Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
The prison band at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre plays during the reopening of the centre's hospital. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AS THE staff at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre set up the 'bandstand' for the recent reopening of the prison's hospital, bass player, Jaco Redding, warmed up for his latest gig by jamming to Taxi, Sly and Robbie's classic dancehall instrumental.
The burly Redding, 28, is a member of the maximum-security facility's prison band. He is serving the third of a four-year sentence for conspiring to commit robbery, and only picked up the bass eight months ago.
"It nice, trust mi. It give yuh a nice vibe," said Redding, a University of the West Indies UWI graduate.
Maintaining a good vibe is important, especially for the over 1,000 inmates at the Tower Street institution. The music programme provides some relief from demanding conditions.
Ian Vervin has been a correctional officer at the central Kingston prison for 13 years. He is also head of its music programme which has 40 members, nine of whom play regularly in the band.
Vervin told The Gleaner that while inmates show interest in playing an instrument, most of them are enthusiastic about its more commercial side.
"Very few of them want to learn how to play an instrument," he said. "Most are interested in deejaying and singing. They say that's where the money is."
Vervin is a trained guitarist who got transferred from the Gun Court to Tower Street in 1993. Self-taught on drums, keyboards and the saxophone, he assumed direction of the prison's music programme four years ago.
He said through assistance from sources like Food For The Poor which donates instruments, the programme remains vibrant and has helped rehabilitate many hardened inmates.
The Tower Street prison is 'home' to one of dancehall's biggest names.
Inmate Siccaturie Alcock, better known as Jah Cure, has ruled local and ethnic charts overseas with a flood of hits in the past three years. One of those songs is the stirring True Reflections.
Jah Cure is serving a 15-year sentence for rape, robbery with aggravation and illegal possession of a firearm. Vervin says he shows up sometimes for rehearsals with the band.
On the other hand, less heralded inmates like Redding and Django Pagepractise every chance they get. Page has been in prison for 17 years, and said he learned to play guitar shortly after he was incarcerated for murder.
Strumming his well-worn Fender Stratocaster, he says it is one of the best things that has happened to him. He and the band get to show off their prowess to the public whenever there is a function at the prison.
Jaco Redding expects to be released from prison next year. Although he says he earned a business degree from the UWI, he plans to keep on playing music when he gets out.
Picking a five-string Ibanez, he said: "Playing music mek mi think positive; it help mi out in difficult times."
* Names changed
