SLY & ROBBIE SHOW CLASS AS MASTERS OF REGGAE
Sly and Robbie and Bonobo RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest River Stage Reviewed Friday
Reggae’s legendary rhythm twins, Sly & Robbie, capped off an evening of good vibes at the River Stage on Friday with a formidable display of their musical prowess.
Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare have been playing together since the 1970s, but as they demonstrated at RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest, they aren’t content to sweep the same old dusty rhythms. Friday’s scorching concert offered a master class in the evolution of reggae, from roots-rock to dub to dancehall, with nods to soul, R&B, ska and rocksteady along the way.
Playing with their top-notch Taxi Gang, a band comprised of keyboards, guitar, sax and the larger-than-life singer-trombonist Nambo Robinson, the duo dug deep into their repertoire. Shakespeare held up the bottom end with the massive heartbeat of his bass, while Dunbar, almost hidden behind his drum kit, never lost sight of the beat with his precise but inventive stickwork. As creative as they were together, they stuck to each other like glue, demonstrating a connection that was downright instinctive.
With a foundation that solid, any singer will shine. Of the vocalists who joined the group, an early highlight was Robinson, who was not only able to project his personality on the trombone but was also a dynamic vocalist, easily holding a note for what seemed like several minutes. “Ottawa, you feeling irie?” he demanded, obviously satisfied that everyone was doing fine. The silky voice and lovers’ style of British reggae artist Bitty McLean was also a hit with the audience.
Earlier in the evening, British musician Simon Green, aka Bonobo, eased a sun-drenched crowd into the night with a hypnotic mélange of instruments, electronics and vocals. Accompanied by a band that included players on saxophone, flute, drums, keyboards and guitar, the DJ presided over the festivities from a riser at the back of the stage where he was surrounded by gadgets and gear. His bass guitar was also at hand.
It was fascinating to witness the music evolve as Green and his bandmates wove the layers of sound, undulating from downtempo soundscape-style tracks to harder-edged dance numbers that had the crowd hop- ping. One highlight was a fluid new track with a solid backbone called Flashlights, played for the first time ever in Canada, Green remarked.
Also featured was the sensual singer Szjerdene, who wasn’t the star of the show, but has recorded with Bonobo.
Although her confidence seemed tentative at times, her supple voice added an otherworldly delicacy to the music and her presence brought a welcome softness to the stage.
Ottawa’s Silkken Laumann, the band formed by The Acorn’s Rolf Klausener, livened up the opening slot at the River Stage with a set of percolating electro pop, including a neat, reworked version of the Talking Heads’ Once in a Lifetime that inspired a flurry of dancing on the grass.