Musical "Pon-Fusion" at Jojo's

Corinne Bailey-Rae brushing up against Dennis Brown? Prince and John Legend in the same show with Frankie Paul and John Holt?

Genres dissolved and made way for fun and musicianship during the latest exposition of Live music Saturdays at JojJo's Jerk Pit

The night's feature act was up and coming singer Deji, who brought a clean clear tone and genuine warmth to some of the aforementioned and standards like Peggy Lee's "Fever"

The bill also also featured singer Stratdon who put his vocal gifts and easygoing presence to good use.

all well served by Pon Fyah, the resourceful musical tandem of O'zuone on keys (including some driving bass riffs) and drummer Junior "Bird" Baillie, the latter regaling this writer with his experiences as musical director for Sean Paul (you just don't know how much of a diva Beyonce can be) as well as Mariah Carey, J-Lo, and others.

Deji

Stratdon

Early Departures: Keesing Live and Morgan Heritage, RETV Unplugged

The Keesing Live shows may be the best live concert series you haven't heard of.
That's no fault of the organizers Alternative Music (singer-producer-whatever's required Charmaine Limonious and engineer-producer Bobby Stewart). They frenetically promote and work the shows before and after each date amid their already crammed professional and personal schedules.

And amid a live scene that's still partly on life support (with corporate funding going more to parties and hit parade overseas act showcases) its a bona fide miracle: the show starts on time - always, artists are accommodated decently and professionally and, a one might expect, lighting, staging and audio are always spot-on (maybe a few minor glitches but nothing to mar the production.

And so it was at the most recent Keesing outing, with visiting Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan in the audience, there were commendable deliveries from Kelissa (with of-the-moment reggae hero Chronixx unobtrusively providing background vocals off stage), the live return of history-making Rising Stars winners One Third (first group to win the competition) and the blind - but certainly not disabled - singer, Kandi, who admirably raised the curtain.

other duties prevented this writer from catching the curtain-closers, legendary Jamaican pop storytellers Ernie Smith ("Duppy or Gunman") and Pluto Shervington "Your Honour", "Sweet Jamaica") who jokingly remarked in the pre-stage lounge that there's "too much blood in my rum stream"

if quality musicianship and a tight production ship are your style of live entertainment, then you owe it to yourself to help make Keesing Live a less-kept secret.

A few days after, over at the Countryside Club (fast returning to its previous stature as a live venue of note) the singing Morgans, aka Morgan Heritage, held court, speaking to media - well, primarily to IRIE-FM and TVJ, but with others of us "let in" on it; they addressed a wide range of topics, from the ravages of Chik-V to the ravaged state of Jamaican music.

Again, time and other logistical pressures kept from getting the "Full Morgan" but they have been touring behind their most recent album, "Here Come the Kings" as well as pursuing their respective individual projects

Harold Davis CD launch: A groovy Musical Blend at Chaser's

Harold Davis' latest project is interesting as much for the sub-title as for its indisputably first- rate content. "Piano Ska" is what the multi-hyphenate artist (pianist-vocalist-bandleader-composer-producer) has dubbed this 14-track opus, dubbed "Something Special"

Harold Davis (right) watches Seretse Small get down on guitar during the listening party for his new Cd Something Special

And for those present at New Kingston's Chaser's Cafe on Sunday last, that's exactly what it proved to be. With sterling contributions from an expanded band and several special guests, Davis and "the crew" as they were referred to, more than did justice to the ska standards (Skatalites mostly) that constitute the bulk of this programme. I'll have a full review soon

vocalist extraordinare Pam Hall

A Week of Musical Celebration in Kingston

The month of December, which in recent years, had lost some of its lustre as the premium period for live musical/arts events, regains some of that this year with the inaugural

Kingston Music Week, conceived and promoted by the RJR Group (see http://rjrgroup.com/kgnmusicwk/ for full schedule) .

Simply, the event is really a series of events, with live music at the heart. Many of these will see collaboration with leading live event promoters, including Keesing Live, the monthly Saturday night series gathering great steam, as well as Bleu Essence, which converts the car park in front of its Kings Plaza location into an open-air music arena most Tuesdays. The Keesing Live event will actually play out on a Friday for KMW, as in this Friday December 6, and will featurwe the likes of Rootz Underground, Skygrass and Bryan Art eith the File 13 Band.

Its the Essence that will take the spotlight come December 3, when Shades of Gray will unfold. The event is  so named because the artistes on the bill, or many of them, are part of the growing Graypatch Music roster, including VC, Nickiesha Barnes, Alkamis, Imar, Sharee and Royale, as confirmed.

Fans still hungry for music (and victuals) can head over to Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records to catch Assassin, aka Agent Sasco, in concert as the Behind The Screens series returns

Still Black As Cole....and better than ever

Anyone still questioning the future and potential of our indigenous reggae idiom [it means you haven't closely followed this blog :-) ] ought to have found themselves at the North (?) lawn of Devon House on Saturday. On that occasion, not only did female-led sextet Black As Cole reaffirm their status as the pre-eminent new reggae outfit in the land, but there was an added treat.

