Caribbean warmth fills UBS Arena at sold-out ‘Jamaica Strong’ concert

NEW YORK:

Last Friday’s frigid December night in New York City, Jamaica’s warmth filled the room at the UBS Arena with a slate of top Caribbean stars who performed for the Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert which raised funds for those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

When the curtain fell at 1 o’clock on Saturday morning with a near capacity 18,000 crowd in tow, the message was clear that Jamaica remains strong, and that its people are resilient.

Among the performers were Shaggy, Sean Paul, KES, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Tessanne Chin, Aidonia, Chronic Law, T.O.K., Gramps Morgan, Richie Stephens, Tee Jay, Kevin Downswell and others.

Fans poured into the UBS arena from various parts of the diaspora - the tri-state, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta and even as far as Florida, many carrying the weight of the destruction back home, but all left the arena with renewed hope. From the opening performances of Yaksta, singjay Abby Dallas, and Aiesha Barrett who performed the event’s Hurricane Melissa-inspired theme song, Jamaica Strong, to the closing chorus of the Jamaican National Anthem, the night pulsed with Jamaican energy.

Headliners Shaggy and Sean Paul both reminded the crowd why dancehall music has thrived and crossed borders for decades. Shaggy, who performed in the last hour, took fans down memory lane with his 90’s New York hit, Big Up, which made way for Boombastic. after which he segued into his ‘players anthem,’ It Wasn’t Me. Sean Paul ignited the arena with Gimme The Light, Get Busy, Like Glue and Temperature.’ His biggest ovation came when he segued into I’m Still In Love With You.

Richie Stephens opened powerfully with his dancehall classic Trying To Get Close To You, which made way for the R&B tinged Let’s Drink To the Hard Working People. The elegantly dressed crooner took the energy 10 notches higher when he informed the near capacity crowd that the promoters had dared him in a $10,000 bet — to aid the charity of his choice — not to perform Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem A Change Is Gonna Come because “it would not work for the UBS Arena concert”. As Stephens belted out the first words with the Derrick Barnett-led Statement Band strumming the opening chords, the arena erupted, lighters flashed and patrons rose to their feet.

Mikey Spice crooned soulful favourites such as Lift Me Higher and Born Again, while UK based Maxi Priest warmed hearts with Wild World and House Call, the ‘90s collab with Grammy Kid Shabba Ranks. Inner Circle represented vintage reggae with their 1970s hit Tenement Yard, Sweat, and their FOX 5 TV hit Bad Bad Boys, which closed out a powerful performance. Chronic Law connected with Higher Life, while Tee Jay scored with No Friend Dem and his dance hit Drift. Aidonia was, however, the best of the dancehall recorders, mesmerising fans with Yeah Yeah, Ukku and Girl Yuh Want.

Trinidadian soca star Kes brought a carnival like flair to the arena and got everyone in a festive mood that many said made him one of the top performers of the night. He stamped his authority with hit songs Hello, Wotless, Cocoa Tea, and Savannah Grass that turned the arena into a Caribbean party.

Gramps Morgan, who was joined by his sons Jemere and Piers scored with Wash the Tears Away, Give A Little More, Down by the River and a tribute to his late father and brother, Denroy and Peetah Morgan. Tessanne Chin proved she still has the ‘Voice’ that captivated millions on NBC TV more than a decade ago, delivering Marley’s Redemption Song and her own hit Hideaway. Other strong performances came from Demarco, I-Octane, TOK and Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths who was joined by Lukie D.

As the night drew to a close, most of the performers returned to the stage alongside Jamaica’s Minister of Culture Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange who made the trek from Kingston, US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and VP Records co-founder Patricia Chin with her sons Chris and Randy Chin for a moving rendition of the National Anthem.

Mainstream television stations including CNN and FOX 5 TV aired interviews with some of the artistes and radio hosts, while some of the biggest American radio stations amplified the message to millions of listeners. Amazon Live and TVJ aired the concert live on YouTube to more than 1.4 million viewers globally.

A moving ‘In Memoriam’ tribute aired during the event honouring Jimmy Cliff, Allan Skill Cole, Cocoa Tea, Pluto Shervington, Owen Gray, Junior Byles, Leroy Gibbons, Joe Lick Shot, Determine, George Rhoden, and Jamaica’s consul general to New York, Alison Wilson.

Net proceeds from ticket sales and donations are being tabulated and will be directed to registered charities.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com