Reggae B, the band that started as a joke, shows the feeling of real reggae!

I was inviting all my friends to yet another reggae show in São Paulo, but from what I'd heard I was sure this one would be different. That night I was well rested, having skipped college, and I'd arranged to meet some friends from the reggae mailing list and others around 11 p.m. I arrived closer to 11:30 — some were already inside, others hadn't shown up yet — and I ran into the Afetos crew, another top-notch São Paulo band. We chatted in the slow-moving line until the Jah Live guys from Brasília showed up; we talked a bit more until it was time to go in.

It didn't take long for the show to start, and it kicked off in style with an impressive dub. There were Jorge Ben, Raí and the whole crowd dancing nonstop; I'll admit a tear rolled down my cheek at how good the sound was. The musicians from the bands in attendance were grinning for no reason — after all, you don't see a great reggae show every day. In São Paulo there have been plenty of gigs lately, but the quality has been pretty low.

It's easy to see that every member of Reggae B plays with joy because they love it — in each face and, of course, in an outstanding performance. The set mixed international and Brazilian reggae classics: Medley (BLACK UHURU, O BECO DOS PARALAMAS ETC...), Force Of Victory (LINTON KWESI JOHNSON), African (PETER TOSH), Black Woman (SIZZLA), Guess Who's Comming To Dinner (BLACK UHURU), Pressure Drop (TOOTS & MAYTALS), Revolution (DENNIS BROWN), Kaya and Get Up Stand Up and Kaya (BOB MARLEY), Ska (DIGÃO ARRANJADA POR REGGAE B), Be Reggae instrumental by Reggae B itself, among others — a repertoire unlike most bands that always play Bob Marley, and the covers were full of dub touches and beats that sent everyone into a frenzy.

If you haven't seen them yet, São Paulo folks get another chance this coming Wednesday — watch the Surforeggae show calendar. Reggae B — you could also call it "Bi Ribeiro All Stars" in the best Caribbean style — is a superb band that, besides its illustrious captain, Paralamas bassist Bi Ribeiro, features Black Alien (ex-Planet Hemp) and Valnei Ainê (Negril) on vocals, Claudinho (Afro Reggae) on guitar, Ronaldo Silva (son of Robertinho Silva) on drums, Jean-Pierre (Africália, creator of the legendary Obina Shok) and João Fera (Paralamas) on keyboards, Bidu and Marlon (Paralamas and Banda Vitória Régia) on horns.