CFW: meshing music and style
There is that inextricable link between music and fashion. The simplest way to explain it is that fashionistas love music, and artistes seem to have that passion for fashion.
This was so evident this past weekend during the 10th anniversary staging of Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) in Kingston. Organised by Pulse, one of the country’s leading model agencies, the event continues to showcase the creative talents of the region’s designers in a first-world setting.
For the past few years Pulse has been interspersing musical performances in between the collections to up the entertainment ante. In the past this has seen international acts such as rapper Eve, and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Roland talking the CFW stage. They have been joined by local artistes Tami Chynn, Tessanne Chin and Cherine Anderson and D’Angel who have graced the runways with performances.
This year Pulse drew on the R&B crooner, Johnny Gill as their main act for this year’s event. Gill’s much-anticipated performance came at just after 11:00 on Saturday night. Though short, his crisp, clean vocals, set against backing tracks, was just want the women in the audience wanted. His entry was greeted with loud applause and although his first two tracks were not well-known, the opening bars to his 1990 hit, My,My,My, sent the National Indoor Sports Centre into uproar, and Gill milked it for all it was worth.
If Saturday belonged to Johnny Gill, then Gramps Morgan can truly claim Sunday — the final night of CFW. Drawing on the popular tracks — Come Back to Bed, and Wash the Tears — from his critically-acclaimed debut solo album, 2 Sides of My Heart, his rich, soulful voice filled the centre, and had the audience joining in chorus. Gramps was joined by his sister, Una, herself a performer on Sunday, for Morgan Heritage standards, Down by the River and She’s Still Loving Me.
Speaking of Una, she was making her debut as a solo act. However, her performance was marred by an audio track that was too loud therefore and prevented many from making a true assessment of her music. Una however seemed to enjoy flying solo as she worked the runway with enthusiasm.
Other acts on the CFW stage this year were the quartet T.O.K, who were clearly brought in to appeal to the younger demographic in the audience. But, once they dedicated two tracks, Footprints and See you Again, to the memory of Voicemail member Oneil Edwards, they got the attention of the room. Young performer Rajeave was also entertaining on the final night. While, Craig ‘Leftside’ Parkes also vrought his own flava to the CFW stage.
The crisis in Haiti following the January 12 Earthquake was also on the minds of the CFW organisers. Haitian-born, Montreal-based singer Katia Cadet opened the performances on Friday.