SWITZERLAND:THE MONTREAUX JAZZ FESTIVAL ENDS WITH A TRIBUTE TO REGGAE WITH PERFORANCES FROM ZIGGY MARLEY AND THE MELODY MAKERS

Record ID: 387106

  • Title: SWITZERLAND:THE MONTREAUX JAZZ FESTIVAL ENDS WITH A TRIBUTE TO REGGAE WITH PERFORANCES FROM ZIGGY MARLEY AND THE MELODY MAKERS
  • Date: 15th July 1997
  • Summary: (REUTERS) PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE MUST BE CLEARED BEFORE RE-USE *** DAVID BYRNE PERFORMING ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 30th July 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RJH9TDXP4E62J0TOA8JDUE7J
  • Story Text: Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers were the special guests at the 31st Montreux Jazz Festival night dedicated to Reggae (July 16) More than 2,000 people welcomed the new generation of reggae legend Bob Marley's family to the stage with a standing ovation.

    Blessed both by heredity and by talent, The Melody Makers have carried on their father's legacy by delivering stirring "roots" music, as well as dizzying array of other styles and influences on the eight acclaimed albums they have released since the mid 80s.

    On their new album, "Fallen Is Babylon", The Melody Makers develop the vintage Marley sound that they revisited on their last album, 1995's Free Like You Want 2 B.

    "This album delivers a very strong message to our people spiritually", Ziggy Marley said, explaining that the inspiration behind the album was the story of Babylon falling from the book of Revelation in the Bible.

    The Melody Makers produced the album themselves at the rebuilt Marley Music Studio, which was the site of Bob Marley's historic sessions. "We felt such a great spirit there, says Ziggy, "and there is so much history there. We tried to recreate the old vibe - it really was like our home for so many years".

    "Fallen Is Babylon" captures the sounds, textures and colours of Jamaica in voices resonant with heritage and a love for the Rastafarian religion which is very strong in the Caribbean island.

    Even when the lyrics speak of oppression and anger, it is tempered with a spirit of joy and a certainty that things will get better.

    The Marley ensemble, including Ziggy, brother Stephen, and sisters Cedella and Sharon have not been content to dwell in their father's shadow. They have moved with the times and their music has taken its own direction with each new album, bringing in new influences from a wide range of sources.

    But the strongest influence of all remains Bob Marley.

    As Ziggy Marley explained: "He's the one who caused us to be this way... he's the one who showed us the light and then we searched for it and also find it to be true".

    Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne was the star of the "Colours to Funk" night at the Festival on Tuesday, only a few weeks after the release of his latest album.

    Recorded with an array of other musicians, bands and producers in small, home-style studios on both sides of the Atlantic, Byrne's first solo offering for three years reveals a diverse range of influences.

    "Feelings is a record I did with a lot of other people rather than one band or producer. I called them up, the ones I liked the style, if they were interested we would record together. It was great, and with most people I worked in their homes, garages," Byrne told Reuters.

    "I've been listening to a lot of music, not only here in Montreux but in New York as well. Many things are happening. It is a very good moment,... a moment where rock is mixing with dance, jazz with poetry... and this energizes me", Byrne added.

    Despite the involvement of such a broad spectrum of artists, "Feelings" is very much an album rather than a collection of unrelated pieces. Its 14 tracks are unified by Byrne's own expressive voice.

    "Only me, my voice. My voice gives this common sensibility throughout the album", Byrne explained.

    Not only does the album feature the distinctive Byrne sound, its cover is typical of his style.

    It features a doll of David Byrne, staring ahead with a blank expression. The doll on the cover is remote, devoid of emotion.

    "The doll is staring at the blank, the title had to be something that played off this image so I thought of something like Passion, Ecstasy, ...Feelings. Four dolls with four different emotions were made for the album. Maybe my only four emotions: anger, happiness, sadness and blank", Byrne explained.

    David Byrne was a member of the Talking Heads, a band whose distinctive look and original sound brought them success in the late seventies and early eighties.

    The four members played for the last time together at the Tom Tom Club in New York in 1989.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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