Bob, Bruno and the Grammy tribute

Hab=ving watched - and rewatched the recent tribute, I'm not convinced it was such a good thing for Bob and for Jamaican music. what's your take?

http://mnialive.com/entertainment/news/3441-grammy-awards-tribute-to-bob-marley-when-is-a-tribute-not-a-tribute.html

Strike up The Reggae Oil, Seven-year Itch and more

Busy week for music, coming off the highs of Buju, Rebel and Sizzla and going into the upcoming Reggae Month and the "Jazz & Blues" fest.

IRIE-FM's Brian Schmidt (above) called reggae music "Jamaica's oil" and lamented the fact that while Jamaica was billed as the home of reggae, reggae did not presently feel at home in Jamaica. he gathering at JAMPRO's conference room for Reggae Month also heard from two great "drillers" Sangie Davis(left) and Earl "Chinna" Smith. First on the agenda for February is the Dennis Brown tribute concert on Feb3 at the Edna Manley College.

Bob Marley, February-born, is also a big part of Reggae Month observances and in the courtyard of his former home and studio at 56 Hope Road, up n' comer Protoje made his own fitting start to Marley/Reggae month with the launch of his debut full-length Cd, 7-Year Itch.

And dub is a fundamental derivative of the reggae sound, distilled to its drum n' bass essentials. In the hands of the Dubtonic Kru, that distillate is enriched by organic doses of rock, Latin, jazz and other world sounds. Its the mix that the band is banking on to take them to the top of the upcoming Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) scheduled for February 27 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. In the interim, they are busy honing their craft, with live appearances and practice.

Pool Guys: Hotels seek to make splash with weeknight entertainment

At the two major hotels on the capital's Knutsford Strip, those seeking a late evening poolside recharge with food, drink and music are being well catered for.  At the Wyndham,  patrons who navigated the craft stall could hear the sound of 2010 Battle of the Bands finalists, Macca Tree Band
 delved into the Jamaican songbook, serving up ska and reggae hits. Down the road, at the Pegasus, guitar ace, Rupert Bent Snr got things started with the aid of his computer, smartly accompanying tracks that included the obligatory Bob Marley, but also pop/r&b gems like James Ingram's "One Hundred Ways" and Earth Wind And Fire's "After The Love is Gone".

He would later be joined by accompanists Othniel "Ottey" Lewis on keys, Dale Brown on bass and drummer Chris Tyrell, the latter having just returned from a European stint with Jimmy Cliff. Australia is next on the agenda for Tyrell, who's also pursuing some production and personal recording projects. EW&F returned to the lineup, this time with "September" and there was more reggae in the form of Third World's take on the OJays chestnut, "Now That We've Found Love".

The two venue join a number of smaller haunts in and around Kingston that are spurring the beginnings of a live music renaissance for the capital, one some three or four years in the making, but still in need of serious support, attention and investment.

Live Forever from Pittsburgh: Bob's Swan Song

Bob Marley’s last concert was held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1980; he died of cancer the following year at the age of 36. In February, Universal Music Enterprises/Tuff Gong International is releasing a 2-CD set of the performance titled ““Bob Marley & The Wailers—Live Forever: The Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23, 1980.”

Marley historian Roger Steffens, author of “The Reggae Scrapbook,” says the Pittsburgh concert had an emotional ending. At the close of the second set of encores, Marley went to the edge of the stage and, in an unusual move for him, shook hands with people in the crowd. After the end of the performance, the reggae great called the band to his room and informed them that he could not continue with the tour.

“Thankfully, the power of the moment is captured fully in this historic recording, and it is only the third official live recording of Bob’s to be offered to the public, a summation of a career that covered all the different elements of Jamaican popular music,” says Steffens