To Leo, Da Victory...singer Conquers Quad

"I planned to leave long time, but you hold me"

That was just one of the endorsements that rang out at Kingston nite spot the Quad (now in a transition phase) following a sometime impromptu yet always engaging set from singer Leonardo McFarlane(full name Leonardo Carmichael McFarlane), more than ably supported by Pon Fyah (Ozou'ne, Chris and Damion on keys, drum and bass respectively).

The affable crooner, who until recently had been in the Triangle area of North Carolina, told the audience he wanted to comemmorate Black History, but having not been present for the month, gave a "lifetime's worth of classic reggae, soul and r&b tunes, done in a variety of styles by the ever-inventive band.

The crowd refused to let him go, and the impression was so distinct that the artiste earned himself a return engagement come Thursday night, along with the likes of veteran Ossie D.

Victory for Music @ the Pegasus

whether you want to call it "big people tings" or " the mature alternative" there were no cliches necessary: it was just good music at the Pegasus Gardens as the Victory Christian academy had the likes of Dwight Pinkney, Della Manley, Seretse Small, Keith Lyn, Alex Martin-Blanken and Christine Fisher and Boris Gardener, to a moderate but enthusiastic crowd on Sunday night.

Blues, Ripe for the Pickin @ Red Bones

Gawaine Campbell (top left) is a more than proficient student of the blues idiom as laid down by Stevie Ray Vaughn, B B King, Luther Allison and more. In the company of Fitzroy Bennett, Jerome Wiles and Ruel Miller at Red Bones on Friday night, he delivered a rousing, if slightly uneven set of blues standards that included a rollicking "Rock Me Baby" and a magisterial "Texas Flood" that ideally should have closed out the first set, but was sadly followed by a neo-soulish  reading of "Ain't NoSunshine".

No matter. Just to see Campbell's atmospheric flights of fancy and hear his intense love for the music, whilst his bandmates strived to match, as reward enough. The mangoes on the tress skirting the Red Bones stage may need some more time, but as a bluesman - thus trodding a lonely road in Jamaica - Gawaine Campbell is maturing very nicely.

Highlights of UWI 12th Annual SALISES Conference

The Sound of Jamaican Music: Social & Economic Research Conference

Having sat through varied presentations and a keynote address from Bank of Jamaica Governor Bryan Wynter, the audience at the opening of the UWI Social and Economic Sciences Conferenee wee in the mood for  some levity and, courtesy of legendary music man Ibo Cooper and some choice musical cohorts, they got even more than that. In the space of about an hour, the attendees (from various countries) were taken on a trip traversing the spectrum of Jamaican popular music, starting with mento and coming right through the advent of Bob Marley to the present dancehall daze. The presentation was well received and the compliments were still flowing the band's way well into the post-session cocktail hour. when "musicology" and sociology meet, everybody wins, or as Bob famously said, "one good thing about music, when it hits, you feel no pain."

Praising the "Son" in the "Sun"

we arrived at the expansive acreage of the UWI Mona Bowl (after a walk that could possibly have taken us halfway back to Liguanea) to find activities for 2011Best Dressed  Fun in the Son well underway. We left with the strains of Papa San (and the crowd's cheers) accompanying us all the way to the main exit gate, and with folks still coming in to catch the last act, US star, Tye Tribbett. In between, this is some of what we saw.

More Dub Inc

The language barrier was well and truly shattered at Wyndham's Jonkanoo Lounge on Friday night during th Plug n' Play session. French band Dub Inc brought the house down with their tight instrumentation, great energy and overwhelming vibes

Alpha Dub:France's Dub Inc takes in the cradle of J'can music

The very name conjures up all kinds of heady associations for music lovers: The Skatalites, Don Drummond, Lenny Hibbert, Roland Alphanso, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Eddie  'Tan Tan' Thornton, Rico Rodriguez.

All alumni of the famed Alpha Boys School, and the South Camp Road institution has for many years attracted musical wanderers hooked by the Jamaican sound. The latest are France's Dub Inc,  representing the international tapestry of drum n' bass since 1997. The members of the band swung by during their Jamaican "lay-over" - during which they've recorded with the likes of Capleton and were featured at the Friday live series "Plug n' Play" at the Wyndham's Jonkanoo Lounge.

But on Friday afternoon, it was all about honouring the roots and the fruits. Gudied by Director, Sister Rosie Chung, the Frenchmen saw an alpha in transition and git the cherished opportunity to hear the future greats via an impromptu 'mini-concert' that included renditions of "Slide Mongoose" and "Linstead Market" as well as a ska classic like 'Java" and the Bob Marley anthem "One Love"

Interaction complete, they also presented the school with some much-needed instrumental gifts, and then it was back to their accommodations to prepare for the scintillating Plug and Play set later that night (into the wee hours of Saturday).

With Dub Inc's Alpha swing, another thread has been woven into the expanding global quilt that is the Jamaican music experience. There's more to come.    

Beauties & the Beats: Denver & the Family @ Red Bones

It was all about the music, but yet, there was more to enjoy than just the mere musicianship.

