Irie Jamboree Delivers,          As Usual,

By Stan Evan Smith

Photos by Alison Ione

Stephen Marley @ Irie Jamboree 07 NYC

In 2005 Irie Jamboree graduated from an annual ethnic reggae music festival to a major Labor Day tourist attraction in NYC; it is now a brand name product in terms of marketing. The question is are they ready for the challenge of the next level, the big leagues? Bobby Clarke, Louis Grant, Stephen Williams and the Irie Jam family, possibly the most sophisticated group of Caribbean concert promoters in recent times have found themselves in the big leagues, a new game if you will. The 5^th staging of Jamboree 2k7 had the stars and Mother Nature lined up on Irie Jamboree side. Weather-wise, it was a perfect day, balmy breeze and cool temperatures. Performance wise Jamboree delivered.

By all accounts Irie Jamboree 2k7 met the shows high standards except with respect to the treatment of the press. The band time changes were moderate, but most importantly, all the artists advertised, one of the strongest lineups, performed. The show presenters followed tradition and thematically emphasized Love & Unity throughout. From what this reporter was able to see, there was no stand out performance. The almost 30,000 strong massive from all over the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe were treated to some great entertainment from some of the best artists in reggae music. The show suffered from what has been its major problem, poor production of time management with too many artists.

Mr Vegas @ Irie Jamboree 07 NYC

Having arrived at  the park at 3pm, I and the other press colleagues were told that our prior confirmed press passes were MIA. There were no press passes. What happened? They ran out of passes. Why didn’t they get additional passes when they realized they were about to run out knowing that press was still coming? Why did it take two hours to cross the street and get the passes? An added frustration occurred directly after being told no passes were available I observed a member of the will-call team hand three passes to a non-media non industry person. She told the person “I couldn’t let them (the press) see me giving you these passes because I told them the press passes were finished.” At 5pm one press pass (and a VIP) was given to me; my photographer was not allowed in the press area. I expressed my concerns to Jamboree media savvy publicist, he appeared flummoxed and responded “next time you have arrive the day before” I replied “it is obvious you guys need to come up with better plan for accommodating the huge volume of press request.”

Tony Matterhorn - Irie Jamboree 2k7 NYC

As I entered the park cultural singer Etana was exiting the stage. I made my way to the press pit at front stage; it was filled with many VIP not many recognizable press. I was not allowed in so I observed what I could from the soundless TV in the VIP press tent until I found a spot by the mixing board out in the audience. The difficulty for me was that from that vantage point the stage seemed too small and I had to rely on the side screens next to the stage. The standard size for this type of event is a 60 by 40 foot raised higher.  

Daville, @ Irie Jamboree 07 NYC

DJ Assassin, as a performer seems to get better every time I see him. Mr. Easy did a solid set. Mack-a Diamond in her attempts at sexual interplay was rebuffed by the males onstage, yet she can do no wrong. Munga Honorable, the controversial new sensation, did short but effective set; he has a great stage presence. From what I could hear, Former ARP front man Deville, seemed to be making a bid for the title “Ladies Pet” from what I could hear, when he sang “Always on my Mind” had the ladies screaming after he took his shirt off flexing his abs it was over. Metro-media sound man big belly Sky Juice provided some thematic comic relief as he flexed his oversized belly.  Morgan Heritage, showed why they are one of the most solid aggregation in music, they were great. Anthony B’s return to NYC big stage after more than 10 years was disappointing. After opening with “Raid de Barn”  “Mr. Heartless” and the ever popular “Good Cop, Bad Cop” he descended to sloganeering and vulgar graphic “all who nuh F…batty put up oounu hand” anti-gay lyrics, this was not the DJ, as we affectionately called him back then, of the Star trail days. Lady Saw in her short but energetic set cleaned up her act, as best she could. Her song about the personal pain of miscarriage and infertility touched an emotional chord. David Hinds of Steel Pulse remarked to me “she got them with that one” as the screen monitors captured the sight of female in the audience wiping away tears as Saw expressed her pain.  Let me thank Bobby Clarke for his timely assistance to my request for passes for David and his group. This kind of professional courtesy has been Irie Jam’s trade mark.

Munga Honorable - Irie Jamboree 2k7 NYC

Beenie Man was his usual high energy set but wasn’t at his best. Next up was a man whose star has risen considerably this year Mr. Vegas. With his dancers in tow and red carpet to match his performance was sizzling. Tony Matterhorn, the man named after cigarette in his space cadet outfit didn’t light up the place, or even take off to mars, however he was entertaining and a hit. From “Goodas Fi Dem to Dutty whine, the man from mars had the crowd’s full attention. Luciano’s abbreviated set was boring; his preaching had the crowd cool throughout. Next up was headliner Stephen Marley. The 5-time Grammy–winner in his first major appearance before a large Caribbean audience in NYC he was forced to cut his performance short due to time constraints. While “Traffic Jam” and Jr. Gongs’ “Welcome to Jamrock” created a hungry appetite, the audience was left wanting because he was allowed only enough time to do only four songs. Many patrons were heard complaining after waiting all day to see him, Stephen, I am told by a reliable source who spoke to him afterwards, having driven all the way from Florida with fully prepared show, was equally disappointed.

Jr. Gong - Irie Jamboree 2k7 NYC

This writer has known the Irie Jam Team for years; they have been responsive to constructive criticism and have made improvement over the last four years.  Let hope, they address the treatment of the media in a more professional fashion in 08.