They came: The roots reggae band The Gladiators gave a unique performance on Expresso Brasil. Check it out!

Many doubted; it seemed too good to be true, but they came! After so many scares involving Albert Griffiths' health and Clinton Fearon's departure from the band, the Jamaican group seemed increasingly distant from its first show in São Paulo... let's say those impressions were literally crushed on the last night of May 7. Sharing the stage with some bands from the national circuit such as Leões de Israel, Motivo de Chacota, Salvação, Expressão Regueira and Filosofia Reggae, obviously the Expresso Brasil venue—with 2,000 m2 of dance floor alone—would be taken over by the audience, and it was. There was much talk of delays (based on facts such as Alpha Blondy's show in São Paulo), and those who thought the Gladiators would take the stage around 2 a.m. may have missed much of the performance, and if that was the case, they missed a lot. At 1:30 a.m., Albert Griffiths and the Gladiators take the stage. That inevitable "shaking" in the legs. It was very surreal. Songs like "Write to Me" from the album Naturality (1979), "War is Over" and "Trial and Crosses" from the newer albums—in this case 2002 with Once Upon a Time in Jamaica—made it all sink in. Albert was very much at ease and smiled all the time, perhaps because he did not expect such strong reception from so many people (photo). Choruses on songs like "Look is Deceiving" moved the "gladiator" to emotion. The band was complete, and the instrumentals impeccable. Bassist Earl "Bagga Walker" drew a lot of attention (photo), perhaps one of the heaviest in all of Surforeggae's coverage, and we have names like Culture, Alpha Blondy, Midnite and Sly & Robbie on our résumé. At a high point of the show, Albert Griffiths calls his son Al. That was simply a trip through time. Not only physically—the young man has a voice identical to his father's, giving everyone chills with the beautiful "BellyFul" from the album Trenchtown Mix Up of 1976, and the killer "Mix Up". While the son sang, Albert joined Gallimore Sutherland at the same microphone. Taking responsibility again, "Dreadlock the Time is Now" is delivered with mastery. Al brought old songs with great authority, reaching high notes that his father perhaps cannot reach today, with extreme ease. From the album Proverbial Reggae of 1978 came the killers "Stick a Bush", sung from start to finish by the crowd, and "Jah Works". As usual, the band introduction is done on "Stick a Bush". Highlights for the Guitar and Trumpet solos (photo). "Riddle Me Dis" from Strong to Survive and even "Get up, Stand up", sung impromptu by one of the producers beside Albert Griffiths (photo), delighted the audience and even made them "let go" of the absence of the great "Soul Rebel" from the album Trenchtown Mix Up, but originally by Bob Marley. The stunned audience barely had time to call for an encore, and the band had already left the stage. Backstage, the press and fans swarmed, but we managed to capture some authors of all that "killer" material (photo), and a beautiful smile from the great Albert Griffiths (photo). Magical from start to finish—perhaps that is the most humble way to define such a show. They leave the Expresso Brasil venue and the curtains close on the first and unbeatable night of Roots Reggae in 2004 (photo).

EVENT IMAGES

Click here and see the photos from this event.

MORE INFORMATION

Click here and learn more about the Gladiators.

MULTIMEDIA

Click here and watch The Gladiators live with "Looks is Deceiving".