A midnight serenade from Sanchez - Audience says the 1980s artiste is still a ‘hot steppa’

The projector screen at Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records rolled up and almost immediately members of the audience at the first of the R & R Series: Steppa live show, began to shout the name of veteran dancehall-reggae crooner Sanchez.

His band did a quick sound check and ran through the popular hit rhythms the artiste’s distinct vocals are recorded on. Then finally – which is the word that escaped the mouths of several persons eager to hear their favourite Sanchez hit – he entered the stage at midnight with the unforgettable line, “Here I am, playing with those memories again and just when I thought time had set me free ...” from the 1995 hit, Here I Am.

Playing with the memories of the audience, Sanchez stayed true to his performance style, belting out some of his greatest recordings, including Loneliness, Pretty Girl, For You and I Can’t Wait (You Say You Love Me) which had the restaurant full of romantics very emotional at hearing the lyrics chanted beautifully, live and in living colour. Always one to add something extra to a show, Sanchez also did a soulful rendition of Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye, All Of Me by John Legend and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.

“Music is supposed to be joy and laughter. After hearing it, you must feel like you want to either party or go to bed relaxed and make love with who is sharing it with you, or make you wish to God you could share that moment with someone. At the end of the day, my duty is to serenade the people,” Sanchez told The Gleaner.

He added, “My real fans appreciate what I have to offer, whether it is an original or what people would call the classic Sanchez, or an interpretation.”

The lyricist says he has no interest in “keeping with the times” but to maintain a lifetime of invaluable music and, in that, make sure his audience is treated.

On the verge of releasing a new album, he noted, “I am not trying to keep up with the new generation of artistes, because the songs and way they are singing them continue to move away from the true authenticity of our local music. The music I am working to release is of no comparison.”

Last night’s feedback shows he is still relevant to Jamaica’s musical climate with those bearing witness to an epic live concert, calling him a “hot steppa” of reggae and dancehall. This was solidified when the entertainer invited long-time friend Flourgon to join him on stage to bring down the house with their collaborations Mi Love Mi Girl Bad and Working My Way Back to You. Veteran artiste Daddy Lizard also jumped in on the action to deliver his and Flourgon’s popular tracks Jump Spread Out and The Place Mash Up, as well as his own Run Girl Run. The night ended on a high note with the couples as well as the unattached feeling satisfied.