...To The Root, Reggae Month

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

In bygone days in Jamaica, January would bring with it a post-holiday lull in entertainment activities after the almost frenetic pace and frequency of events between December 15 and January 1, This is no longer so.
Rebel Salute, which for the last 17 years has been held in mid-January, and the 14 year old Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival which is now being staged during the last week of January, have transformed the first month of the year into one of the most important on our annual entertainment calendar. In addition, the various activities which now comprise the three month build-up to Carnival in the Easter season, as usually launched during this time.
Since the transition of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, their birthday anniversaries in

February have occasioned grand celebrations of their lives and works. In large measure, this motivated the government to declare the entire month February, Reggae Month in 2008.

This year the theme for Reggae Month is “To The Root” and appropriately, Reggae Month 2010 kicks off tonight, January 31 at Big Yard on Orange Street. The Downtown community, along with the Dennis Brown Foundation and in association with artistes of the ilk of Beres Hammond, Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor and Lloyd Parkes of We the People, have joined hearts, hands and resources, inspired by one of Dennis’ famed producers, Leggo, to stage a massive street party and concert in Dennis’ honour.

In keeping with this year’s theme and starting on Wednesday, February 3, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) will stage four weekly concerts at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, highlighting the social backdrop and various genres of Jamaica music, from Mento to Dancehall, chronicling the movement and breadth of Jamaica’s musical experience. The first of these will focus on Maroon Drumming, Mento and Ska, featuring performances by the Charles Town Maroon Drummers, Kingston Drummers, Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band and students from the Music School at Edna Manley.

On Wednesday, February 10, the spotlight will be turned on Dub Poetry, Dub and Rockers. The line upwill include the indomitable duo of Sly & Robbie, along with Ras Takura and Racquel Jones. The following week, Wednesday, February 17, Rocksteady and Reggae will take centre stage. The last of these weekly concerts will be held on the 24th featuring Dancehall and Alternative music.
JAVAA’s annual tribute to “The King and Crown Prince of Reggae” will be staged in the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday, February 5. This event is JAVAA’s annual tribute to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown and the line up this year includes George Nooks, Leroy Sibbles, Sugar Minnott, Johnny Clarke, Tanya Stephens, Dwight Pinkney, Lloyd Parkes and Fab Five.

Two of the most anticipated events for me personally are the Alpha Boys School Open Day on February 8 and the Boys Town/Trench Town Bus Tour on February 15. For those who may not know, the Alpha Boys School is renowned for its outstanding musical tuition and is revered as being instrumental in the development of Ska and Reggae. Among its long list of notable alumni are Lennie Hibbert, OD, who popularised the vibes, Leslie Thompson who was the first coloured man to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra, trumpeter Oscar Clarke who toured with Louis Armstrong’s orchestra, Rico Rodriques (trombone) and trumpeters Dizzy Reece and Jo Jo Bennett. Four of the founding members of the Skatalites are also alumni. These are Johnny ‘Dizzy’ Moore (trumpet), Tommy McCook (saxophone), Lester Sterling OD (trumpet, saxophone) and the most famous musician to come out of Alpha, the irrepressible genius, Don Drummond (trombone), who created such lasting hits as Eastern Standard Time, Reload and Occupation.

Junior Lincoln has a famous line that says, “at the dawn of our modern music industry, the musicians came from the east and the singers came from the west”. Trench Town has a unique history, as a significant number of our early artistes and songwriters lived and spent their formative years in this community. Bob Marley lived on First Street, Delroy Wilson and Joe Higgs on Second Street and on Fourth Street resided Cynthia Schloss and Dean Fraser. From back then, Fifth Street was very popular because that is where Rasta philosopher and elder Mortimo Planno, as well as Alton Ellis and Hortense Ellis called home.

Ambassador Theatre, “the Jamaican Apollo Theatre” and performance training ground for young musicians of the era, as they competed in talent shows there, was located on Seventh Street. This was a critical feeder for the Coxsone and Duke Reid recording studios.

Alpha and Trench Town are two latent commercial cash cows that given vision, the right impetus and wise investments, would become in short span, major tourists attractions as living monuments and reservoirs of our rich musical legacy, helping to transform the surrounding communities.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com