ReggaeTimes

Women in Trelawny will be treated to three days of workshops and motivational talks courtesy of the inaugural Trelawny Women’s Fest. This will be held from September 11-13 and will feature local as well as international facilitators whose intention is to motivate and uplift the attendees. An exemplary Trelawny Woman will also receive the Trelawny Woman Award.

It will begin on Friday night with the local premiere of the movie St. Kofa which was shot in Trelawny. The movie which depicts scenes from slavery and featured Jamaican dub poet Mutaburaka will be shown at the Albert George Market in Water Square.

The workshops will be conducted at the Time and Place beach in Coopers Pen. A cultural concert will bring climax to the slated activities.

This event was the brain child of Maria Moore who had the concept over 18 years ago when she first visited Jamaica as a production assistant in the filming of St. Kofa. During that period she forged a relationship with Laesch and loan thought to the idea.

August 7-9 saw the launching of an event series entitled ‘The Weekend’ and by reports, it was a great success. The décor, presentation and service were of first world standards. The interesting blend of attendees was pleasantly surprised by the refreshing atmosphere created by the decorators.

Held at the Jazz Bar at Iberostar, Friday was Jazz Night and Della Manley delivered a luscious set that had the patrons grooving to the seductive music. Sunshine Anderson was also at her best and even though it lasted no more than two hours the patrons were left thoroughly satisfied. The ambiance of great music, wines, cocktails and service was elegantly coordinated which brought sophistication to the event.

On Saturday, the ‘Luna Lounge’ became soulfully sedated as musician Craig Urchyshyn spun a web that captivated the audience despite the fact that it was his first visit. His unique skill of infusing live and recorded music carried well with the crowd and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The Vertigo all-white beach party was a breathtaking atmosphere of tastefully selected furnishings and accessories. It was an experience for guests as the Iberostar beach was transformed to resemble South Beach with and hint of Jamaica. The oversized white beach beds, leather sofas, cabanas and soft lighting created a mood that was both relaxing and enchanting.

Washington D.C. based reggae band SOJA announced that the highly anticipated third full-length album “Born in Babylon“ will be released digitally worldwide, exclusively on iTunes on August 25, 2009. The album follows on the heels of their successful 2006 album “Get Wiser” which debuted in the Top 10 Reggae albums on iTunes and has remain in the top 100 since its release.

Originally formed in 1997, SOJA consists of lead singers, Jacob Hemphill (guitar) and Bob Jefferson (bass), as well as Patrick O’Shea on keyboard, percussionist Ken Brownell and drummer Ryan Berty.  The band has become renowned for using a unique blend of reggae, hip-hop, and rock to influence their sound, while staying dedicated to creating music with a real message and promoting a revolution. 

In July 2009, SOJA released the first single and music video for “I Don’t Wanna Wait” off the “Born in Babylon” album. When the album was made available for pre-orders, it debuted in the top 10 charts on iTunes based on the strength of “I Don’t Wanna Wait” and “Losing My Mind.”   

The band has shared the stage with notable artists such as Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, Ben Harper, Slightly Stoopid, Damian Marley, Govt Mule, Umphrey’s McGee, and Steel Pulse.

For the rest of 2009 and into 2010 SOJA plans on touring the United States extensively promoting “Born in Babylon.”  They also plan on further expanding internationally with tours.    

The Irie Jamboree Lifetime Achievement Award will each be present to Freddy McGregor, Sugar Minott and Ken Boothe for their stupendous contribution to reggae music on September 6. The three collectively had voiced some of the biggest reggae classics which helped to reggae music on the map.

Freddy McGregor began his musical career in the early 60’s under the teachings of Coxsone Dodd. In 1972 he formed the Generation Gap band and after the demise of the group, he launched his solo career, which took flight with the single Big Ship. Since then, his hits include Push Come To Shove, Africa Here I Come, I Was Born A Winner, Let Them Try, Prophecy and So I Will Wait For You

Singer/songwriter Ken Boothe has over 40 years of experience in the music business and has had hits such as When I Fall In Love, Every Thing I Own, Artibella and Movin Away. He also collaborated with Shaggy to revamp his single The Train Is Coming.

Minott also enjoyed success as a solo artiste with hits such as No Vacancy, Herbsman Hustling and Devil Pinckney which are virtual anthems in the dancehall. He was also the driving force behind the Youth Promotion which exposed talents like Garnett Silk.

Also on the honorary list are dancehall artistes Bennie Man, who will receive the 2009 Reggae Soldier Award and Shaggy who will be presented with the ‘Reggae Ambassador’ award. Veteran New York based dancehall DJ Mikey ‘Mac Daddy’ Jarrett will be honored with New York Industry Award.

