(l - r ) Thriller U, Deejay Chickenhawk, Joseph Current, DYCR

Saturday night's Joseph Current Show at the Jonkanoo Lounge, Wyndham Hotel, New Kingston, was a good intertwining of the spoken with the sung word.

There were moments when the exchange between the two formats was literally toe to toe as poet Joseph Current's introduction on stage was via his chanting a Psalm to the 'Rastaman Chant', done by singer Pesso. And Current, who did the most stage time as a poet and also introduced his guests, also competed lyrically with singer Jason Brown for a woman's attention. Plus there was his combination with Dasia, as songs reflecting her changing mood were fused with his pleas to her not to leave him.

There was a marked change in her attitude when he informed her that he now has US$10 million as "the lawsuit come through".

But there was also the poetry and singing from the same person, Simply Magic wiggling happily as she delivered all her peaches, which included the last as she sang "truth is we are magic".

ideas of spirituality

Then there was the music on its own. Humanwaah, with a good voice and well thought out lyrics, put out ideas of spirituality with "it's a rough road of souls we trod to reach that higher ground/where there is no good, no bad, no wrathful jealous God".

Before facilitating Current's entry to the stage, Pesso had a strong individual set along with the Current Band. He went with a Freddie McGregor pair, including 'Winner', and encouraged a woman from the substantial audience to come on stage.

Guest Thriller U included Me and Mrs Jones in his short stint and did Just as I Am, the audience members filling in for the missing LUST members on the Air Supply cover.

Chickenhawk was a merry deejay inclusion.

bleaching

Steppa and surprise guest DYCR were explosive, having the audience demanding more and for particularly strong lines to be done again. Steppa dealt with bleaching ("dem use toothpaste paste pon face, what a disgrace!") and declared himself a representative of those neglected youths whose activities range "from wiping car glass to manufacturing car parts". DYCR set the Jonkanoo Lounge ablaze, with his power and flow. He introduced himself poetically and did the popular 'Delroy' and 'Misunderstanding', stomping on the stage as he gashed a fire on the "sucker".

Joseph Current closed off a good night with "think before you pull the trigger" - a real-life experience with a gunman.

DYCR was the explosive surprise guest.

Thriller U sings at the Joseph Current Show.

Deejay Chickenhawk flew down in humorous fashion.

Joseph Current sits to deliver a piece about his real-life experience with 'Mr Gunner Man'. - Mel Cooke photos