Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Left: Bob Andy delivers a thrilling set during the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates' tribute to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, at its headquarters on Hagley Park Road, on Friday.   Right: Poet Mutabaruka on stage during the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates' tribute to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, on Friday. - Photos by Colin Hamilton

AS PART of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate the life and work of two reggae giants, Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, both born in the month of February, the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) made its contribution last Friday evening.

The event, which was held at JAVAA's headquarters in the courtyard, Oakton Park Entertainment Complex, 5-7 Hagley Park Road, saw a mix of contemporary and vintage artistes paying tribute to 'The King' and the 'Crown Prince of Reggae'.

Among those to take the stage were Ken Boothe, Benjy Myers, Michael Pinnock, Bunny Brown, Althea Hewitt, Frankie Paul, Bob Andy, Boris Gardiner, Derrick Harriott, Pam Hall, Christopher Martin and backing band Fab 5.

The strong turnout of patrons was not to be disappointed, as emcee Mutabaruka allowed the show to flow as smoothly as possible with his humour and historical insight, while Mikey Barnett gripped the vintage vibes on the turntables.

Memories of dennis

Hero touched the very heart of patrons when he spoke of life Down Inna Di Ghetto, while Boris Gardner was recalled for an encore performance of I Wanna Wake Up With You.

Although the youngest performer of the night, Chris Martin, managed to Put A Little Love in the heart of patrons, Pam Hall was able to boast, "Dennis and I share the same birthday", before doing her own versions of some Bob Marley and Dennis Brown songs.

For most of the vintage artistes taking the stage, they could recall some experience or encounter with either Bob Marley or Dennis Brown and emcee Mutabaruka shared a hilarious recollection.

"Nuff people nuh know seh me an Dennis Brown did do a song, yea! But one of my most embarrassing moments was on stage wid him. Wi did fi perform di song an when it come to my part I couldn't rememba. An him sing ova fi him part bout three time an all now. An yuh know seh bout five minutes afta di show done mi memba," Muta recalled.

The early morning hype was carried on by Bong Herman, who had patrons singing and dancing Rocksteady. And as Bongo pulled a number of his musical instruments from his bag and played, patrons could not help but dance to the sounds.

An evening of musical tribute to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown was brought to a close by Frankie Paul, who thrilled the audience with a string of soulful songs, among them, Shower Me With Your Love and Cassanova.