Christopher Martin brings good blend

With some old, new and borrowed songs, singer Christopher Martin entertained his audience at Tuesday's staging of the Heineken-sponsored Behind the Screen series at Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records, Constant Spring Road, St Andrew.

Performing to a packed venue, inclusive of persons like Konshens, Tifa, Mr G, Fambo, Bolt, Darrio, D-Major, Iceman and Jordan McClure, Martin had people screaming as he started his set with Vibes Is Nice.

He later went on to do more familiar songs like Jamaican Girl and I'll Be Your Driver, showing tremendous range.

He went a bit old school with a rendition of If I Were A Carpenter, a move that put the audience in a mellow sort of groove.

After removing his tie, Martin excited the audience by beginning Take My Wings, an immediate encore the obvious result.

In addition to a pull-up, there was nothing but 'gun salutes' when he did Paper Loving.

After briefly going a cappella, Martin delved into new material like Prettiest Thing and Step Up.

Stripping down to a black long sleeved lace shirt, Martin exposed abdominal muscles that have seen many days in the gym, before doing a reggae cover of Just The Way You Are. The set was also inclusive of snippets of '90s dancehall hits like Wickedest Time and Romie.

But Martin was most playful when he did renditions of long-time R&B standards, teasing with Al Green's Let's Stay Together and Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing and Let's Get It On.

Of course, Martin has a growing catalogue which would not allow him to stay with those standards for long, the artiste returning to some of his more popular songs.

Chill Spot was one such song and the cheers that followed were near deafening.

Massive hit

Cheater's Prayer was also a massive hit, earning resounding responses from the crowd, with some audience members singing along.

Martin mentioned his friends before singing Real Friends. There was a sudden pause and the singer went on to to talk about his mother before singing Mama.

Still on the topic of family, Martin said: "I have two daughters in my life now," then sang, "mi will sleep a remand full-time if a bwoy ever touch mi child."

The song, Killer Inside, found huge favour with the patrons. In complete contrast to the previous song, he sang Watch Me Lord to end his set.

(from Jamaica Gleaner)