TRIBUTES to dub master Augustus Pablo flowed from young and veteran artistes Saturday at Redbones Blues Café, as the Kingston On The Edge (KOTE) series continued.

The performances in memory of the producer/ instrumentalist, who would have celebrated his 61st birthday the following day, befitted his contribution to Jamaican music.

Held under the theme ‘Original Rockers’, the event was promoted by Addis Pablo, son of Augustus, who put the lid on the show, playing some of his father’s classics on the melodica. These included Cassava Piece, Java and East of the River Nile.

“I have been doing this [tribute concert] for some time now in memory of my father who died in 1999, at the time I was approaching my 10th birthday,” Pablo told the Jamaica Observer.

Kicking off the tributes was singer Exile The Brave who delivered a gallant set with songs like The Young Generation, Hungry and If This is Love.

The Highpoint Band did Boom Shell, Ghetto Rock and Cool Down before the Inna Di Yard Nyahbinghi Drummers and Chanters moved the audience with Selassie is the Chapel and Rivers of Babylon, rounding off with Naturalist’s enthralling rendition of Walk Away Love.

Like the previous evening at KOTE’s launch at the same venue, second-generation artistes made their mark. Kieda gave an enticing performance of Stand For Something, Ganja Tea and Ebbs and Flow.

Anna Romeo, daughter of roots great Max Romeo, stamped her class with the originals, Praises to His Majesty, Rate Rasta and Wake Up.

Kelessia (whose parents are founders of the Chakula band) gave a pleasing performance of Time is Now and Keep My Head Up, while Masia One was well received for her take on Ex-Boyfriend.

Prince Allah, the pride of Greenwich Farm, was the penultimate performer. In his first local appearance for some time, he ‘shelled the place’ on Bucket and Bun Down Rome.

Magma and Donovan Joseph had set the pace for the seasoned acts with Love Life and One Road, respectively. Mikey General lived up to expectations with his signature song, African Story and Free.

Things got even better, thanks to Mark Wonder, who wowed with Zion Glory, Ancient of Days and Just as Before.

Kiddus I kept the venue rocking on Security in The Street and Let it Be. He was followed by Spliffy Don and Jah Bami, who were also in fine form.

— Basil Walters