EVERY Monday for the past eight months, keyboardist Andre ‘Carlos’ Marsh leads the Kurfew band on stage at Triple Century Sports Bar in New Kingston.
Unlike the heyday of the 1970s, show bands are rare in Kingston. Having a regular gig is critical for Marsh and his colleagues.
“The more we play, the more we gel and develop a sound. Playing live is a great thing,” Marsh told the Jamaica Observer.
Jerome Small (bass), Kenny Mullings (guitar), Lewin Thomas (drums) and vocalist Asante Amen complete the Kurfew line-up.
Marsh, Mullings and Amen are original members. Since being formed in 2007, Curfew made a name backing acts on major shows including the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Sting, Rebel Salute and Reggae Sumfest.
The band went off the scene for two years, starting in 2010, when Marsh was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
He was diagnosed shortly after returning from Shanghai, China where they participated in the World Expo that year.
“It took a little while getting over the illness but we are getting back in the groove,” he said.
Marsh is from the Elletson Road area of central Kingston. Self-taught, he played bass, drums and keyboards in church. Later, he played keyboards in the Fab Five and SANE bands and toured briefly with Alborosie.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Kingston’s club scene was jumping. Every spot had a resident band that attracted hordes of patrons, especially along the Red Hills Road strip.
Kurfew is resident band at Triple Century, a hip joint owned by Jamaica and West Indies batsman Chris Gayle.
According to Marsh, fans there have warmed to the band.
“It’s almost a year an’ things are building,” he said.
The Kurfew band will be on the stand for the Irace Reggae Jam show Saturday at Ivy Green Crescent. The Mau Mau Warriors, Tappa Zukie and Fred Locks are some of the featured acts.
— By Howard Campbell
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