As the summer afternoon sun warmed up to critical mass (a strong hint of rain), the growing and enthusiastic crowd were treated to a similarly robust showing from

all-woman band Jewelz

an all-female outfit, dubbed Jewelz. Their repertoire on the day was, to my ears, limited to covers, but they were well executed, and spanned the gamut from Bob Marley and Lauren Hill to Chronixx.

That then set the stage for Black As Cole frontwoman Cecile, pleasantly reminiscent of the DapKings leader Sharon Jones and, if anything, even more soulful.With the supporting cast throwing down some irresistible grooves (especially bass player and partner Craig Cole who dished up bass lines that were both thick as mud and yet refined as glass), they took the crowd throu

Black As Cole band from Wellness fest 2012

gh a diverse collection of tunes, from the funky "Lovesick" to the mid-tempo "Maybe" and the socially conscious "Woman". Live music from both groups that well and truly lives up to the tag. A musical prescription that delivered wellness.

The performance was among several features of this year's renewal of the Reve Wellness festival, presented by jewellry and accessories designers Reve jewellery (Teasea and Duane Bennett. A wide range of quality and innovative art and craft items was also available

Reggae Nite: Tanya Stephens' "Ride" and Sumfest Steps Out

Live entertainment has traditionally held down the weekend slots, especially in Kingston, but traditions are giving way in this "instant-eferything" media age. Tuesday night last proveda banner night, as there was a trio of quality live presentations within a half-mile radius on the night.

At the salubrious Macau Bar & Grill, itself home to the excellent Live & Revive series (held mondays, but presently on hiatus), the crew bwhind reggae Sumfest took their 21st Launch to members of the media and other interests. Mis Kitty kept the proceedings moving as the obligatory sponsors greetings and lineup announcements flowed, amid giveaways and photo-ops galore. Continuing its tradition of adding US r n' b and hip-hop to the local reggae/dancehall fare. Thus current r n b hearthrob (and stage diver) Miguel will bring his ditial-age funk n' soul to Mobay on the climactic International Nite 2; before that, the cleverly named Flo Rida charges into International Nite 1.

But the local reggae guard are no slouches and a couple of them took to the small stage on hand to deliver a satisfying preview of things to come. The fast-rising Nature showed a welcome intensity in his pleas for "World Peace" but it was Portland native Bugle who had the guests rocking to his cautioanry hit "nuh Compatible". All in all a typically robust outing for the Summerfest crew, indicating good things await the live stgae faithful come July 21 through 27.

A long stone's throw from Macau saw veteran (yes she is now) singer-songwriter-provocateur Tanya Stephens delivering a typically (if rarely heard these days ) stirring set as part of the Behind The Screen series at Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records. With the bodacious Stacious introducing her, Stevens, never shy with her opinions, rapped with the capacity crowd about all manner of subjects in between delivering her hits and near-misses, the majority female audience prominent (hostile in a few instances) with their devotion to "girl power, dancehall style".

Neither time nor energy co-operated for us to catch the third event, that of Tina Simone delivering her soul-jazz-rockers gems at the Bleu essence club tucked into the Kings Plaza - the show actually unfolds in the large car park. We're sure however that she gave a great account of herself and encourage you to look out for and follow her future endeavours. Find her on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/anit.ttawom?fref=ts

Musical "Mahogany" Under The Tree

Pon Fyah band - Junior "Bird Bailey on drums, Paul "Smiley" Madden on bass and Ozoune(right) on keyboards

One would expect such a top-flight and well-versed trio to provide excellent accompaniment to vocalists  - and that they did - in this case Althea Hewitt and Clancy Eccles Jr (below), each of them well-travelled on the Jamaican entertainment scene. The two worked in tandem as well as in duet form, thrilling a very appreciative audience at the Mahogany Tree Bar at  Devon House, a venue which, save for the occasional bad sight liner, could hardly be more salubrious
or accommodating of the quality live performances on offer. The spanned the gamut of popular song choices, from ballads like Adele's "Never Mind" and Evanescence's "All of Me" to jazz-pop like Bobby Caldwell's "You Do For Love" and reggae.

The musical outing was the first at the venue, but far from the first for promoters Mo'Muzyk Pros, who also stage a regular Saturday night showcase at Jo-Jo's on Waterloo Road, and previously hosted a twice weekly live presentation at the former Christopher's Jazz Cafe, all in Kingston.

With this new  - but well-known - space added to the roster, the team is bent on making an indelible mark on the Jamaican entertainment landscape, with an eye on both local and international audiences for what is undeniably a polished, heart-felt and superlative live offering

Althea Hewitt

Clancy Eccles Jr