Review
Publication date : Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 14 417 views
Big Youth and Ken Boothe, a recital at the Elysée
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Two veterans were in the spotlight at the Elysée-Montmartre: the eccentric deejay Big Youth and the crooner Ken Boothe both took off their jackets for a memorable night.
Tall, in a fitted jacket, an old man steps forward with dignity. Manley Augustus Buchanan, 61, born in Trenchtown, Kingston, is better known as Big Youth. A pioneering and prolific deejay, the "most wanted deejay" is a virtuoso toaster, one of the first to tackle the problems of everyday life openly. After 40 years of preaching, Big Youth has above all remained a formidable showman, "in a musical disco as I would say".
At the first chords he comes alive, bows his legs, flings out his arms. The warm-up turns into a musical comedy as he launches into Every Nigger is a Star: Mary Poppins-style dance steps, hula-hoop undulations, stage delirium... Tipsy, he throws his jacket into a corner and carries on with his hiccuping. Finishing Mosiah Garvey, he lets out, all smiles, "I feel good". So do we. The temperature rises. Well backed by No More Babylone, he strings the hits together, whirls his dreads around... His voice gets lost in mesmerising dub passages.
Suddenly a young guy with a gangsta look climbs onto the stage and puts down his beer. "My son," bellows Big Youth. Cap on backwards and dark glasses, so this guy is his son? He takes the mic and it is confirmed: dancehall passage, flash, strobes, smoke screen. Son Youth lays down his flow while his father swings his legs in the air, waist high. He harangues the crowd. To everyone's great delight, Isaiah First Prophet and Screaming Target close the family reunion. "And you say no? And I say yeah". Hit the road Jack, time to make way.
The backing band stays on stage, and Ken Boothe arrives without any transition, affable, tie tight, small glasses, tweed suit and velvet voice. But within three minutes Mr Rocksteady has already taken off his hat and his jacket... and pulled out his handkerchief. Love is his favourite theme, which he delivers with Crying over you, the very good When I fall in Love and Speak Softly Love, to the musical theme of The Godfather. It must be said that his "Soul style" lends itself to it. Forged during the 60s listening to North American standards, his drawling phrasing is that of a crooner. A cappella he is impressive. The audience claps along. "I like that!".
The show turns into a recital. Ken Boothe gives everything he has, strings together non-stop The train is Coming, Puppet on a String. On the brass solos, the old man spins like a top. As the organ answers the trumpet, he mimes a robot dance, shuffles his little steps. Mr Boothe mops his brow to prolonged acclaim, before launching into the finale, Everything I Own, of course. Ideal for an exit from the stage:
And I would give anything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give anything I own
Just to have you back again
Just to talk to you, words again
Just to hold you, once again…
Report written by C.A
Tags : Ken Boothe (72), Big Youth (25), Concert (106)
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