By Shelah Moody
Stephen Marley’s One Take Acoustic Jams show is full of beautiful surprises.
March 16 was a great day for reggae music; as many Jamaicans were rejoicing at the return of Buju Banton, who performed his “Long Walk to Freedom” concert at National Stadium in Kingston after serving a nine year prison sentence in the U.S.
Many miles from Jamaica, across the sea on the night of March 17, St. Patrick’s Day,
another historical event took place in Berkeley, CA.
Grammy winning reggae artist Stephen “”Ragga” Marley brought his One Take Acoustic Jams Tour to the UC Theatre.
The first beautiful surprise was Marley’s 21-year old daughter, Mystic Marley, who opened the show. As a child, Mystic and her siblings would often join their father in stage at the end of the show.
Now a grown woman, Mystic took the stage as a solo artist, showing off her robust vocals and deft songwriting skills. Mystic’s vocals have the rebel quality of a Lauryn Hill and the sass of Stephen Marley’s long time backing vocalist, Rica Newell. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f7q-B6ppceE)
After a short break, Stephen Marley emerged in a cloud of smoke and began playing the conga drums. The stage was beautiful lit in the Rasta colors of red, green and gold by creative consultant Nesta Garrick. A tapestry of Ethiopia’s ruler, Haile Selassie I, hung above Marley’s head and a gold statue of the Lion of Judah sat by His side.
Marley and his band opened with an Ethiopia-inspired instrumental, telling his story on the acoustic drums and transporting the audience from Africa to the Caribbean to America; and also channeling his iconic father, Bob Marley. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=424UWbAdq4Y).
“Greetings in the name of His Majesty, Haile I, Selassie I the first, Jah Rastafari!” Marley proclaimed.
“Love is in the house! Yeah!”
This set the tone for the rest of the show.
Another beautiful surprise: Marley was backed by some of finest musicians in the business: Grammy winning producer Lamar “Riff Raff” Brown on keyboards, Ranoy Gordon on guitar, Christopher Meredith on bass, Wilburn “Squidly” Cole on percussion and Nicholas Laraque on flute, saxophone and clarinet. (Marley and Laraque are the greatest collaboration since Branford Marsalis and Sting).
A beautiful surprise is that Marley’s One Take Acoustic Jams show is mildly electric, but just enough to give it a symphonic feel. But Marley’s raspy, gut wrenching voice has so much soul that it needs very little musical accompaniment. Like his father, Stephen Marley has a keen sense of harmony and his voice caresses a melody.
During the one hour minute set, Marley moved the audience with songs of freedom, songs of love and songs of redemption. Marley performed songs made famous by his father, including “Small Axe,” “Rainbow Country,” “Misty Morning” “All Day” and original songs from his award winning albums, “Mind Control” and “Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life” and Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life” Marley even sampled a bit of electronic dance music with “Revatuo Party.”
The show’s climax was brilliant. Laraque delivered a Rasta-funky clarinet solo while Marley chanted “Jungle Fever” and played the acoustic drums. Then, the band segued into “Bob Marley’ Could You Be Loved” and Marley called Mystic on stage to song with him. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NSirDZb-DAw)
“This is my daughter!” !Marley beamed, after giving Mystic a huge hug,
“Yeah! Generation to Generation.”
After killing them softly, Marley brought the audience back to earth with his poignant ballad: “It’s Alright,” tapping into the ethos of a generation.
“I've been a stranger to myself
I've felt alone like no one else
I've seen the good suffer long
I've felt the power of love
I've made a way out, flew where to go
And what's it all for? I don't know
But it must be said, just so you know
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.”
I've felt alone like no one else
I've seen the good suffer long
I've felt the power of love
I've made a way out, flew where to go
And what's it all for? I don't know
But it must be said, just so you know
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.”
Another beautiful surprise: Marley hosted a paid meet and greet after the show at the UC Theatre after the show. Fans got the opportunity to chat with Marley and even take selfies with him. They walked away with an autograph poster and a copy of his latest CD: “One Take: Acoustic Jams.” Proceeds went to benefit the Ghetto Youths International Foundation, a non profit that Marley set up with his brothers.
Visit stephenmarleymusic.com
