Musical tribute to Cat Coore brought out the crowd and reggae royalty

The general sentiment about ‘freeness’ is that it cannot be of a high standard, but those in attendance at last Friday’s concert honouring the late Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, can dispel that myth as the tribute event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Sports, was not only top tier in terms of execution, but it brought out some of the biggest names in reggae who transformed the event into an energetic one-night music festival.

The crowd that comprised a large portion of visitors to our shores, as well as local die-hard reggae fans, was treated to performances that many would have paid good money for in any other setting.

The show began with drumming by Tony ‘Ruption’ Williams, Congo Billy, and Bongo Herman, who showed respect to our musical ancestors. From acknowledging the past, they jumped to embracing the future with the youngsters from Voice Box Performing Arts Group, who were reminiscent of Cathy Levy’s Little People and Teen Players. They performed Dancing on the Floor and Now That We Found Love.

Seen as the cradle for many local musicians, the Alpha School of Music followed with Picture on the Wall, Don’t Stay Away, and Perfidia while songbird Charmaine Lemonius kept it sweet with People Get Ready, I Know, and A Song.

Wayne Marshall graced the stage with Lord I Pray before the Ruption Band took over with Banky Banks out of Anguilla, who proudly shared that Coore had become an honorary citizen of his island and had family living there. Dean Fraser and Friends joined in with Always Around before the ageless Maxi Priest made his way onstage, and most of the women in the audience sat up straighter to take in his full performance as he offered up Say a Prayer for the World, before seguing into Wild World that had them on their feet dancing.

Gramps Morgan delivered Down by the River and Wash the Tears during which he invited out Shiah Coore, son of Cat, and shared with him that when his brother Peetah died, he did not have the answers he needed to process his grief, but now he can assure him that the world will continue and he will be all right. He followed this with People like You. Tarrus Riley was next with Lion Paw and Simple Blessings, and it became a reggae party as few people remained seated.

An eight-member string band was organised at the front of the stage that included acoustic guitars, cello, and violins, and performed Dreamland, and the crowd loved it. The Skatalites were next, and by now more and more people drew closer to the stage area to witness Culture Minister Olivia Grange presenting the Jamaica Music Icon Award to Cat, which his widow Lisa Coore accepted.

Formalities out of the way, it was time for the last band to take to the stage and that was none other than the New Third World. When AJ Brown hit the first lines of Reggae Ambassador, the place transformed into a full-blown party with strangers dancing together both at the front of the stage and for those who could not find space, up along the wide steps. Now That We Found Love took the energy up another notch, and the crowd at the front teetered almost on the stage itself as it was built low for the performers to walk out into the crowd. Ras-I was invited out to do Roots while Kumar Fyah followed with Judgement Day. Soon Shiah Coore was introduced as one of the next generation of musicians, and with his guitar, he got into a groove with (1865) 96 Degrees in the Shade and Try Jah Love.

And just when the crowd thought they have reached their euphoric zenith, Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley appeared and belted out You’re Not the Only One, and there was no more crowd control as everyone with a camera rushed to the stage to preserve the moment in time.

From one brother to the next, Gong called out Stephen, and the duo did Mykal Rose’s Shoot-out and brought the house down with Get Up Stand Up. It was well past midnight, but the vibes were so electric, that the crowd was willing to keep going well into the morning.

nicola.cunningham@gleanerjm.com