YahMan! DJ Naaman Goes Deep

Much has been made - rightly so - about the exploits of Chronixx, Kabaka, Protoje and the other young Jamaican reggae revivialists.

But at the risk of hyperbole, its very probable that reggae's next "saviour" just might come from a point further east. From the[ coast of Dieppe, France, singjay Naaman (given name: Martin Mussard) has emerged from the fully equipped with the lyrical flow, mental dedication and emotional resonance to confidently add his name to the upper echelons of  reggae's brightest stars.

French singjay Naaman (right) greets the writer

It was the heavy rhythms and engaging messages of reggae's legends (Marley included) that first hooked the young singer, the raggamuffin styles of the likes of Capleton, Sizzla and Lutan Fyah coming shortly thereafter as he devoured all the Jamaican music product available. It wasn't long before he had formed a sound system with some other enterprising locals.

In 2012, following the equally inevitable mixtape, (featured track: Skanking Shoes")the sing jay made a big French tour with more than 70 dates making and meeting numerous new fans. He also created a buzz on the web, scoring over 600 000 views in the space of a year!

Those milestones were enough to earn him the title of Revelation of 2013 by the Reggae Victories (Reggae.fr / France), but still a trip to the source of the music beckoned. he fulfilled that marker on the musical totem pole last year, describing the feeling of touching down on Jamaican soil as "awesome and incredible". But now Naaman is armed with a full-length  follow-up to the previous compilation, this time titled Deep Rockers Back A Yard!

Naaman and his team successfully enlisted the contributions of drumming maestro Sly Dunbar and guitar ace Dalton Browne on this recording, with the process also being overseen on the production side by Sam Clayton and Stephen Stewart, the latte also doubling on keyboards. The recording took place at the famed Harry J Studios in Kingston - under the shadow of the Long Mountain range. The geographical reference is important, Stewart says, as the album is part of a long-term collaboration between French outfit Soul Beats, and Warieka Music (named for the eastern part of the Long Mountain range. The label, he adds is all about returning to a holistic approach of developing artistes of international quality wherever they hail form and working intently with them to  put out and promote top-notch recordings of substance.
Standout tracks on the immediately engaging disc include The House Of Love" and "Rebel For Life" featuring Cutty Ranks, and the lilting acoustic closer, "One Day" which in fact recorded in the DJ's home district of Normandie with his original band.

Naâman says positivity and life are his priority and his boyish ease in conversation lends credence to that statement. He is typically effusive about the vibe that greets him here in Jamaica, and having checked the "recording box" he would next like to add a Jamaican live performance to his musical bucket list. 'Though I haven't been to every country, Jamaica so far is the perfect place for music. I really feel special when I come here and it helped me in putting my truth and my authentic vibes out to the public through this record. If I don't live it, I don't sing it."
A line well worth remembering as Naaman stakes his claim to reggae pre-eminence

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.