Band: Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, Erica Newell, Mallory Williams, Carol McLaughlin, Earl (Chinna) Smith, Ian Coleman, Wilburn Cole, Glen Brownie, Delroy Cooper, Uzziah Thompson, Howard Messam, Evoral Wray.
While Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers deserve to be known as reggae stars in their own right and not just Bob Marley's offspring, Ziggy and Stephen Marley generated numerous emotional and chill-inducing moments in their 90-minute-plus show by sounding remarkably like their father. Overall, though, they've done much to establish their own style, a sound that naturally reflects their paternal and maternal (Rita) roots, and incorporates current influences.
Ziggy clearly intends to make performances energetic parties with a carefree vibe that also raise the collective conscience through optimistic political and religious lyrics. Although most of the words filtered through the ganja-scented air were not entirely grasped, the overall positive vibrations were clearly felt.
As leader of the 10-member group, the bearded Ziggy, with dreadlocks falling the length of his back, sang the majority of the vocals with Sharon and Erica Marley backing, and Stephen supplementing with his speedy and rhythmic dub raps as well as passages sung in a deep, rough voice akin to his father; the result is a melding and melting of genres and styles most prominent in the cowboy-esque dub of "Everyone Wants To Be," the rapped reggae version of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" (which was also incorporated into their father's hit "One Love"), and the wild sing-song rap of "Day by Day," in which the Marley clan --- joined by younger brother Damian --- and band sang, danced and hopped about in wild abandon.
Past remembrances were eerily strong when Stephen handled the main vocals of "Jah Bless," "Postman" and his father's "Rainbow Country"; these sonic reflections may be why Ziggy fronted the remaining covers --- "Get Up, Stand Up," "Positive Vibration," "Stir It Up" and "Could You Be Loved" (although on the latter, singers Sharon Marley and Erica Newell stole the show with their unison dancing and vocals) --- as the intention seemingly wasn't to replicate the old, but to add their youthful impressions.
Reviewed Sept. 5, 1997.
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