Its been a while since this writer saw an eight-piece percussion set, rarer still to see them all miked as they were fro percussion maestro-bandleader Denver Smith at Red Bones in Kingston last night. Supported by an extremely fluid bunch of players (the drum chair especially; all were brilliant) and a very fetching trio of back-up vocalists, he offered Latin, rock, roots reggae and straight African rhythms to an appreciative crowd, with some familiar covers and some sterling originals that deserve a wider audience (Reggae Sumfest bookers: take note!) Chevaugh Clayton of C-Sharp (above) joined in for an impromptu session reeling off NAt King Cole and Sam Cooke chestnuts to the delight of the crowd.

ROOTS REGGAE STILL A GLOBAL SOUND

Persistent negative press involving Jamaican artistes over recent months has not been sufficient to dampen the appetite of international aficionados of  reggae music, with many acts enjoying a welcome presence at festivals and stand-alone tours across the globe.

In California, long a welcome territory for roots reggae artistes, two of the biggest nad long-established reggae events recently hosted a large contingent of veterans including Half Pint, Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Marcia Griffiths and more. Even relative newcomer I-Octane, who has exploded in popularity over the last year, was included in the lineup for the 30^th Annual Raggamuffins Reggae Festival held in the southern California cities of Long Beach and San Diego.

Across the Pacific Ocean, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Dubtonic Kru, themselves road-tested vets in their own right, bested 16 other bands from as far afield as Brazil and the Ukraine to win the Global Battle of the Bands. The win puts the Jamaican sound squarely in front of a huge south-east Asian audience that stretches as far as China and India, and which also will reverberate – via a tour and promotional package – across Europe later this year.

And speaking of Europe, Rootz Underground have for the last couple of weeks been on a western and central European swing with multiple stops in countries such as Germany, France , the Czech Republic and Poland. On returning from across the Atlantic, the group will head to the Gulf of Mexico, to Lafayette, Louisiana, to be exact, where they will  make a return appearance at the International Festival de Louisiane in April, before heading west to the Houston iFest.

April also marks the return of the London Ska Festival, which will run April 21-24 in the UK capital. The festival is expected to draw participants from 37 countries, including Jamaican legends such as Ansel “Double Barrel” Collins (who will be reunited with Dave Barker), Ken Boother, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths, as well as English stars like The Specials, The Beat (also known as The English Beat) and James Hunter, once described by Van Morrison as “one of the best voices in British r&b and soul.” 

For Ansel Collins… DOUBLE BARRLE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

It is one of those songs  Its spoken word intro (“I am the magnificent!!”) is among the most recognizeable lines in pop music. Both that intro and the fluid melody lines have been sampled and cited innumerable times by artistes in virtually every sub-genre of pop music.

But even as the Jamaican classic “Double Barrel” notches its 40^th anniversary of  release this year, keyboardist Ansel Collins still has mixed feelings about the tune which has essentially immortalized him among music aficionados.  It is a conundrum that’s heightened as he prepares to reunite with Dave Barker (born David John Crooks ), at the upcoming LONDON INTL SKA FESTIVAL, scheduled for April 21-24 in the British capital.  

Speaking by telephone, Collins recounted the genesis of the song, which he said was actually recorded back in 1969. “Well is me really put that tune together, you know” he recalls. “We went into what they then called Dynamic Sounds and the idea for the tune just come to me. Sly (that is reggae drumming legend Sly Dunbar, then a mere 14 years old) play on it, and From we set it I knew it was gonna be big,”  That prescience however, did not extend to him securing full rights to his creation, a fact which today dampens any celebratory feelings he may have given the song’s reach and longevity.  In fact, he states that barker’s now renowned vocal was added after the initial record was made. The song was credited to Winston Riley, of the Techniques fame.

Double Barrel, released on Techniques Records, part of the Trojan Records label, topped the Jamaican charts, and went on to further success overseas. The single reached #1 on the UK Singles Charts for two weeks in April 1971 and reached the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #22. A sequel of sorts, “Monkey Spanner” also enjoyed some international success, but Collins says he and Barker never again recorded thereafter. He has written nad recorded a considerable amount of new material. As a sessions musician, he has contributed to many of the biggest rocksteady and reggae tracks.

 The London International Ska Festival will be held at The Clapham Grand Theatre,  and will feature 37 bands & DJs from 11 countries, showcasing the very best of the music form that is the precursor to reggae. The festival will in fact encompass the whole spectrum of  Jamaican pop music, progressing from the  classic ska sound through rocksteady and reggae, and coming right up to today’s contemporary interpretations of Ska sounds. 

The headliners include Jamaican legends Ken Boothe, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths as well as Collins. It will also feature bands from the UK, Italy and other countries.

"Comedics" & More for Charity

There were dancers aflutter and laughs in store at the renewal of the Doctors and Friends on stage for Cancer charity concert at Jamaica House Sunday last. "Co-medic" Dr Mike Abrahams (above left) did his hilarious current affairs revue sketch, and musical divas Alaine (right) and Tami Chynn (below) delivered their hits and favourites.

EMC rocks for Reggae Month - final show