OPPORTUNITIES to witness many of the pre-eminent reggae artistes live are all too rare, so Toots’ appearance at Studio 38 on Sunday night, was one that promised much. It was a promise which the revered ska/reggae vocalist went some way towards keeping. But truth be told, he didn’t take patrons to a place where they could “feel like jumping”. And that in itself was rare.

For in his over 40-year career, he has given countless performances at home and abroad that are far more electrifying. That is because he has the ability to draw his fans together and work the stage in a way that always leaves them feeling “sweet and dandy”.

On this occasion, Toots and his supporting cast of singers and musicians, delivered a long musically strong set. However, it was not in keeping with the nature of his craftsmanship and the usual high-energy performance to which we have grown accustomed.

The absence of elements of his established techniques of flamboyant dance routines and compelling dynamism with equal verve, manifested itself most overtly. Notwithstanding, performing for more than an hour, his fans — a most polite audience — showed their respect for Daddy, Never Grow Old, 5446. And although this time around (perhaps the first ever), they never experienced the real pulse of Sweet and Dandy, Feel Like Jumping, Bam Bam, Pain in My Belly, Big Monkey Man, Peeping Tom, Country Road among other favourites performed by Toots, the patrons exemplary tolerance level, could well be understood.

Internationally renowned balladeer, AJ Brown, raised the curtain with his crooning of Rick Asley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, his compositions Word of Wisdom, Montego Bay, Love Story with a mixture of classical and Nyahbinghi style drumming followed by some of his newer releases Lonely For You, When You Love, then Father Friend as well as Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up and concluding quite appropriately with Time To Say Goodbye.