Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Rupert Bent strums up some music at the launch of his album 'Badly Bent' at the Redbones the Blues Café last Thursday - photos by Colin Hamilton/freelance photographer

The show got off to a late start, but the large turnout of well-wishers were entertained by live instrumental music performed by some of the best musicians in Jamaica.

The occasion was the launch of guitarist, Rupert Bent's CD, Badly Bent, last Thursday, at Redbones the Blues Café, in New Kingston.

Badly Bent is a compilation of instrumental music. The selections are relaxing and cover a wide genre of music that include jazz, latin and reggae. The titles include Fern Gully, I Shot the Sheriff and Cindy's Song. The latter, written by Bent and Michael 'Ibo' Cooper, is a tribute to Cindy Breakspeare.

The launch was an informal one, with Bent's wife, Breakspeare, getting the evening's proceedings under way with a few witty remarks. Then the baton was passed to Cooper.

Can bend music in any way

Cooper, one of the musicians featured on Badly Bent, began his "short speech", in part, with "Rupert can bend music in any way" and that he had taken music to a level of "advance varsity". He also related Bent's journey in getting Badly Bent completed, and described the launch as a painter finally bringing his masterpiece to fruition, while acknowledging that the final fate of Badly Bent will be determined by the response from the public.

Cooper concluded that Bent's ability to play jazz and classical music has made him an unparalleled contributor to Jamaican music.

Playing guitar for 50 years

Next, it was Rupert Bent's turn to address the audience. The former member of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires noted that he had been playing guitar for 50 years, crediting Byron Lee and Adrian Clarke, a Barbadian, as the two persons who have influenced his style of music. Clarke influenced the structure and harmony, and Byron Lee, the discipline of music.

Bent also thanked the musicians who assisted him with Badly Bent. Along with Cooper, others performing on the album include Chris Tyrell, Chris McDonald, Dale Brown, Desi Jones, Mickey Fletcher, Racquel Hines, Hopeton Williams and Neville Knight, who also did the mixing of the album.

Badly Bent is his first CD, but not his first effort of compiling an album. In 1993 and 1979, he, along with Adrian Clarke, produced two LPS.

Although there was live music, only one track (Cindy's Song) from Badly Bent was played. Rupert Bent explained that this was due to the musicians' intense rehearsals for the upcoming memorial service for Byron Lee.

Instead, the audience was treated to a display of the talents and skills of Bent on guitar, Brown on bass, Williams on trumpet and Tyrell on drums, along with McDonald, Cooper and a cameo appearance from Knight on keyboard.

Despite the selections being unrehearsed, they had the audience dancing, rocking and stomping to Cooper's jazz arrangement of the Jamaican folk song Evening Time, Don Drummond's Occupation, Tear Up, Feel So Good and Tiny Winey.

Pretty ladies (from left) Lavonne Dunbar, Camille Hinds and Cindy Breakspeare-Bent at the launch of Rupert Bent's album, 'Badly Bent'.