By Coretta Joe
The historic Pigeon Island National Landmark reverberated with the rhythmic sounds of the Caribbean. They say no one parties (or can throw a party) like West Indian people, and this was evident at yet another sold-out Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts event, Caribbean Fusion.
King of Soca Machel Montano stormed the stage with his full band minutes after midnight, and it was a full fete for close to two hours as he wined, trampled, trembled and gave one of his more dynamic performances in recent times. It was the soca superstar’s first time performing in Saint Lucia in six years and his first time at Jazz.
There was no doubt that Lucians loved Machel. At one point, the music stopped, and they showed him just how much—the approximately eight thousand-strong crowd screamed unabashedly for approximately two minutes.
Even though The Monk did not release any new music this year, his expansive catalogue was enough—the numerous hits he performed included 90s tracks such as Footsteps, Big Truck, and Toro Toro, coming to the mid and late 2000s with Shake The Place, Like Yuhself, and Epic.
Jamaican legend Beres Hammond had the honour of gracing the stage just before Machel’s set, and he, too, was shown plenty of love. “Uncle Beres”, as he is affectionately known across the diaspora, injected the appreciative crowd with the sweetest dose of lover’s rock.
He pulled up a stool and made himself comfortable on stage. Still in fine voice, he belted out fan favourites like Rock Away, Tempted to Touch, Standing in My Way, Sweet Lies, and Putting up Resistance, and the crowd waved, swayed, and sang every word right along with him.
Caribbean Fusion really did live up to its name, with its well-crafted blend of the sounds of soca and reggae. The two Saint Lucians who opened the show, reggae artist Meschach and soca act Ezra D’funmachine, proved that Caribbean talent is out of this world.
This was veteran singer Meschach’s first performance after a brief hiatus, and he filled the venue with his conscious vibes through songs like Mr Greedy Joe and Hold On Strong.
Gros Islet native Ezra D’funmachine was electrifying! He continues to cement his status as a well-rounded performer. His trademark gruff voice and bacchanal antics on stage had everyone jumping and raising their Lucian flags, proud to be a part of the moment. His repertoire of hits included Swim My Way, Bacchanal Rampage and Hello Carnival.
In a touching gesture, he brought out some of his famous friends at strategic points to share the spotlight with him and further hype up the crowd. They included Hollywood HP, Shemmy J, and Imran Nerdy, who whipped everyone into a frenzy.
It was a fantastic start to what is expected to be an unforgettable weekend of music and pulsating energy. It gave first-timers to jazz a taste of why the festival is known as the premier event of its kind in the Caribbean.
It’s funny cause I was just thinking yesterday that Fortuna Belrose and Chas and them tried to murder jazz! Don’t mean to bring the politics but it is what it is!
People please find God and forget about all this feting
@Hughbackfeet…God was at Jazz too, didn’t you hear him at Kingdom Night?
I agree with @ Hugh backfeet!!! If one has the ‘privilege’ of dying in bed, in a room by him/herself, all they will want to know at this point is God. We have moved away from God in St. Lucia and that’s why our problems are so insurmountable.
god?…that myth and superstition is dying slowly. The Scandinavian countries are the least religious on earth yet they have the lowest rate of teenage pregnancy, high literacy rate, lowest crime figures, healthy economies,… apparently you don’t need god to achieve these….the Scandinavian countries are the most open in terms of open mindedness…in fact it is estimated that some Scandinavian countries have atleast 50 – 60% of the population are either agnostics, atheists, or non believers…..god is dying slowly…. people are no longer falling for this pie in the sky nonsense….I see some blame lack of praising or following god as a Reason for our issues when really and truly the solution is within our powers ….it’s quite obvious these so called religious zealots don’t read their bibles cause if they did the will see that god is a tyrant, a bully, a genocidal maniac, a blood thirsty pillock, infanticidal plonker, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, petty ( he said he is a jealous god) for a god who has so much power how can he say he is a jealous god, ask yourself, if you had all that power, would you be jealous?……and more….if any of you so called fanatics want proof of these ..let me know…it will send you the scriptures from your very book (the bible ) for you to read for yourselves that god is the most fictitious character created by man….here are a few for starters: these are god’s orders:
Death to any woman if she is not a virgin on her wedding night : Deuteronomy 22:20-21
Killed babies and raped wives as a punishment for pride Isaiah 13:11-16
god threaten death on babies and fetuses Hosea 13:16
Makes slaves of others Leviticus 25: 44-46
And no wonder your ancestors were made slaves as the church itself justified slavery and benefited handsomely from it….
Virgins were war booty ( obviously you can see the intention there). Numbers 31:17-18
And there is loads more of where that comes from….the so called holy book…get out of your superstitions…
I C-WIZ live without fear and without god and I am certainly more principled than many so called Christians who believe in that charlatan in the sky…
Many of us went to church with the likes of @The Laborie Guy a day @Hugh Backfeet, more judgemental than the almighty himself while beneath their own beds collect dust and rubbish. Let people pray and sin in peace without the hypocrisy of the likes of you.