Reggae music warms hearts on a cold February night at JaRIA event

When at 11:37 p.m. on Sunday reggae maestros Benji Myaz and Beezy Coleman crooned “ Girl your love is like wildfire spreading all over the world” – the memorable line from Wildfire, performed by reggae greats Dennis Brown and John Holt – total warmth enveloped those experiencing the cold at the outdoor amphitheatre of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.

The well-attended event was the February 1 birthday tribute for Dennis Emmanuel Brown, staged by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA). “Beautiful!” shouted a member of the audience, and it truly was. Under a full moon and in the throes of a cold front, Rasta sistrens, brethrens, and those in the know came dressed in white, adding a special layer of significance to the honour for the Crown Prince of Reggae. Based on the teachings of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Rastafari movement, of which Dennis Brown was a member, white is the colour for those born in February.

Benji and Beezy performed separately and then together, seated on stools cradling their instruments of choice, as they mesmerised the audience with songs such as I f I Had The World. And when one thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, they were joined by none other than Pam Hall who performed Inseparable. It was also Hall’s special day, and they serenaded the birthday girl.

Veteran singers and newcomers sang songs that satisfied the souls of those in attendance and the eight-piece Lloyd Parks and We the People Band, which included saxophonist extraordinaire Dean Fraser, powered the type of warmth that only reggae music can give.

Numbered among the performers were Wayne Stoddart, the JaRIA 2023 Gospel winner, who gave a blend of roots-rock reggae with Turn it Around; Congo Billy, who transformed from percussionist to top-tier vocalist and skilfully delivered Dennis Brown’s Love Has Found Its Way and Michael Jackson’s One Day in Your Life; the energetic Karbon the Hard One with Promised Land and his new song, J amaica Jamaica; and Bryan Art, who urged reggae fans in song to “ hold on to what you got”, adding afterwards that “reggae music is our gold, and we shouldn’t squander it”.

Poet, the Mighty Ginsu, unapologetically “came to give sight to the blind”. He hailed Dennis Brown as “di toughest ting in the yard” and even dared to mention the unmentionable topic - and no, it wasn’t anything to do with “gay”. It was the other ‘G’.

Producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, Clive Hunt’s few minutes on stage are deserving of an entire article, but suffice it to say that he came with a blend of history and unmatched passion for reggae music and powerfully defined the moment when he sang the very first song that he produced, Milk and Honey, which was later revoiced by Dennis Brown for a Joe Gibbs album.

Up-and-coming singer Janeel Mills closed out that segment on a high, after which it was another of the too many videos that only served to drag out an otherwise well-produced show, which saw JaRIA chairman, Ewan Simpson, performing the role of emcee.

By 10:19 p.m., singer Joseph Beniah took charge, and his set was followed by the duo of guitarist Kenroy Mullings and singer Adena Myrie, who is one of the most accomplished harmony vocalists. It was refreshing to see her up front. Dean Frazer on sax teamed up with Mullings for another of the night’s memorable performances.

It was a few minutes to midnight when Hezron was welcomed on stage and paid tribute to Dennis Brown with the favourite Man Next Door and quickly ran through his set, making way for the always-on-point Duane Stephenson and show closer George Nooks. Nooks’s performance was as flawless as his whitest of white track suit, and those who stayed to the end were richly rewarded with his smooth singing coupled with a song from his Prince Muhammed deejay repertoire on the iconic Zion Gate riddim. After blazing a fire with Forty Leg Dread, Nooks segued seamlessly into God is Standing By and those who were seconds ago vigorously bussing blanks, put down their ‘weapons’ morphed into a pious Christian choir as they accompanied Nooks on the gospel favourite. Just as persons were getting ready to exit the venue at 12:40 p.m., the emcee announced that Luciano wanted to bless the stage. Reading the room, the Messenger’s delivery was short and sweet.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com