Acute Inflections Gives Bob Marley a Tribute

By Journalist Ms. Jones

CORNWALL – “Wha gwan!” That’s how the audience was greeted at the “Is This Love?” A Jazzy Bob Marley Tribute Concert on Saturday, at Riverlight Park. It means “What’s up?” in Patois. The concert was performed by New York’s Jazzy Duo Acute Inflections.

“I saw them at a fundraiser at a horse farm in Sugarloaf… We had the best time… I wanted them to come to Cornwall… They give back to community, so they gave back to this one… We’re happy to have them,” said Phylis Murphy, Activities Coordinator for the Town of Cornwall.

Acute Inflections did give back. Concert goers were welcome to take an Acute Inflections t-shirt and a “400” CD, their Bob Marley Tribute which is them performing Bob Marley songs; both were displayed on their product table. They only asked for people to put a donation in the Love Box.

The duo consists of bass player Sadiki Pierre and vocalist Elasea Douglas who kept the crowd laughing at their witty banter between songs as he joked about things like how much her cooking has improved. They kept the crowd engaged with call and response and singing along to many familiar Bob Marley songs like “Redemption Song,” “Concrete Jungle,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” Get Up, Stand Up,” “Could You Be Loved,” “One Love” and “Is This Love.” They decided to do the Bob Marley Tribute CD after visiting The Bob Marley Museum in Jamaica.

“After visiting the museum and really seeing what Marley went through and how spiritually amazing his music is we felt like we needed to honor it. And then when we realized that it was coming up to his 40-year death anniversary… we figured it would be a great [thing] to give this tribute,” said Douglas who is from Jamaica. They released the CD on May 11, 2021, exactly 40 years after Bob Marley’s death.

Pierre graduated from Newburgh Free Academy. Most people think he plays the cello. He joked about playing the bass.

“No one else was playing it. I figured I wouldn’t have any competition,” said Pierre who has been playing for 25 years and wants the world to remember Bob Marley. “Obviously, the world needs a reminder of his messages of love and unity, togetherness, quality of life. What better way to kind of get that message out there then through the music.”

They’ll continue to get their message out as they will be releasing their fifth album, “Let Go,” on October 25th. The release party will be at the world-famous Birdland Jazz Club in NYC.

Food for the concert was provided by vendors from the Farmers Market that runs every Wednesday on Main Street in Cornwall. New restaurant in New Windsor, Ducktown, served hot dogs, hamburgers, steak sandwiches, and shrimp skewers with salad. Grand Mango Caribbean Restaurant provided concert goers with Jamaican cuisine. People enjoyed jerk chicken, jerk mac ‘n cheese, oxtails, stew chicken, beef patties, jerk pork, rice and peas, plantains, cabbage, and Ting drinks.

“It’s very important [for me to be here today]. Bob Marley was like a statue of Jamaica…We do love him. We do respect him and I’m honored to be here,” said Nadine Barham of Grand Mango Caribbean Restaurant who is from Jamaica. The restaurant is located in Central Valley near Woodbury Commons and is run by her family.

If you missed the concert, don’t fret. Cornwall has more upcoming events.

“The town of Cornwall has music in the park every Sunday… The Village of Cornwall has music in the park every Tuesday night,” said Murphy who is planning a comedy night for the Fall. “I would love for everybody to come and see Cornwall. It’s a beautiful place. We’re very welcoming, and we’re just happy to provide community events.”

Journalist Ms. Jones