Couleur Café 2013: The best Jimmy Cliff performance ever?

The reason for Max Romeo's absence was due to a missed flight. 

Friday around the clock of five Couleur Café kicks off under a grey & clouded sky. Later that night it would rain cats and dogs. A typical night for Brussels, let's say.

But that couldn't spoil the fun and due to this bad weather,people gathered by the hundreds in the "Univers-Tent" during the performance of Jimmy Cliff. Dance have fi cork : it's been a long time since I found myself squeezed in the crowd like this but I stood my ground because Jimmy Cliff assured with tunes from his latest album 'Rebirth'. The veteran who reached the respectable age of sixty seems reborn with his new band (Engine Room) a fresh vibe and fresh energy. It was the first time, after all his previous passages, that his classics from the sixties and early seventies sounded like they should sound. The backing band created a real authentic vintage sound, clear and energetic but contemporary. Jimmy Cliff doesn't try to sing that high anymore, which gives his voice much more natural brightness His more recent classics sounds much better than the last time I heard him perform. 'Rub a dub partner' in a pure rub-a-dub style with the man himself at the controls. 'Teach the youths right' is a timeless tune, especially in this version, likewise for 'Wild world' which seemed a perfect sing-a-long song for this festival. 'Hakuna Matata' brought out the child in me, another tune that doesn't grow old. Just like me. To make it complete, Wycleff Jean (former Fugees) made a guest appearance to show his gratitude and respect to Jimmy Cliff. In my memory this must have been the best Jimmy Cliff performance I ever witnessed.

Wyclef Jean, who previously played some tribute at the main stage ( No Woman No Cry) and had joined forces with Selah Sue for a brief freestyle, didn't really convince me musically. He tried his best, to be taken seriously as a real lead singer, in which he didn't succeed really. Funny fact was that he only managed to received a big forward when his selector played 'Ready Or Not' founded on the worldwide success of The Fugees and later on for 'Hips Don't Lie', his duet with Shakira.

Tarrus time

Earlier that night the four headed formation of The Congos kicked off at the 'Titan Stage', which was too big for this old, grey rudimentary band. I have to admit their community singing leads each and every one of their performances to a higher level but since I witnessed them alongside Adrian Sherwood at the controls my expectations were higher than ever. It would be a challenge to reach that same level. The strength of songs like 'The Heart Of The Congos' and 'Swinging Bride' is undeniable but sometimes I wonder why they don't add some spice, some suspense to it. Althrought 'Rainy Night In Portland' (with the inveterate voice of Watty Burnett) would seem to be a great tune for this concert.

Next day Tarrus Riley had the honor of opening this same stage, at the same time. Backed by the notorious Black Soil Band (with horns by Dean Fraser) gradually he succeeded in bringing back those typical Couleur Cafe vibes. Personally I don't think he's innovating or surprising but he seemed the perfect performance for that sunny saturday afternoon at Tour & Taxis. His setlist is building up gradually, starting with the Nyabinghi tune 'Shaka Zulu Pickney', afterwards Tarrus Riley plays almost every big tune he has ever made. Hits like 'Human Nature', 'Protect The People' and off course 'She's Royal'. Tarrus & Dean Frazer are among the greatest entertainers when it comes to interact with the crowd, they adapt very easily to the atmosphere of the festival and deliver a great show. Instead of raising their 'Lion Paw' they smoothly place their hand on their heart but the energy and mutual love remains the same: honest and upright.  During their performance the crowd gathers by the hundreds. Closing down their set with 'Good Girl Gone Bad' and 'Herbs Promotion' they receive a huge applause from the crowd. Long gone are the days when a shy Tarrus, mounted on stage with his funny glasses. He was simply great in all aspects on Couleur Café.

Surprising enough Fat Freddy's Drop made their appearance on that same main stage. Everybody should know I have a lot of affection for these men from New-Zealand, if it was up to me, they deserved to be the top of the bill. Rather surprising for the younger crowd, who was waiting for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, when these seven extravagant musicians played their cross over between reggae, funk, disco & lounge dub. I remember hearing 'Roady' and 'Cay's Cray', afterwards they would play some new promising material from their latest album 'Blackbird' which they released recently. Their stage performance has become much more extravagant and exuberant, where the lead singer Joe Dukie (Dallas Tamaira) used to stay in the background, he now takes the lead and interacts with the crowd like no other on stage. Even the toaster gets much more space on stage then before, while trombonist Joe Lindsay creates joy in showing off his latest disgusting fashion habits to agitate the crowd.

