Ebo Taylor Live In Werribee
With The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra
Werribee.
Never have I ever been to Werribee.
It’s a place I’ve driven through on my way to another place.
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival had given me this opportunity to travel to the BIG “W” as a destination.
The destination was The Wyndham Cultural Centre, just down the road from Hungry Jack’s and a number of Indian Restaurants.
The room was filled with followers of high life and Afrobeat and you could feel the anticipation.
Ebo Taylor was in town for the festival and this one-off slot outside of downtown Melbourne on a Monday night for 30 bucks seemed like something that should not be missed.
The orchestra and Ebo Taylor’s son, Henry, did not need a microwave to warm up the crowd. Pulsating rhythms and percussion and a damn hot horn section got some dancing early.
By the time Ebo came onstage, in a wheelchair, the room was to be on their feet for the next hour. Although Ebo is 87 that did not slow him down in coming to Australia, he was eager to make this journey.
Unfortunately, on the long flights over from Ghana, he suffered a fall and injured his hip. There were tears of joy and sorrow in the room as he sang a few tunes and enjoyed the interplay of the musicians and the dancers. But Ebo is definitely in some pain and I am sure it was quite an effort for him to be on the stage.
Henry, his son, made it clear that wild horses would not keep him away.
Simply, the room was gyrating by the end of the 90-minute performance and we all felt the love coming from the stage and we mirrored it back at the stage full of artists.
Monday in Werribee. It was a moment that only dozens got to take part in. They will not forget it anytime soon.
Smiles of joy from the music and dancing filled the faces of all as we drifted out into the evening.
Safe travels, Ebo.
