Entertainment: JAMAICA JAZZ FESTIVAL, Hail queen MARCIA! Former members of Bob Marley’s harmony trio, I Three, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt perform at Jamaica Jazz and Blues on Thursday night.

Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths is flanked by
(from left) Da’Ville, Judy Mowatt, Nadine Sutherland,
 Bob Andy, Tony Gregory and Tony Rebel.
 (PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

IT was definitely a case of 'all hail the queen' — the queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths, that is, on opening night of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival Thursday. The singer, who is celebrating 50 years in the music business, was the toast of the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

Griffiths, who is using the festival to launch her year-long golden anniversary celebrations, swept her subjects by delivering a trove of musical treasures. With the help of 'friends' Nadine Sutherland, Tony Gregory, Tony Rebel, Bob Andy and I Three sister Judy Mowatt, Griffiths had the audience dancing and singing throughout the set which lasted for more than one hour.

She opened with the inspirational Shining Time and then performed a virtual soundtrack to her career from the 1960s to the present. Along the way, Griffiths dropped tunes including Feel Like Jumping, Stepping Outta Babylon, Dreamland, the exciting Electric Boogie and I Shall Sing. This was followed by duets with her guests.

Marcia Griffiths & Judy Mowatt

She seemed to have the most fun with Mowatt , with whom she did a medley of Bob Marley anthems -- No Woman No Cry, Buffalo Soldier, Iron Lion Zion and Could You Be Loved. more