Among the acts confirmed for Irie Jamboree 2009 are Sean Paul, Mr Vegas, TOK, Assassin, Spice, Chino, Barbee, Anthony Cruz and Laden who will perform in the ‘Dancehall Hotshots” segment. Pinchers, Daddy Lizard, Shinehead, Flourgon and Lady G will be featured in the “80s/90s Rub A Dub Session”. “The Roots & Culture” segment will feature Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Bushman, Ras Shiloh, Ras Penco, Natural Blacks and Gramps Morgan. Singers Freddy McGregor, Ken Boothe and Sugar Minott will perform in the “Vintage” segment.

Recorded and produced in Jamaica, Imperial Blaze, is the fourth studio album from the internationally renowned deejay. The album has been a long time coming and was released on Tuesday August 18.

So Fine and Press It Up are the two singles released from the album so far and they are climbing the charts around the world. So Fine is reportedly the number one club song in Germany and the two singles are getting heavy rotation on local and international radio station.

The success of the singles and the expected success of Imperial Blaze are testament to the extensive promotional tour Sean Paul is on, with performances, radio promotions and television appearances.

Sean Paul has copped a Grammy, Billboard, and American Music Awards and is the most commercially successful Jamaican artiste of all time, with chart-topping singles such as Temperature and Get Busy, Top Ten hits including Gimme The Light and We Be Burnin’. In recent years, Sean Paul has collaborated with artistes such as Beyoncé, Estelle and Blu Cantrell.

Producers on the 20-track album include Jeremy Harding, Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, Delano Thomas, Don Corleon, Craig ‘Leftside’ Parks, Arif Cooper and Jason ‘Jigzagula’ Henriques.

The album is already available on major music websites, such as iTunes.com, and is also available for digital download from his website www.allseanpaul.com.

The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin was set ablaze as yet again Bolt bested himself by smashing his own record of 9.69 made in Beijing. A race billed as a showdown featuring the world’s three fastest men ended with Usain Bolt setting a new world record eleven-hundredths of a second faster than the mark he set at last year’s Olympics.

After 20 metres into the race Bolt was already ahead and continued to widened that margin leaving Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell to battle for the second and third. As the 22 years old hit the finish line he glanced at the clock and in his usually fashion began to beat his chest knowing he has done it again.

The former world record holder, Asafa Powell did a season best of 9.84 to cop the bronze while Gay despite all his efforts was left staring at Bolt’s back. To his credit, he managed to win the silver in 9.71 and the honor of setting a new American national record.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey was fourth in 9.93, Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson fifth in 9.93, Briton Dwain Chambers sixth in 10.00 and another Trinidadian, Marc Burns, seventh, also in 10.00.

The race was perhaps the greatest ever 100m showdown and it has undoubtedly left Jamaicans and the world speechless to say the least. After winning seemingly effortlessly Bolt did the Jamaican Luggo Luggo to entertain the crowd during his victory lap as thousands of Germans cheered him on.  

The roof of the Courtleigh auditorium was left in shambles by the end of this week’s Digicel Rising Stars performance show, as performance after performance was a humbling and inspiring experience for both the Judges and the audience alike. While Goddy Goddy opened the show with a prayer, the special guest artiste, Prodigal Son closed the show with a bang, the perfect ending to an awesome night.

 
Sandy Smith’s emotional performance of I am Persuaded, really moved the audience, and equally impressed the Judges. Referring to Sandy’s distress after being in the bottom two last week, Nadine commented: “Hard times did you well girl!” Anthony took the opportunity to commend Sandy on her performance, saying: “That was a really sensitive rendition of that song, it had a lot of feeling, and the feeling transferred. We really liked it.” Wearing a pair of palazzo pants, Sandy, whose high-waisted brown linen pants went wonderfully with her plain white tank top and strings of silver chains.

Moments’ lively and fun filled performance of Busy Signal’s Gospel Medley, which included revivalist songs such as The Rivers of Babylon, When the Saints Go Marching In and If I had the Wings of a Dove, had the crowd singing and dancing along with them. Clyde, unable to hide his delight, said: “I don’t think you’ll be flying away, at least not this week! It was energetic, fun, it was different.”
 

After Diva Adena’s performance of My Redeemer Lives, no one in the house dared doubt her belief. Her awesome, goose-bump inducing performance left virtually everyone with chills, and the judges speechless. The sincerity and raw emotion in her voice even moved some audience members to tears. Anthony said that it was “Flat out, easily the most inspiring performance.” He then concluded: “You don’t have to be a Christian to get chills down your spine.”
At a loss for words, Nadine finally said: “Adena I am awed by you. You are an excellent singer!” Diva Adena wore a gorgeous turquoise, chiffon, palazzo pantsuit, with red peep toe pumps, and matching earrings.

