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The Making of 4th World
The seed that has germinated and blossomed into 4th World was planted when, recognizing that Cold Sweat has one of the most compelling and unique voices in World Reggae, Dr. Reynolds, managing director of Jako Productions, offered to help take the artist international, and as a means of gaining immediate income encouraged Cold Sweat to take up solo gigs in bars and restaurants.
Cold Sweat’s solo act worked for awhile, but there was a problem. The artist wasn’t thrilled with performing alone. As he explained, he has always seen himself as part of a tribe. So Cold Sweat went in search of his tribe.
First he sought Itoobaa and the solo act became a duet. Interestingly, when Itoobaa was recording his history making Freedom album nearly a decade ago, it was then eighteen year old Cold Sweat he used for backing vocals.
Next Cold Sweat brought in Darrel "Eartlin" Augier as vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Eartlin now sings about one-third of the bands repertoire in an impassioned, high pitched, wailing voice. His guitar strum, which starts with a high arm action and comes down on the strings with précised authority, makes it difficult to take your eyes off him.
After the addition of Eartlin the band was in search of a drummer as replacement for the drum machine they were using. And in walked Benson Evans, son of Bruce Williams, affectionately known as Daddy Bruce, Vieux Fort's politician and great humanitarian, after whom Bruceville, a section of Vieux Fort, is named. A retired Wall Street software engineer, Benson was down in St. Lucia for a few weeks on business. So upon Benson's arrival, he was pleasantly surprised that 4th World was there as if waiting for his coming. Benson has since switched his attention to establishing a software company but not before he had handed over the baton to a young, exciting drummer by the name of Al Prescott.
With a drummer in hand and the goal of recording and taking Cold Sweat international, Dr. Reynolds went in search of Adam Gillmor to better position the band and Cold Sweat to go international. It was natural for Dr. Reynolds to seek out Adam Gillmor because it was with Adam as sound engineer that Jako Productions made history with the release of Freedom by Itoobaa. Adam helped refined the band's act by working with them on their harmonies, their positioning on stage and on choosing the right keys for certain songs.
Next to sweeten things up a bit and to refine the band's sound even further, Marlon “Bad Kali” Florent of Augier, Vieux Fort, was brought in. Although Marlon performed with 4th World before he had a chance to practice with the band, he was an instant hit. The way he made the guitar cry forced some to immediately compare him to Vieux Fort's Monty Maxwell, long recognized as one of the best guitarists St. Lucia has produced.
At this point Cold Sweat's tribe was complete and 4th World was a hit, because wherever 4th World performed audiences couldn’t get enough of the band. In the north of the island, besides begging for the band to keep on playing, some in the audience literally grab on to band members to prevent them from getting off stage, others accuse the band of being selfish for not playing well into the early morning hours. Sometimes to forestall mob action, proprietors are compelled to contract an additional set.
At both the 2010 National Telethon Concert and the Fond Gens Libre leg of Soufriere Creole Jazz 2010, 4th World held the audiences at awe, forcing some to describe the performances as out of this world experiences. And at the 2010 Montreal International Reggae Festival, 4th World held the crowd in such a trance that many stayed standing in the rain, soaking in the music.
So although the band came out of Cold Sweat's need for a tribe, and was incidental to Dr. Reynolds' desire to take Cold Sweat international, the band has become the path Dr. Reynolds was seeking to take the artist international. |
