A seamless performance by Marcia Griffiths got the Saturday Night Live series off to a strong start at Sky Ultra Lounge in St Andrew on November 29.

The singer performed many of her classic songs, and had folksy interaction with the modest turnout throughout her hour-long set.

Resplendent in a full white outfit, Griffiths beckoned the audience close to the stage as they danced to her opening renditions of The Wailers’ Put It On, Duppy Conqueror, and
Mellow Mood. Then it was on to the ‘national anthem’, Dreamland, one of the songs she recorded for producer Sonia Pottinger.

I Shall Sing, Fire Burning, Land of Love, and a cover of Christine McVie’s Everywhere, which introduced Griffiths to dancehall fans during the 1990s, followed.

But it was a soulful rendition of Nancy Wilson’s (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am that brought the house down as Griffiths showed her versatility.

The last 15 minutes of the set were dedicated to Bob Marley — “the brother who took reggae to the four corners of the world”. Griffiths was in fine form for Buffalo Soldier, Iron Lion Zion, and a Nyahbinghi version of Redemption Song, then capped her set with the Bunny Wailer-written Electric Boogie, commercially her biggest hit.

At the end of her performance, Griffiths was presented with a cake to mark the singer’s 76th birthday, which she celebrated on November 23.

Prior to Griffiths, there were performances from Space Kat and Lloyd Parks and We The People Band, who also backed the artistes.

Roderick Graham, promoter of Saturday Night Live, was pleased with its début.

“We went all out with the set-up in order to create a beautiful ambiance. All who came out were pleased with the set-up, and they’ve expressed great satisfaction, which was our intention in the first place,” he said. “The reception was quite satisfying.”

The second show in the series is scheduled for the same venue on December 27.