 Angele’s performance of God is Truly Amazing seemed to please both the crowd and Nadine, who called it “sincere”, however Clyde and Anthony both seemed to share a different opinion. Killer Miller however showed his utter disgust for the rendition when he said: “You more than any other contestant needed some divine intervention, and I think the Lord is unresponsive.”

Caribbean music’s highest ranking officials are planning to invade Newark’s Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Sunday, September 20th. The ‘King of the Dancehall’ Beenie Man, the ‘International Soca King’ Machel Montano, and Iconic Roots/Dancehall General Buju Banton are set to storm the ninth annual staging of the New Jersey Reggae Fest.

Launching a new chapter in the Garden State’s longest running celebration of Caribbean music and culture, co-promoters G City Entertainment, CCB International, and Icon World Entertainment are focusing on the worldwide success of Caribbean artistes. Hence the choosing of a line-up that showcases the heaviest of the heavy-hitters in Caribbean music, and a landmark venue that is a central part of the city’s sports and entertainment industry.

“We have the ‘King of the Dancehall’ and the ‘International Soca King. These are two of the most recognized talents in Caribbean music. And of course, Buju Banton is a Jamaican music icon-crossing the Reggae, Roots, and Dancehall genres. We wanted our first show at this new state-of-the art venue to feature state-of-the art level talent. Beenie, Machel, and Buju are the top of the top of the line,” states Kasey Rankine of G City Entertainment and RoadblockRadio.com.

The Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is the home to the Newark Bears baseball team, and is also the home field of the Rutgers University baseball team and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The 8,000 capacity venue boasts a view of the Manhattan skyline, and sky box seating for VIP patrons.

“The stadium is a bigger and more upscale venue, and a much more comfortable environment for patrons, and artists, and much easier for our production team to produce a high quality event,” Rankine said.

Reigning Digicel Caribbean Cup New York Champions, Jamaica, managed to draw 1 – 1 with St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) in the feature match of the Digicel Caribbean Cup New York. The match was played last Sunday which featured a triple match presentation at the Jefferson High School Field in Brooklyn. Seinard Bowens of SVG scored in the 33^rd minute with Jamaica replying midway through the second half with a goal from the captain, Ryan Reid.

The result keeps Jamaica in second place in the East Zone grouping, two points behind leaders Barbados. With the draw, the former champions SVG move into a third place tie with Grenada on seven points.

Guyana thrashed Dominica 4 -1 to keep their playoff dreams alive in the first match of the afternoon. Guyana goals came from Roger Cambridge and a hat trick from Kevin Beatton. Engel Smith scored for Dominica.

Last year’s finalist, St. Kitts & Nevis beat St. Lucia 2-0. The goals came in the second half from Aiden Nurse and Allister Warner.

Digicel was also on hand during the day to make sure that football fans had a thoroughly enjoyable day with a host of competitions and giveaways such as the half time ‘Kick for Cards’, where fans had the chance to score from the half way line to win Digicel calling cards. The ‘Digicel Kick for Cards’ saw two lucky Dominican customers walking away with Digicel calling cards worth US$10 each to help them stay in touch with friends and family back home.”

The Digicel Caribbean Cup New York continues on Sunday, August 16^th, with another three matches including the play-offs which start at 3:00 pm.

Despite of the heavy rain, patrons clad in full white were ready to enjoy the dream experience last Friday at Long Bay Beach in Negril. Wherever there was shelter at the venue or on the way to the venue, white-clad persons could be seen sheltering. The beach became a sea of white as most patrons adhered to the dress code.

The entrance was impressive with men on jet skis accompanied by Dream girls did stunts with a helicopter hovering in the background. From the water, the girls went to the central bar where a dance floor was and they got the party started.

Coppershot, Chromatic and ZJ Liquid ruled the ‘wheels of steel’, playing a diverse selection of songs from rock to oldies.  A dub from ZJ Liquid by the Twin of Twins pleased the crowd immensely as did one from Chino’s ‘From Mawnin’. There was also a cartoon theme song play-off between DJ Cutty and ZJ Liquid. The entertainment fraternity also came out in their numbers with Serani, Voicemail, Tifa and the Big Ship family, among others, making an appearance

Daydreams being one of the premier events didn’t disappoint with a strong turnout that filled most of the large venue. At the end of Daydreams, patrons were left wanting the second event of t he evening, Yush.