A concert for the culture

On January 1, 2023, Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann is set to come alive for the first staging of the Intimate Jamaica Concert, which is anticipated to be a historic coming together of Jamaican music legends Buju Banton and Beres Hammond. During the event’s media launch held at the ROK hotel in downtown Kingston, Banton shared that the concert is to provide patrons with a refreshing display of good music that feeds both the mind and soul. According to ‘The Gargamel’, this is something that Jamaica is lacking right now.

“We want to start the year right, and, if we start the year right, chances are we can end right. And, if you start wrong, you end wrong. We have not partied in so long. Since 2019, I have not danced. I wanna fling some foot. We want to give you a night of not rambunctiousness but of surreal entertainment and enjoyment,” he told the star-studded audience and media personnel gathered by the poolside.

Banton, who is responsible for giving timeless classics such as Destiny, Not an Easy Road, Untold Stories, Hills and Valleys and a slew of other tunes that tell stories of freedom and overcoming struggle, told The Sunday Gleaner that currently, the music has lost its [original] identity that sought to edify and not just entertain, and the aim is to bring some of that back through the Intimate Concert.

“Our music was not based primarily on death and destruction. It was a music that helped galvanise harmony. Our music was not just ‘willy-nilly’ stuff. It was politically rooted to educate our people about what the current affairs of the global community was. Now, it [has] divulged into drug taking and all kind of garbage. So, this coming together of intimate is to guide back the people dem to who we are,” he shared.

“We have not had love preached in our ears in a long time. We have an abundance of death and destruction, and mayhem. So, we tried to put Marcia Griffiths, L.U.S.T, Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, Mitch, people who can bring a different purview,” he also added while revealing other performers scheduled for the show.

A DYNAMIC DUO

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, and Hammond have shared the stage many times before. The two have also collaborated on tracks such as A Little More Time and Falling In Love All Over Again. Interestingly, he revealed that the two have never been in a recording studio together at the same time. He also went on to say he does not wish to change that because he believes it will tamper with the chemistry that God has blessed them with. Having known Hammond for so long, it has been hard for him to choose a favourite memory of the lovers’ rock singer.

“I have met many musicians but none like Mr Hammond. I can say this man is like a Buju Banton in a more mature way – who thinks a certain way, who expresses himself musically a certain way and who is also very musically inclined. Jamaica needs to recognise him before him gone cause Jamaicans have a tendency to recognise people upon their demise. But this great man, he has had so many indelible impressions on my life that it is impossible for me to just isolate one,” Banton said.

Unfortunately, Hammond was overseas and unable to make the launch, which he apologised for in a video message.

As preparations continue for what promises to be an event to remember, Banton urges fans to prepare for a musical experience like no other.

“The mission is clear, and the vision is simple – unify our nation through an intimate connection. When we hear the word intimate, the first thing that comes to mind is sexual connotations; it’s perverse. It is a closeness of people, a closeness of brothers, a closeness of my people. The Jamaican people and people all around the world wish to be a part of this movement. I am inviting them all. Intimate is not political, it is musical. Be warned, it is going to be a musical unfolding for the year 2023 that we hope will carry us through with a different mindset, a different spirit and a different attitude.”

aaliyah.cunningham@gleanerjm.com