9th February 2015 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
On February 6, 2015 Robert Nesta Marley would have been 70 years old. The legendary Jamaican vocalist and composer who brought reggae music and its message of social and political consciousness to the world, died on May 11, 1981. Yet his aura remains with those who embraced his great talent, music and vision.
On Thursday, February 12, two artists who have been deeply moved by Marley’s presence on the planet – vocalist, percussionist and composer Cyril Neville and vocalist, guitarist and composer David Hinds of the renowned band Steel Pulse – team up for a very special evening at Café Istanbul. The event, a Musical Tribute to Bob Marley – A Conscious Party of Culture, Education & Music, features a musical performance plus a lecture by Renaldo Ricketts, a direct descendent of Jamaican born political activist, journalist and Black nationalist Marcus Garvey. Garvey is perhaps best known internationally for his call for Blacks from throughout the African diaspora to return to their homeland.
Ricketts’ lecture will set the stage for the night’s theme as he talks about how Garvey’s teachings influenced Marley and the Rastafarian movement. Then Neville and Hinds will continue the conversation specifically mentioning what songs they’ve written that were particularly influenced by Marley’s works.
Neville and Hinds, who have known each other for some 20 years, will lead a solid band put together by keyboardist Claude Bryant that includes drummer Mean Willie Green and bassist Charles Moore, both of whom are original members of Neville’s Uptown Allstars. As Neville proudly declares, “We can still say that we’re the only second line reggae band in the world.” The group will also feature Neville’s nephew, keyboardist/vocalist Norman Caesar and more.
Neville mentions that the tunes he’s written that were most inspired by Marley are “The Fire This Time” and “I Will Survive,” which was written at Uptown’s notoriously late-night Benny’s Bar. His favorite Marley tunes include “So Much Trouble in the World,” “Waiting in Vain” and “Is This Love.” “Those songs were put in my hands by a beautiful lady named Gaynielle,” says Neville speaking of his wife, Gaynielle Neville.
Neville and Hinds often met each other on the road when the Neville Brothers and Steel Pulse would be performing at the same venue or festival. “We made it a point to go to each others’ shows,” Neville remembers.
The two performed together just once before at a show in Southern California. He and his brother Aaron sat in with Steel Pulse on the tunes “Get Up Stand Up” and “No Woman No Cry.”
“I hope this is the beginning of the return of the Uptown Allstars,” says Neville about the gig at Cafe Istanbul. At Jazz Fest, Cyril will also lead the new edition of the Allstars that will come on just before reggae masters Third World.
Neville, who moves with ease between musical genres – his latest album, Magic Honey was blues-based – heads to Frenchmen Street on Saturday, February 14, to play the Blue Nile with his Swamp Funk band featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, bassist Charles Moore, drummer Mean Willie Green and guitarists June Yamagishi and Cranston Clements. “That’s going to be a lowdown throwdown,” Neville declares of the show that will honor his uncle Big Chief Jolly and Big Chief Bo Dollis.
Got Those Red Beans Cookin’
There was a time when Lundi Gras, the Monday before Mardi Gras, felt a bit like a place holder between the big weekend parades of krewes like Endymion and Bacchus and Carnival Day. It often represented the lull between the frenetic storm of major partying. Several events changed all of that.
The Krewe of Red Beans and Rice Parade, which this year will boast two bands – the Treme Brass Band I and II – travels at a leisurely pace starting at 2 pm from Royal and Port streets.
“They take their time,” says Treme Brass Band leader and drummer Benny Jones. “It’s not a parade that’s rushed. I love being a part of it,” adds Jones who’s been onboard since day one back in 2009.
The procession heads up Royal to Esplanade Avenue and turns right to make its first stop at Buffa’s on the corner of Burgundy Street. It continues out Esplanade and takes a left onto North Robertson to head into the Treme. Now this is really Benny Jones’ home turf. When it gets to the Candle Light Lounge, it hangs there for about 20 minutes before heading to the Backstreet Cultural Museum on Henriette Delille Street. (formerly St. Claude St.) via St. Philip Street.
The Treme Brass Band(s) will play a couple of tunes in front of the museum and then let a deejay take over for further partying. “Carnival Time will be there,” says Jones of the holiday’s icon, vocalist Al “Carnival Time” Johnson.
This article originally published in the February 9, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
