Mel Cooke, STAR Writer

Strangejah Cole (left) with bass player Lloyd Brevett. - file

When Strangejah Cole performed at Sunday's edition of 'Skavovie', held weekly at Temple Hall Estate, St. Andrew, his appreciation for Skatalites bassist Lloyd Brevett was clear.

He thanked Brevett, more than once, between performing Rolling On, Bangarang and Rough and Tough.

"When I was a little boy, in the studio at Coxsone and Duke Reid, little boy, singing songs like Rough and Tough, I did not really know singing. People like this man, would say to me 'one, two, three, four, come een there so'. These people are my teacher," Cole said.

And, before he did his closing song, Cole said "thanks to Mr. Lloyd Brevett again. Another number one".

VOICE OF THE EVENING

Strangejah Cole was the voice on an evening where the horns carried the bulk of the melody, the Yardbeat Band in good nick, as they started out with Freedom Sounds and dropping Feelin Fine, Trottin In among the songs coming before the closing Tear Up.

Interestingly enough, the setting did not require multiple microphones, most of the horns carried the melodies unamplified while the soloist took pride of place at the microphone. The original trio of hornsmen - Everton Gayle on saxophone, Vivien Scott on trumpet and Barry Bailey on trombone, took solo turns for a very appreciative audience.

Sparrow Martin was on drums, T-Bird played keyboards, Gizmo handled the guitar and Larry Silvera played bass guitar.

Stangejah Cole performed, before intermission, earning a one-song encore.

After the break, MC Herbie Miller said he had heard Green Island and Occupation being mentioned, so he knew the musicians were in tune with his favourite Don Drummond on their second set. This time around, though, there were more hornsmen, Scott tootling a welcome to fellow trumpeter Mickey Hanson and saxophonists Lester Samuels, Tony Greene and Kingsley DePasss among those joining in the sweet 'Skavovie' at Temple Hall Estate.