Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Junior Pinchers - contributed

Kemar 'Jr. Pinchers' Thompson spent most of his time at the highest point of the small bridge in the middle of the Ashanti Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant, Hope Gardens, on Tuesday night.

However, he did descend a couple times to meet the circuit of guests at the launch of his 'True Story' debut album, the formal presentation of the full-length set taking a concert format, Colin Leslie hosting the programme.

With Keisha Patterson and Dalton Browne on harmony vocals and Squeeze playing the recorded tracks, Jr. Pinchers was enthusiastic and happy as he presented several tracks from True Story, commenting on some of the songs and probing the audience for feedback along the way.

False start of sorts

There was a false start of sorts, as he started out by saying "this one is the first single that started the whole album. This led me to meet the lovely Miss Rachel Bernard. This one is called Forever". But when the music started it was not 'Forever' and Jr. Pinchers duly adjusted, saying "we went on an adventure, me and my management, to seek some new sounds. This led us to Havana, Cuba". Six Cuban musicians are credited on the set.

Slavery in .. but concealed

That song turned out to be the title track of the album and after it was finished Jr. Pinchers said that "when me reach a Cuba it was my first time going to a communist country. It lead me to see racism is out in the world still. Slavery is still in the world, but it is concealed neatly".

'Forever' followed, Jr. Pinchers making his first foray into the audience, before heading back to the bridge to "sing a song for the faithful lovers", chuckling as he asked how comes there was no applause for that. Then he asked in song "unfaithful lover, what you did to the lady.

He took a trip into interpersonal relationships of a different kind, observing "wicked people don't want to see us prosper", then delivered the duet with himself and his father Pinchers, taking both parts as his father had not yet shown up.

The songs were cut shorter as the launch of True Story progressed, songs for lovers, another Cuban cut and a combination with Lutan Fyah coming before 'Purple Door', a musical tale of a man's defence of a woman from domestic abuse.

He closed off with a song to the wayward, advising "gun is not football, no prove yu skill wid it", saying thanks all around.