Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Yellowman - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
GENERATIONS OF deejays, from Big Youth's early '70s' I Pray Thee through Yellowman's early '80s' I'm Getting Married, Buju Banton's early '90s' Batty Ride' and Gyptian's 2005 Serious Time flowed across the stage at Saturday's 'Original Dancehall Jam Jam' before a very large and receptive audience, Lady G being the sole female deejay.
A smaller singers' generation span represented in Sanchez singing the National Anthem to the 'boom' where appropriate from the audience, and Noddy Virtue, whose star rose high with Rebel In Me.
Again there was only one female for the night, Nadine Sutherland, who figured in a significant musical moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a moment in history. Terror Fabulous!" she said coming up to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. The deejay came on for their combination Action, to the extreme delight of the audience.
SOUND SYSTEM STYLE
With Metromedia's Sky Juice at the controls, the performances at the Jamalco Sports Club, Halse Hall, Clarendon, were done sound system style.
Fantan Mojah brought up 2006 with "corruption cracking up pon dem", and a big belly shaking, dancing, splitting Sky Juice did the official New Year's welcome and selections.
Ms. Sutherland's well-received Babyface preceded Action and after the restart Terror Fabulous was left alone to berate the 'gun stupid', again to tremendous response.
Burru Banton took a set and George Nooks had to work through an early glitch in the CD player after Stick By Me. When Sanchez crooned "here I am", the audience gave him a massive welcome and, in one of the night's more extended performances, which was appreciated throughout, had the audience singing along, Cocoa Tea came on after Missing You, delivering Stuck On You dancehall style.
NO-NONSENSE MOOD
Cutty Ranks, grey suit, white shoes and all, was in a no-nonsense mood, starting out with Retreat. After Lady G went back to the Papa San combinations, the audience cheered as, in a reply to Kiprich's Letter, she deejayed about the 'matie', "a true she fas'" like Veronica Campbell/mek she no get dismankle". Like Cutty Ranks, more was requested.
'Jam Jam' kept a merry momentum with Warrior King's Pagans and a high foot-lifting Perfect with Handcart Boy, who the audience let go only when it was explained he had another show.
FORTITUDE
Jeffrey Star showed fortitude in not only singing to a mostly quiet audience. They were also quiet for the Bike Back of Johnny P, LUST's off-stage, opening Let It Be rousing them once again.
The quartet called on Richie Stephens who sang the night's only ballad, Take Me Away. Big Youth's S-90 Skank preceded Buju Banton, whose off stage Our Father caused pandemonium. Big It Up and It's All Over were anchored by Ova Me, which turned over the Jamalco Sports Club. He left the stage, coming back with Batty Rider and Dickie, calling in New Kidz then delivering Boom Bye Bye.
Buju combined with Anthony Cruz in commenting "the place to bloody", Pinchers following with Bandelero, a simulated one criss-crossing his chest. Ras Shiloh took them up to Zion, Glen Washington ended with Sweetness For Weakness and I-Wayne scorched the Lava Ground in one of the night's longer showings.
MUSICAL MAYHEM
Richie Spice's Marijuana was inhaled, Yellowman cut Blueberry Hill short to get recalled to the stage and Chuck Fendah had the thousands consistently in a frenzy as he cried for his people and chanted "life rough out deh", leaving after Murderer only to be recalled for more musical mayhem with I Swear and a swipe at men's tight pants.
Jah Mason wailed for his princess, Louis Culture ripped off the Bogus Badge and although Bushman was supported in his Fia Pon a Weakheart, when he persisted in doing another song after Downtown, the boos and handclaps came.
The closing trio of Capleton, Beenie Man, Ninja Man was joined at points by Kulcha Knox, Junior Reid and Cocoa Tea, as the dawn of the year's first day rose over 'Jam Jam'.
