Sun 17 Feb, 2008
Music That Stirs the Soul: Notes on the Sly & Robbie Festival Performance
Filed under: Music Lover's Corner, Sly & RobbieTags: Ragga Muffins Festival, Reggae
Some music moves you to dance, or takes you back to an emotional moment in time…And then there’s music that simply stirs the soul. It’s hard to define and hard to describe in words (although I will try) what exactly the music made you feel, but when you soul has been touched, you just know it. The great thing about Reggae is that often compels all of these emotions with pulse and rhythm like few other forms of music can do.
As you know, I am covering the Ragga Muffins Festival with Tanya Payne, my friend and writing partner, this weekend. Although Tanya is not writing this article with me, I just wanted to share something about a particularly surprising and interesting moment last night. I should probably mention that we only like to spend enough time in the press box to be on time to take pictures. We’re almost constantly on the move unless we are interviewing someone, or until we’re too tired to move anymore (which does happen). But our preference is to sit, listen, take notes and really experience the music.
I was really looking forward to seeing Anthony B, especially since the incident in 2005 when the Matisyaho fans came and left, leaving a very intimate crowd for Anthony B to entertain. His performance was phenomenal and I thought it a shame that more people hadn’t stayed to watch. This year was different…but I don’t want to talk about Anthony B right now. I want to talk about the group that went on after Anthony B: Sly & Robbie.
We had originally planned to walk around after Anthony B’s set; we didn’t know the other artists and we weren’t very curious to see them. However, we were tired and ended up staying in our seats chatting it up with one of the festival attendees.
Suddenly the MC’s voice broke into my consciousness saying, “These are truly great Jamaican Musicians.” Immediately my focus was to the stage and my ear tuned to determine whether or not he was correct. The truth is that the same person MCs every festival and I had never heard him say any such thing, so my interest was piqued right away.
There was a since of mystery as Sly & Robbie (drummer and bassist respectively) took the stage with an ensemble of musicians, one wearing a hat that seemed to cover his face, the another clad in a cape. The entire hall got quiet save for the gentle pulse of the base. Suddenly there was a sound that seemed to echo and fall into position perfectly melding base with melody. Almost ethereal, this sound was until it came full blast and there appeared a man in gold, playing a saxophone. This was the first confirmation of greatness.
The sax solo faded out just as seamlessly as it made its intro, leaving us again with a pulsating rhythm from the base and a subtle sound of percussion…they were building up to something it seemed but were very deliberate about it. The bassist (Robbie) and the guitarist stood center stage rocking side to side as if they were one with the music and the music was their heart beat. For all the base gently rippling through the room, you could hear everything happening in the hall. The audience was buzzing but the sounds were so perfectly in sync everything melded together and it seemed as though the buzz of the audience was part of the music.
Suddenly the percussion was no longer subtle, as it broke through the buzzing and rose above the pulse of the base to a featured decibel and tempo. So magnificent was each hit on the drums, from the short staccato beat to the constant pumping of the kick drum. There was still the feeling of something more to come as the drum solo ended, the sounds melded together perfectly again but along with the pulsating groove of the base, the drummer (Sly) settled into a rapid fire beat that felt like a drum-roll unlike any I had ever heard.
Then there was a rip from an electric guitar; not an ear wrenching or piercing rip, just a beautifully clear echo of one. The drum-roll continued…again the rip…building…building…building…until…
Perhaps the best guitar solo I have ever heard! Never before had I heard an electric guitar sound so smooth, so sultry yet rockin’ and brilliant all at once. The amazing thing is while each musician was doing his own solo respectively, they had all created a build that set the guitar solo up to be displayed at a high frequency peak that sent chills down the spine with its precision. Absolutely astounding.
During the set of solo’s Tanya and I kept looking at each other saying, “how do we describe the feeling this music creates? These guys are GOOD…”
Good is an understatement…great is on the cusp of how rediculously amazing and skilled the Sly & Robbie ensemble were. These were true musicians in every sense of the word from the impeccable delivery to mesmerizing presence. Even now, I am dumbfounded and hoping my words are sufficient enough to express the absolute awe with which I watched and listened to them play.
The only word even close to an accurate description of Sly & Robbie: Legendary.
VinylNotes says:
Ragga Muffins Festival 2008: Show Wrap-Up Part I
The 2008 Ragga Muffins festival was an improvement on several fronts from festivals past. The increased presence of “earthy” people combined with the decrease in the poser/wannabe crowd (Matisyahu fans…grrrrr) was refreshing. This t…
Maria Palma says:
Hi Kimberlee,
Yes, there’s definitely something about reggae music that touches every cell in your being. It’s nearly impossible for me to stand still when I’m listening to someone like Bob Marley.
Kimberlee Morrison says:
Maria,
This was probably my favorite year at the Ragga Muffins Festival since my second year in 1998. That year was my first time being on the floor. We weren’t at the front but we weren’t super far back either. At first I was ok but the crowd began to press in as some of the more popular artists performed. It got so hot during Capleton’s set that I passed out and my boyfriend at the time had to drag me out of the mass.
That’s when I realized I don’t like being on the floor…unless I’m in the photo box, sitting in the stands is so much better otherwise. My first time as a journalist at the festival, I had a disposable camera, and my article didn’t even get printed. I was quite sad but I loved every moment of it and decided right then that the only way to enjoy the show was as a journalist for two reasons: you get in free and you get to analyze the show. When the music is good…as it always is at the Ragga Muffins Festival (there’s one in San Deago), it’s magical.
This year, my friend and writing partner Tanya, and I both had digital camera and at least a couple hundred pictures to choose from. We interviewed three artists and have written several articles for the festival.
It’s pretty exciting how much better we did this year. Check back, we have an album review and an artist profile coming up.
VinylNotes says:
Ragga Muffins Artist Profile: Queen Ifrica
Women of distinction are woefully lacking within the scope of popular reggae music. There have been a few notable exceptions including Lady Saw, also known as the "the first lady of dancehall," and Patra, a moderately popular artist from the…
Ragga Muffins Weekend Begins - Vinyl Notes says:
[...] Hello dear readers. I know its been months since last I posted. Life has been hectic and I started a new gig and am just now coming up for air after a brief music writing hiatus. Great timing too because its time for the 28th Annual Ragga Muffins Festival (show coverage). [...]
Daggering says:
I’ll be adding a link from my site to yours. This is quality stuff. Keep it coming!