Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Stephen Marley seems in a trance as he performs a tribute to his iconic father.

If Friday night's Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite concert had been intended to be like a grin comprising the sparkling teeth of individual performances, several huge gaps spoiled the overall effect terribly.

It attracted a substantial but not, for the occasion of a tribute to Bob Marley and the extensive line-up, huge audience to James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, St Mary.

There were tedious band changes after each performer which the cosmetic surgery of MC patter and recorded music could not conceal after a while, only 2 Face Idibia from Eastern Nigeria, Bunny Wailer, John Legend, Rihanna, Ziggy Marley by himself and then with his brothers Stephen, Ky-Mani, Damian and Julian performing between 10:45 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Shorter showings

Then came much shorter showings, which seemed more like a confirmation that the person was actually there rather than a performance. Elephant Man performed to recorded tracks, (covering up yet another band change) with Chris Brown as his guest. Short stints also came from Spragga Benz, Etana (for whom there was yet another band change in the early morning hours), Tarrus Riley, Lutan Fyah and Richie Spice.

Sizzla gave a more extended showing at the end, combining with Capleton to close off a concert which was a huge disappointment after its promise on paper.

It did not help that after 6:00 a.m., the proceedings seemed to have been abandoned by the official hosts, the engaging Geefus of Stone Love doing sterling stand-in duties but his background as a sound system selector and not a professional MC showing.

Naturally, some of those billed to perform did not make it at an event which, in the last stages, seemed to be teetering on the brink of chaos, Cocoa Tea and Queen Ifrica among those showing up at the venue but not getting to the stage.

And while the longer performances, when they came, were by and large very good, Bunny Wailer putting his hands on his hips as he walked to and fro and surveyed a cheering audience when Ballroom Floor hit hard during his stand-out hour and John Legend giving a final flourish on the piano to close off Stay With You, after them Rihanna was like an off-colour front tooth in a wide smile.

Sultry performance

She destroyed Bob Marley's Is This Love to open and at some points, sounded like Cyndi Lauper crossed with Gregory Isaacs as she stood with feet splayed in an abbreviated outfit, sometimes caressing the microphone stand as if it were a stand of a different sort and tossing her head back in simulated paroxysms of pleasure.

Still, the power of media saturation showed after she had made her way through a slightly upended Umbrella, the audience calling for more but not getting it.

In a rare Jamaican performance, Ziggy Marley was excellent, playing guitar and singing as extended versions of Storms Still Come and Love Is My Religion hit home and a brief Melody Makers reunion included a delightful Look Who's Dancing.

By the time the Marley brood hit the stage, the audience seemed worn out by waiting and the reaction was far from overtly enthusiastic in the opening song, the first half of the title of the concert, delivered by Stephen or the second done by Ziggy Marley. The injections of energy came mainly from Damian Marley's deejaying and his combinations with Stephen Marley, although the cheers and fluttering flags still did not come from a significant portion of the audience.

And when the Marleys left, so did many to reduce the audience for the shorter performances.

Details of performances in tomorrow's STAR.

From one 'Legend' to another, John paid tribute to Bob. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Rihanna gets sultry at the Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite tribute concert to Bob Marley, held last Saturday at James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, St Mary.

An impressive Bunny Wailer takes charge of the stage at the Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite tribute concert to Bob Marley, held last Saturday at James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, St Mary. - photos by Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer