QUAD | A Show Full Of Stars!

A Show Full Of Stars
Jamaica Star - Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
[October 20th 2006]

Brian 'Ribi' Chung (left) and Shaggy in good spirits before the deejay
performed briefly at Christopher's Jazz Cafe - The Quad, New Kingston, on Tuesday night.

When guitarist Robert 'Dubwise' Browne and his Friends wrapped up their third and final session with 'Could You Be Loved' on Tuesday night, it was not quite the end of the live music at Christopher's Jazz Cafe.

There was a change of pianists and an adjustment of the microphone for Digicel Rising Stars producer Mark Kenny to play and sing Knocking on Heaven's Door. He was not alone in music as the 'Friends,' Nigel Kennedy on bass, Oral Brown on drums and Browne and Seretse Small on guitar, joined in.

Neither was he alone in voice, as many of those seated in the wide, blue chairs close to the band or standing along the long bar sang along to the extended version of the Bob Dylan classic. And still the night was not over, as a star that has risen 'boombastically' was called into action.

Ossie Lewis went back on piano and the band played the rhythm of Willie Williams' Armageddeon, Browne plucking the melody of It Wasn't Me. And there were squeals as Shaggy, who was in the house, stepped up to the microphone. "Bway, me a tell yu," Shaggy said. "First of all, I sey big up to Dubwise on guitar. When I'm on tour with him and the other three musicians, a de firs' set a people me wake up an' see every morning," he said, referring to Browne's near decade-long involvement in the touring unit.

Browne filled in for Rik Rok's singing and there were screams when Shaggy rode the mix with "how yu fi gi de ooman access to yu villa ...?" pausing for a sip from a glass in his hand as the guitar took over, before hitting it again.He also paid respect to Hans, who was sitting in the audience, calling him "my A&R from MCA, signed me, 10 million in sales and all that."

It was the end of a night where the band had gone through the beautiful blues of Pride and Joy, the rollicking reverence of When The Saints Go Marching In and the soul of Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, led by Marjorie, who also delivered "my version of Baltimore" to enthusiastic reception, solos being exchanged along the three-part musical journey.

Winston Sill | The Star | Staff Reporter

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