O2 ABC Glasgow, 21 April 2014
This was the best reggae gig I’ve been to in a while, and not just because Horace Andy is in great form and possesses of one of the most unique, instantly recognisable voices still around, sounding as if he was born in an echo chamber, but also because of the presence of Matic Horns, perfectly complementing his trembling soprano, floating in and out of the Dub Asante band’s rhythmic foundations. What is it about the bubbling, bassy sound of the trombone that is so integral to Jamaican music? From Don Drummond, Rico Rodriguez to Vin Gordon, the humble trombone has been at the forefront of the irresistible horns hooks that built so many classic songs. Henry ‘Matic’ Tenyue belongs in this company and it was only half way through that it dawned on me this must be the man formerly known as ‘Buttons’, who along with Eddie ‘Tan-Tan’ Thornton and Michael ‘Bami’ Rose comprised the fantastic Aswad horns section that helped make them an unmissable live act in the eighties (see http://www.youtube.com/
This man has every tune Horace made famous ready in his repertoire, from ‘Zion Gate’ to ‘You are My Angel’ and their combination made it sound like the original recordings, and infinitely better than the synthesised version we have become accustomed to on the live circuit. Horace modestly took centre stage, enhanced by this real authentic backing sound, bedecked in red, gold and green and brought the ABC crowd rushing forward to skank the night away. The hits flowed, from Studio One favourites like Skylarking, followed by roots anthems, love songs, covers like ‘Ain’t no Sunshine’ that he makes his own, and a re-working of the Massive Attack collaboration, ‘Hymn of the Big Wheel’, all have a slow-burning power that build up to a euphoria that sweeps you up and washes you away. But don’t just take my word for it; I bumped into an old guy I know, our man from Kingston, John Brown of Trenchtown: https://www.facebook.com/
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