"Cut to the quick/
deception was the tool/
performers poured music in the wound/...
Throwing off sparks/
bringing this Frankenstein/
skanking to life/
and ready to face the dawn/"
- "Rebel Love Revival" (excerpt)
c2009
Fifty years of political independence.
A half-century of existence for Founder/Production Chief Patrick "Tony Rebel" Barrett.
Almost two decades of successful and critically acclaimed stagings of Rebel Salute.
There was much to celebrate inside the ballroom of the Wyndham Kingston Tuesday night last and the invited musical guests proved more than nable to get the crowd of media, sponsors' reps, music fraternity and general well-wishers to appreciate the magnitude - and dynamism - of the occasion.
Battle of the Bands 2012 Jamaica finalists Raging Fyah overcame the first of the night's persistent sound glitches to deliver a rousing rendition of "Judgement Day" from their still growing repertoire. They would return in even finer form at the end of the night with "Far Away" and "Can't Run From Yourself". Similarly C-Sharp, still on a roll from their excellent CD release concert for "The Invitation" took their now trademark tight musicianship and audience rapport to even greater levels with a flawless delivery of "Reggae My Song".
In between those musical tentpoles, there were stirring comments from members of the head table, product pacakge giveaways from the sponsors and more scintillating musical stints, all guided with poise and relaxed wit by emcee Lady Renae. Ibamar, trombonist/vocalist Pesso, "basso profundo" Mikey Spice and veteran Edi "The Gun" Fitzroy all gave encouraging hints of things to come.
He didn't perform, but the "boss" Tony Rebel made another impassioned plea for more support for roots reggae, both from corporate circles and the media, a pleas supported - at least vocally - by his head table colleagues.
At night's end, with Pepsi and meatless cocktails awaiting eventgoers, the impression was distinctly left that Jamaica's globally revered musical brand was in good hands on the advent of the Golden Anniversary, and iwth the promise of new chapters to be written - and sung.
