By TANYA BATSON, SAVAGE, Freelance WriterFAB FIVE TRIED to out do themselves and managed to put a hearty helping of pep in the final stages of the Jamaica Coffee Festival at Devon House, St. Andrew, on Sunday evening. The band was in control for the final hours of the inaugural festival.
It gave proof that not only have they been a corner stone of Jamaican music development, but they seemed to know all the other stones which had been used. This was done by allowing the audience to select the artistes who would be featured in the final half-an-hour of their set. Using the parameter that the artiste should be Jamaican and 'oldies', as described by the band's bass guitarist and manager Frankie Campbell, the audience was advised to choose a song then the band would play a song from that artiste's repertoire.
The first three requests were for music from Dennis Brown, Bob Marley and Delroy Morgan. However, according to Campbell, Marley's repertoire was simply too large. As a compromise Fab Five delivered a six song medley featuring One Love, War, Buffalo Soldier, Three Little Birds, Lively Up Yourself and Exodus.
Musical arsenal
The result of the request segment was that Fab Five unleashed music from the arsenal of a wide range of musicians including, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Leroy Smart and Jacob Miller. Some people tried to make the night totally theirs by sending in multiple requests. "Yuh reques four artiste already, behave yourself," Campbell told one man who was trying to sneak in yet another request.
Two young men tried to dodge the parameters by suggesting Sizzla and Jah Cure but it was promptly pointed out that they did not qualify. The final request came from a woman who was adamant that she be heard, even though Campbell had announced that the last song had been performed. He acquiesced and the result was quite appreciated by the audience. As the first few notes of Many Rivers To Cross were played the crowd yelled their appreciation.
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