Sting & Shaggy - Pier 17, NYC, September 26th, 2018
by Michael Sherer
Posted: Oct 2018
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Sting & Shaggy - photo by Michael Sherer
With The Police’s music having reggae influences and leanings, and with Sting being the main songwriter for them, it’s a natural idea to have him pair with Shaggy, a Jamaican musician, singer and DJ. (And former United States Marine). The two first got together for the Grammy Awards this past January. They followed that up in April with a joint CD called “44/876,” a reference to their native country calling codes. (Sting, born Gordon Sumner, is from Newcastle, England.)
Currently on a U.S. tour for a month after having been in Europe since late June, the stop at NYC’s new (and great) Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport brings Sting home. (Listen to his song “Englishman in New York” for his thoughts on that.) With a stellar band consisting of longtime Sting guitarists Dominic Miller and Rufus Miller, and John Freese on drums, along with Shaggy’s keyboardist Kevon Webster and his excellent backup singers Melissa Musique and Gene Noble, with Sting holding down the bass and lead vocals along with Shaggy, they sounded fabulous. Combined with the open air of this outdoor, rooftop venue with the downtown NYC skyline below, it was a very memorable night.
The songs of Sting, (looking much younger than his 66 years, and very fit), worked so well in their weaving with 49 year old Shaggy’s. Tunes such as Shaggy’s “Oh Carolina” blended with Sting’s “We’ll Be Together” very nicely, as did Sting’s “Dream of the Blue Turtles” with his own reggae infused “Love is the Seventh Wave,” whereby Shaggy could really step into and expand on it.
Several Police songs were performed, such as gems “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon,” with the latter coupled with Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up.” (Complete set list below). Sting and Shaggy (born Orville Burrell and renamed after the Scooby-Doo cartoon character) clearly were having a great time and enjoy each other’s company and output. The infectious looseness and and playfulness of Shaggy seems to have rubbed off on Sting, which makes for fun times.
After having tackled rock, new wave/punk, jazz and Broadway, this CD and tour with Shaggy bring Sting back to his roots that The Police incorporated into their very unique sound, that being Reggae. And as the enthusiastic audience of approximately 3,400 basked in the outdoors of a just turned Autumn, this musical pairing is a breath of fresh air. Catch them live and get their CD, as this is hot stuff.
Set list:
Englishman/Jamaican in New York
44/876
Morning Is Coming
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Oh Carolina / We’ll Be Together
If You Can’t Find Love
Love Is the Seventh Wave/One World is Enough
Message in a Bottle
Fields of Gold
Waiting for the Break of Day
Gotta Get Back My Baby
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Don’t Make Me Wait
Dreaming in the U.S.A.
Crooked Tree
Walking on the Moon / Get Up, Stand Up
So Lonely / Strength of a Woman
Roxanne / Boombastic