Reflections

I am so happy that I ended up in Broward County in Florida, when I retired after almost 50 years of hard labor in my homeland, Jamaica.

Actually, Florida was never in my sights, but thanks to the horrid weather in Colorado, I flew south quickly🥶and made a perfect landing.

    

When I first got here, I only knew of one cousin, his wife and had one close friend living here. But would you believe that in no time I reunited with/found more family, friends and acquaintances living here than I knew at home😊!

Absolutely wonderful.

 I quickly learned that of the almost two million people who legally call this county home, (2021 figures) 16% are from the English Speaking Caribbean and more than 100,000 of those are Jamaicans! So everything my stomach pines for is here😊. 

                                                                                  The Jamaican experience here is certainly made more enjoyable too, by the involvement and excellent proactive performance of our culturally involved Consul General Oliver 

Mair.  His lecture series are well planned and executed too.                                                                                                    

This month's topic was; The art of Storytelling and it was held at the Island Space Caribbean Museum, which I was not even aware of before. (Joan, my views: A fun afternoon (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

Front view of Island Space Caribbean Museum

To tell the truth, when my fellow Jamaican friend Carol told me about the event, I decided to attend but was not all that enthused.

However, when I left, l certainly was! 

This was the first time that I was even aware that Jamaica has an annual story telling competition.

A few Videos from some previous performances were shown  and they were certainly entertaining, heartwarming and hilarious. (Well known comedian Blakka Ellis had entered one and as usual he was super humorous.😂) 

 

Debra Ehrardt in action

The presenter was Debra Ehrardt, whom I soon learned is an accomplished Jamaican playwright, actress and story teller. She conducts the competition at home.                                                                 She demonstrated her storytelling prowess/expertise and had us falling us off our chairs.                                                                                         Visiting the Caribbean Museum was also another eye opener for me.                                                                                                                 It is located at Broward Mall and according to it's web page, it's vision is; To elevate  the  profile  of  Caribbean  art, history  and  culture  in every  form  throughout  South Florida  and  the  broader diaspora."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     It   has  quite  a  few  interesting  and  educational   exhibits  .  We    were    informed     that  Cedella     Marley     has     promised    to    donate     one     of     Bob Marley's     guitars    to    their  growing     collection.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      They     hope    to    have     that    on    display    soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I  t      was     an other     enjoyable ,  educational     and     interesting      event     indeed.

It    was  an other  enjoyabe ,  educational   and   interesting    event   inde 

Some  pictures  from  the  museum

Calibe Thompson, a co-founder of the museum

Consul General Oliver Mair introduces actor/playwright Ricky Rowe

Created from plastic bags!

 

A.J delivered! 💓

The reason why I attended the advertised Christmas concert at the Redeeming Word Christian Center, was because the great A. J Brown was advertised as a performer!

And boy did he ever deliver!

                                        

The audience was so overwhelmed, that he had to do an immediate encore.

For the benefit of those who don't know of him, A.J. Brown is Jamaicans greatest tenor.

He started his career from the ninteen eighties as a cabaret singer at a few hotels on Jamaica's north coast. I don't know if he is properly appreciated in Jamaica, but he is so well known in classical music circles, that he spent five years performing on the famous Las Vegas strip.

About ten years ago, he released a classic C.D. with about eight great songs which had been made made famous by the three tenors, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo. He sang in Italian, and If you closed your eyes, you would not have been able to distinguish him from any of them!

He is cooling down a bit now, as he is singing with Third World, a popular reggae/ pop band. 

While on stage with them recently however, he shocked the crowd by doing "Time to Say Goodbye"  from that album and in Italian too! 

He sang it last night and immediately elicited an encore. He obliged and I got goose bumps throughout! 

This was not a well organized affair though as it was advertised as a Christmas Concert when apparently the main purpose was to raise funds to buy sneakers for children in Jamaica who are still walking/ running barefooted in Jamaica in 2023.

 In true Jamaican bad planning style too, it started 45 minutes late😡.

It was a worthwhile fund raiser though but the main goal was in such small print at the bottom that I suspect, only the members of the church where it wasn't held knew what it was about.

Incidentally, the organizer who was introduced as Mr. Grange, said he is the brother of Jamaica's current Minister of Culture, the accomplished Olivia Gange, fondly called, Babsy.

At this concert, they also launched a go fund me  and took up contributions for a young man who was shot, while walking on the street.

These are really worthwhile projects, but not properly advertised. 

You can still donate to both by contacting  the organizers featured on the flyer above, though.

But back to the concert itself.

Consul General Mair with backup singers!

 It was held under the aegis of the Consul General of Jamaica. 

The incumbent, Oliver Mair is an outstanding thespian in his own right. 

He on several occasions last night, when we were getting a bit bored, took the stage and woke up the audience with his excellent comedy and general performance.

Consul General Oliver Mair, joins a performer on stage

Another star performer who was advertised was the once-great Pluto Shervington. I had no idea he was not well and had virtually lost his voice.   

Pluto had to sit on a stool

They played his hits in the background while he courageously attempted to recapture his luster.

My heart goes to him as he was once among the most prominent entertainers that Jamaica produced.

Listen to his monster hit, " Ram Goat Liver" here on You tube:

https://youtu.be/92etuOM3QrI?si=A1xg95W4xcadSmTn.

Incidentally, Ernie Smith, another great performer was there, but he was not asked to perform, so I suspect he may not be well either.

                                      

       The Cross family had good vibes.

Such a pity, as most as what is being produced as music in Jamaica these days, is not up to any standard!

With my friends Carol and Judy

Snippets from other performances.

An amusing skit was performed by Maxine Osborne and  her nephew Elijah.

Empress  Unique was excellent