact and now presents its debut set, Jakoostik Vol 1.

However, Golding, who was unavailable for the recording as he was on tour with Israel Vibration, was replaced by Donald Waugh.

Small said he first got involved with the Calabash Acoustic Ensemble for the 30th anniversary celebration of Blackheart Man in 2006.

"The experience was phenomenal, not so much the performance but the rehearsal. I am sitting with these guys and the discussions between them - I am playing the finest Jamaican music, we are interpreting it and I am with icons," Small said.

They did some performances outside of Calabash, notably at the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) auditorium, Redbones Blues Café in Kingston and the State House Grounds in Roseau, Dominica. "The response was good and we knew we had an audience," Small said. About six tracks were laid and "it was there, but I was not excited."

Then in mid-June Small did the Jazz For Hope project with a set of musicians preparing for the annual concert of the same name and, after that 10-hour start to finish product, thought that it could be applied to what was now known as the Jakoostik Music Ensemble.

There was a deadline, though, as Small will be going to Japan for six weeks in September, and on his return the busy Christmas season will be imminent and there is also Battle of the Bands to organise.

Golding gave the nod to being substituted, and Small, Armond and Waugh recorded Book of Rules, Pick Myself Up, Sitting in Limbo, Sweet and Dandy, Sammy Dead - What a Hard Man Fe Dead, A Song, Let Them Say, Putting up Resistance and Wait in Vain.

"Most of the arrangements were done on the spot in the studio. We did not get to do it in 10 hours as I had hoped," Small said. Part of that was the tragedy of Armond's bandmate's daughter dying during the time and Waugh not knowing all the material that the other musicians would have been familiar with, having played them at various Calabash stagings. In choosing the songs, they also did not want to duplicate songwriters.

"It took three days rather than one day," Small said.

Small has confidence in Jakoostik's commercial potential as the unit already has a market, it is relatively easy to tour with three musicians and "it is great Jamaican music".