Freddie McGregor, Minister Marion Hall make emotional return

WESTERN BUREAU:

Like she regularly did in her secular days when she performed as Lady Saw, Minister Marion Hall was all raw energy on Night Two of Reggae Sumfest, in Montego Bay, taking the Catherine Hall venue by storm with a free-flowing set, which left no doubt that she has not lost her potency as a performer.

In fact, like the biblical Old Testament story about the ‘voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau’, the former queen of the dancehall, who came out clad in a military-style outfit with matching hard boots, was like the old Lady Saw in her mannerisms and diction and deliver, and commanding stage presence, but instead of raunchy content, it was all gospel-flavoured.

While Hall’s performance easily matched up with that of Tanya Stephens, Morgan Heritage, Romain Virgo and Grammy winner Kabaka Pyramid, who all delivered splendid sets, it was the tearful Freddie McGregor, who is still recovering from a stroke he suffered last November, who had a stronger connection with the patrons, primary as he played a highly emotional set.

McGregor was taken on the stage via a rolling, high-backed throne chair. The veteran singer performed ably assisted by his children Daniel, Stephen and Yeshemabeth, and broke down in tears as he recounted what happened to him and how God had saved him.

“When I got sick last year and Mr Bogdanovich asked me if I could do Sumfest, I said I would try,” said the captain of the Big Ship musical family, emotional as he said that through God’s grace, he was able to answer the promoter’s call.

Outside of Minister Hall and Freddie McGregor, King Jammy’s Tribute was awesome, as the legendary sound man used dubplates from many of the artistes he worked with over the years, alongside live performances by Admiral Bailey, Stitchie, Pinchers, Leroy Gibbon, Chuck Turner, Chaka Demus and Bunny General to tell the compelling story about his impact and the growth and popularisation of reggae globally.

At the end of the highly appreciative performance, Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James was given the Red Stripe Living Legend Award, one of three such awards handed to performers during the night.

Minister Hall announced her presence at 6:21 a.m. with a bold “Hallelujah to Jesus,” before stating, “Mi come to tek back Montego Bay.” She then sent a message to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, telling him that he “need holiness because Jamaica inna mess”.

Amid reeling off songs such as Mi Soon Alright and From Mi Born ( Obeah Man), Minister Hall, who was later presented with the Red Stripe Living Legend Award, took the Church and some Christians to task for questioning the authenticity of her “unorthodox” style of Christianity, which she claimed is in sync with what Jesus wants his followers to do.

GOD-FEARING

After declaring that her mission is to win souls, not dancehall titles, Minister Hall told a story about being given a Bible by a Christian woman after one of her performances at the same Catherine Hall venue. She is convinced the Bible was integral to her transition from raunchy Lady Saw to a god-fearing Minister Marion Hall.

In responding to the criticism of the song Kiss Out Mi Bible, with the help of her pastor, Bishop Everton Thomas, found and read the scripture to support the way the words were used to create the song.

In the case of Freddie McGregor, it was clear that he was still recovering. With the help of his sons, who also unleashed some of their own songs, he made his presence felt on the songs Africa, Poor is a Crime, Prophesy, Push Comes to Shove, and Big Ship, among other hits. At the end of his performance, he was presented with a Red Stripe Living Legend Award.

Of the other acts, Richie Spice, who spared none of his hits in a performance rich in high-quality vocals, and Tanya Stephens, who shared some amount of discontent at having to watch her every word on account of the police’s non-tolerant approach to the use of expletives, did an excellent job in getting the crowd to respond to her.

Morgan Heritage, who paid homage to their late father Denroy Morgan, saw brother Gramps, Peter, and Mr Mojo, taking turns belting out some of their best-known hits. Romain Virgo, who is known to please the ladies, did not disappoint, especially with songs such as Who Feels It, Knows It; Rain is Falling; Love Doctor, and Do You Remember.

Grammy Award winner Kabaka Pyramid, who had Tifa joining him on the song Mr Rastaman, gave a generous taste of his lyrical power on songs such as Well Done, Red, Gold and Green and Nice up the Dance.

The Las Vegas-based Bonafide Band, whose band members have roots in Montego Bay; and Trinidad & Tobago-based female singer Joe Archer, Mackeehan, JahFrikan and D’yani and Jada Kingdom all gave the patrons much to be pleased about.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com