Flute Man John's Review of Red Rocks

Red Rocks is the most beautiful natural amphitheater in the world, and is sacred ground to thousands in this world and beyond. I have been there often in the past, for Reggae on the Rocks, and other shows, and met many of reggae's brightest lights there (like Bunny Wailer in the summer of 2000, which is a rare thing because Bunny does not put on many shows, ever!). But to play there..., and with Bob Marley's legendary group the Wailers, is this BMW fan's fantasy come true. The underground backstage labyrinth of dressing and catering rooms was all set with professional hospitality, and when the Wailers showed up, we had a warm reunion, as I led them back to the their green room, where we watched the opening acts on closed circuit TV, while getting our instruments ready and tuned up for the show. In all, six original Wailers were in the troupe, and I had been on stage with all of them before (with one exception, Jr. Murvin). Bob Marley's bass player and musical director, and leader of the Wailers, is Aston "Familyman" Barrett, the father figure of the group. He was responsible for taking Bob's vocal lines and chord progressions, and making them into the eternal music we all know and love. I had called him a few weeks before the show to ask if I could join them for the my tenth big stage show with the Wailers, and he said on the phone "Yes, fluteman, bring your fife and we will see you in Colorado." The Wailers' generosity to me has been incredible, over the past few years. Also on board in the ranks of original Wailers was Jr. Murvin, lead guitar and lead vocals for the Wailers. Meeting Junior was incredible, because this would be the first time I ever saw or played with the Wailers, that an original Wailer would be doing the lead singing and frontman work. He said to me "Yeah, I heard all about you. I want you to give me all three of your CDs" (which were recent Wailers + fmj concerts, a live Bob Marley fest in Houston with Ras IdI, my Rasta Co-pilot and leader of our local reggae band, and one particular CD of BWM/Upsetters studio work from circa 1970 that I had overtracked with wooden and silver "flute dub", and which the Wailers always ask me for more copies of whenever I see them), and Junior said "I want you to autograph them and make them out "To Junior". Again, I was floored by the Wailers' immpecable generosity, kindness, and willingness to accept this amateur jammer and BMW fan into the stage act. Nobody said "Are you playing tonight?", they just saw me and welcomed me as one of their own, as they have several times before. Other original Wailers coming in the venue included Earl "Wya" Lindo, who single-handedly invented the genre of reggae bubblin' B3 Hammond organ, thirty-some years ago. Two original hornsmen were also on the tour, Glen Da Costa on sax, and my good friend Vin "Trommy" Gordon on trombone. Vin played the sweet bone solo with Bob's vocals, I'm sure you know it: "Well well well well well ya runnin away, did you come up and say your runnin?" That's Vin. These original mighty roots men were told by Bob before he was called home, keep the band going, and here they are more than twenty years later, still on a non-stop world tour. All honor and respect to these mighty legends. Other original Wailers I have been lucky enough to appear with in the past include Al Anderson, Bob's other lead guitar player, and my good friend, and the only American (non-Jamaican) original Wailer. Al was on every Wailer's Island recording since the early 70's, but had other myusical irons in the fire and could not be on this leg of the tour. Another Wailer I have had the honor to perform with in the past is Marcia Griffith, an original I-Three vocalist. Keith Sterling was there at Red Rocks on keyboards. Keith Played and toured with Bob extensively in the seventies and eighties. I had the honor to hand him a CD of him playing at Red Rocks with Bunny in 2000. He was really excited about it, and came back later and asked me if I could send him some more copies. All these giants were there that day, and being with them before, during, and after the big stage show is like walking through a redwood forest, with giants all around. "Oh, what a feelin", to be with these originals and originators. With "Drummy Zeb" Williams on Kit, Ras Mel Glover on lead and riddim guitar, and two little birds (two beautiful young Jamaican backup singers), we rounded out the eleven-piece band, and we took the stage by storm, in broad daylight, with 9000 ecstatic reggae fans filling Red Rocks to the top tier of seats. We leaned right in on two Familyman instrumental originals "Cobra Style" and "Well Pleased", and it felt great to lock on with the horn section agian (sax, bone, and flute) and be back in the saddle. When the first horn harmonies went out, I heard and felt the physical reaction from the crowd, and it was a very positive vibration. Junior took the lead mike, and we wailed through many of the favorites of Bob's catalogue, like "Zion Train" "Lively Up Yourself" "Punky Reggae Pary" ("Wailers will be there...!") and "Exodus", a hard rockin roots song that Bob often ended concerts with, and several other well-known Bob Marley songs, with the crowd yelling for more. To be in my favorite place, with my favorite people, making my favorite music, was a major thrill. Number Ten at Red Rocks! Life just does not get any sweeter. One of my favorite moments was the last tune, with Junior Murvin kicking off a sweet soul guitar/vocal solo version of "Redemption Song", and I soflty backed him up on flute. Then, just as in the days of the Tuff Gong, the band came in behind him full power to finish the song. The crowd was indeed "Well Pleased", and the cool pine-sweet air of the mountains, the righteous one-vibe of the rainbow crowd, the rising cloud of cali in the air, and the eternal music of Bob Marley, all swirled together in my head, and it was over way too soon. To these legends, I suppose it was just another show out of hundreds, but to me it was a soul moving experience, and I am forever grateful to the roots men, who carry still the burnin fiya of the revolution to the people. Long live the spirit and the mesage and the music of Bob Marley. Give thanks and praises to the most high, Earth's rightful ruler, Ja Rastafar-I, Selassie-I. Peace, and One Love, flutemanjohn