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April 03, 2008
'GROOVING LIVE' a lively legendary mix
By: Bridgett Anderson and Elizabeth Smith
Photography By: Milton Raynor
The Asylum Night Club in association with Wray & Nephew Over Proof Rum, Ocean Spray the CVM Group, Hype TV and Lloyd Parkes and We the People have come together to present a live production every last Wednesday in the month entitled 'GROOVING LIVE.' The concept of this product was realized through a vision to bring back live music to the night clubs.
In the early 1960s and 1970s the Red Hills Road was the home of all the night clubs which boasted live music nightly. With this in mind Earl Samuels, from the Asylum is confident that this new concept will work. He states he has the backing of his sponsors to see this vision through to a reality.
Wednesday 26th March was the second in the 'Grooving Live' series featuring Trinity, Errol Dunkley, Horace Andy and Leroy Sibbles. This was a star studded line up of reggae music connoisseurs. Chris Hardy the Brand Manager put it like this, "Back to Basics." He is very committed to the product and sees the production only getting bigger and better.
The MC for the evening was Pretty Boy Floyd and at midnight, Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band kicked off with instrumental pieces; showing why they have for years been the best backing band.
It was now show time and Pretty Boy Floyd brought on Trinity, who set the pace for a night of roaring nostalgia. He began his set with "John Saw Dem Coming," then went on to "Natty Dread Still Dey Ya" and "Weatherman Ska." Interacting with the thrilled audience he delivered hit after hit. At times Trinity would rub a dub with some female members of the audience expressing that this is how it was in the dance hall back in the days. Trinity also did a tribute to the "first super star" in Jamaica, Delroy Wison.
"Boy bad fe a old boy," Lloyd Parks commented, as the dapperly dressed Errol Dunkley rocked the crowd with number one tunes like, "OK Fred", "If You break my heart I'll Go", "You Know” and “Black Cinderella." The club was oozing appreciation for Errol Dunkley who Parks commended for his most successful single "OK Fred," that sold 5 million copies in the UK and made it on the charts there.
Bringing back the stellar vintage sounds left no room for good better best, and the audiences encores and roars for all the artists proved this. 'Sleepy' Horace Andy and Leroy Sibbles wrapped up the night with their timeless melodies and voices that seemed to be constant with no change.
Sounding just like his records Horace Andy performed hits like, "Fever" and "Jah Say Who." He commented on not having appeared on stage in Jamaica for three years and expressed joy for the chance to be there with artists and musicians; brethren of 40 years. Trinity, joined Horace on stage to add his DJ rifts to some tracks.
Going straight into "Sea Of Love," the legendary Leroy Sibbles came on stage. It was hit after hit, as the audience sang with him through songs like "Lost My Baby," "Pretty Looks" and "Baby Be True." Leroy took time out to 'big up' Alton Ellis saying, he understood Alton was recently ill and went directly into, "You Think I Love You." Leroy then left the stage and was forced to return by a boisterous insistent audience. He wrapped up with the Inner Circle cover "Girl I'm Gonna Make You Sweat" and then did his all time favourite "Fatty Fatty."
All the artists featured on this 'Groovin Life' series are living legends in Jamaica's rich musical heritage, who have paved the way and sacrificed to bring the music to where it is today.
Nuff raspect Asylum, Wray & Nephew Overproof White Rum, Ocean Spray, CVM Group and Hype TV.