Fat Freddy's Drop as the latest party band...who could have predicted this?

After the fireworks Matisyahu was programmed on the main stage, once a joyful reggae singer in Hasidic clothing has now become a bragging rockstar who produces a sort of industrial pop funk. Honestly, I wonder who has had the misplaced idea to put this artist on the main stage?

Good thing was, that around midnight, people gathered in the " Dance Club" stage. Belgian sound systems like Pirates Crew, Raggaravane & many others guaranteed a lovely party vibe while playing the hottest and biggest tunes. Even the less educated party people found it easy to recognized hits from Damian Marley, Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Shaggy which resulted in quite some dancing. People are clearly disappointed when the last tunes are announced. The dance closes while Bob Marley's 'Jammin' is played. The mood is rather conversational when the people leave the place. Tired but bawling for more of this.

The royal family of reggae.

A sunny sunday made up for some bad weather that weekend. After a visit to the 'Palais Du Bien Manger' (with much more biological and organic ingredients than last year) we kick off this festival day with Balkan Beat Box, which has become a standard. The venue was well packed and the mix of Balkan, HipHop and many other styles did create a good vibe. Balkan Beat Box stands for professional musicians, experienced entertainers which guaranteed the party. They managed to maintain that level until the end of their set.

Later on that evening it was time for Raggasonic, the french collective had some huge success in the nineties. The crew shows some signs of aging, by the look of their grey hair, but none the less they guaranteed a great performance. Energetic flow like back in the days: rapping, rhyming over some classic riddims, as well as some of their newer releases. The least you can say is that after all these years they are still on top of their game. Big Red & Daddy Mory know each other thru and thru. A great entertaining addition to this sunday.

Headliner this sunday was off course Morgan Heritage, a family that has been touring the world for about twenty years. Touching the people's heart with some authentic culture and lover tunes. After a brief break, to promote their solo careers, the Morgans are reunited and back like never before. They released their new album,providing them with a good reason to kick off a brand new European tour. 

Starting off with hits like 'The return' and off course 'Don't Haffi Dread'. Their collective singing sounds as good, maybe even better, than before. Maybe too experienced, self confident when they start playing little games with the public. Just like all the other artists they got only one hour of playtime and wasted too much of that precious time talking and fooling around. Personally I was a bit disappointed they didn't play all the way. Could it be that they're suffering from the huge success in the States? In any way I would have preferred hearing their countless hits instead of their talking and fooling around. Especially for a group with such a big list of great tunes..

Féfé, the French rapper and former member of Saîan Supa Crew, who released his second solo-album made me change my state of mind a bit. In 2010 the man performed already on Couleur Café and surprised us with his positive, infectious rap and soul. Likewise this year, but due to circumstances his act was programmed earlier and not everybody was aware of this change of program. But he did managed to attract a large crowd and when he was announced it became clear the artist had been standing among the people for quite some time. Wearing a hood, he made his entry thru the crowd, while mounting on stage he received some huge forwards. The following hour he teared the place down, making the crowd move from left to right, jumping on stage like no other. The people clearly loved it and it all sounded very tight and versatile. Proofing to the people that he is a very good singer as well as a very good rapper. What a voice,what a talent! I could only recommend it to everybody.

Meanwhile Die Antwoord mounted on stage, this collective from South Africa was founded in 2008 and became quickly a hype all over the world. They conquered the stage with their eccentric music and attitude. Some kind of cult scene was created around them. My first thoughts and impressions were like "weird and strange" but clearly that is the key to their success. Female singer Yolandi intrigues with her white hair and pale skin but most of all because of her unusual high toned voice, which was live often deformed into a sound effect. Next to the DJ booth (no live musicians) they positioned some dancers with KKK-hoods, creepy visuals filled the huge screens behind the stage along with a gigantic inflatable doll with an immense fallus… Clearly attributes to shock the people, or like they state it, to make the people aware of something. The Couleur Café massive clearly liked it and got carried away on their energetic vibe. Tunes like 'baby's On Fire' and 'Fatty Boom Boom' also 'Fink you're Freaky' surely were appreciated by the crowd and received huge response and forwards. I'm thinking about improving my African language because I clearly didn't understand what they were saying.

Couleur Café wasn't a topedition his year but still stood for strong performances, the wonderful dancing giants Grandes Personnes from Burkina-Fasso, great food from all over the world and quality urban vibes.

Looking forward to the next edition.