FRANKIE PAUL
Live At Maritime Hall (2B1 Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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While my friends in the Bay Area frequently grumble about the physical merits of Maritime Hall as a venue, they keep going back because of the undeniable merits of the bookings. This is especially true for reggae music, and the evidence is in the consistently strong series of releases from 2B1 Records that feature top reggae acts Maritime Hall.

This one, featuring dancehall star Frankie Paul, is no exception. Frankie Paul is sometimes regarded as a Jamaican Stevie Wonder, both because of his blindness and his consistent creativity over time. On this disc, he displays that creativity through a series of songs and medleys that weave contemporary pop sounds, recent rap rhythms and classic reggae into a unique pastiche. No matter where he turns for his material, though, he imbues it all with a deep soulfulness that says Trenchtown loud and clear.

There must have been a hell of a party at Maritime Hall that night, and this is a great CD to have on hand the next time you want to have a hell of a party at your place.

Track List:

Fire De A Musk Tell/Gunman/Friends/1000 Ways * Aleshia * Broken Hearted/Only You/Funny How Time Flies/When You're Making Love * Major Companies Them Singing * Old Dog * Gangster's Paradise * She Walk And Model/The Pick/Miracle A What/Da Girls Dem Want/Market Basket * Mood Is Mood/I Know The Score/End Of The Road/Gonna Make Her My Girl * Casanova/Head To Toe/Work Up/Only Just Begun

© 2000 - Shaun Dale