Entertainment News
April 2004

TOURS, SHOWS & EVENTS

Celebrate VP Records' 25th Anniversary at the star-studded New York City concert on May 8, 2004, or the Miami show on May 30, 2004, with performances from Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Marcia Griffith, Maxi Priest, Morgan Heritage, Shaggy & Rick Rock, Tanto Metro & Devonte, TOK, Wayne Wonder, Lady Saw, saxophone great Dean Frazer leading the Allstar Band and many others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. If you cannot get to the shows, a four-CD boxed commemorative set from the pre-eminent reggae label is scheduled for an early May release.

Irish & Chin promoters of the World Clash in Jamaica, host two massive soundclash events in April 2004. The first-"Death Before Dishonor 4"-held Monday April 12th, in Montego Bay, JA, featured Tony Matterhorn, Mighty Crown, Black Kat, Poison Dart and Ricky Trooper. The second soundclash takes place in Trinidad on April 17th, with The Mighty Crown vs. Tony Matterhorn.

Julian Marley is on his "A Time and Place" European tour this month.

RaggaMuffins Productions' 8th Annual Reggae Old/New School Jam takes place Sunday, June 20, 2004 (Father's Day), when Israel Vibration, Leroy Sibbles, Half Pint, Frankie Paul, The Melodians and more artist perform at Queen Mary Events Park, Long Beach, CA.

The Doctor--Beenie Man--returns to New York, this time for his first performance since his near fatal Hummer accident in Kingston a few months ago. Reports out of Jamaica indicate that Beenie Man is keen to show his fans that he is fine and has not lost his magic. His New York date is at "Blahzay Thursdays," on April 22, 2004 at Emerald Lounge, 1816 Boston Road, between 175 Street and Hoe Avenue in the Bronx.

San Francisco's 26th Annual Carnaval, the multicultural festival and Grand Parade take place Memorial Day Weekend, with the parade on Sunday, May 30, 2004. This year, the festival has partnered with the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Go to SBC Park on May 11, 2004 at 7:15 for "Carnaval Day at SBC Park" (Giants vs. Philadelphia). Go to http://www.carnavalsf.com to see who was crowned King and Queen of Carnaval this year.

The Rocker-T "Much Luv" Tour, backed by the More Luv band, launches a 4,000-mile, 15-day tour this April, playing 14 cities in 9 states.

California's Groundation reggae band starts their worldwide summer tour by traveling to Brazil to play a festival in July.

Burning Spear's world tour begins in Australia this month, he'll headline the Sierra Nevada Music Festival in June and he's on cover of the latest issue of The Beat Magazine. Check out tour dates at http://www.burningspear.net.

CARIBBEAN CULTURE

Barbara Lee, Democrat, Member of Congress, representing the 9th Congressional District of California, is sponsoring House Resolution 570, to establish a Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

From 1820 to 2002, more than 68 million people emigrated from the Caribbean region to the U.S. On March 30, 2004, Ms. Lee issued a press release calling for support for this resolution to honor in influence of Caribbean-Americans on American culture, society and government. Contact her aide Jamila Thompson to show your support for this measure at 202-225-2661 (phone), 202-225-9817 (fax) or http://www.house.gov/lee/ on the web.

NEW RELEASES

My favorite riddim continues to be "Doctor's Darling," the riddim featured on Tanya Stephens' smash "It's a Pity." You can get this 16 track CD as one of VP Record Riddim Driven series.

Speaking of Tanya Stephens, she just launched her new VP release "Gansta Blues" with a performance at VIBE Magazine on March 31, 2004. Two years in the making, the CD features 17 tracks, including duets with Wyclef Jean and Spragga Benz. See related article at: http://jahworks.org/gangsta_blues.htm

"Grooving Kingston 12 (The JAD Masters 1970-1972)" on Hip-O Records is a new Bob Marley & The Wailers three-CD, boxed collection with more than 200 tracks from the pre-Island Records sessions. Each track has been digitally remastered and restored from the original masters and released with the approval of the Marley family.

Sasha, the songstress who has rocketed to fame with "I'm Still In Love" (her duet with Sean Paul), is breaking new ground. "Dat Sexy Body Español"--a remix of her hit song on the Bookshelf Riddim--is the first-ever Jamaican-Puerto Rican collaboration featuring Sasha teaming with reggaeton star Ivy Queen in Spanish. They debuted the song at Miami Mardi Gras to 50,000 revellers, and the video hits the airwaves this month.

The renowned reggae-jazz pianist Monty Alexander has teamed up with legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin for "Rocksteady, " a tribute to their early ska roots. This new collaboration harks back to Studio One classic style of recording-no overdubs, no tricks. They'll tour this spring to support this release. Visit http://www.telarc.com/ to purchase the CD.

For conscious dancehall fans, Penthouse Distribution's "Dancehall 2004" contains 17 tracks featuring the production talent of Donovan Germain. It's recently climbed to number four on the New York Reggae album chart. Tracks include the hit single "Nobody Else" by Assassin and newcomer Nicky Burt, and Beres Hammond's #1 "My Pride and Joy." Other artists include Marcia Griffiths & Anthony B performing together, Buju Banton, Gregory Isaacs, Bounty Killer, Chaka Demus, Sweet C, Torch, Nadine Sutherland, Ifrica, Jahmel, Richie Rich and Michael Harris.

The reggae compilation CD "Put My Faith In Jah" (on the Righteous Riddims label) features a big bonus for one lucky buyer. Inside one retail copy of this limited edition CD is a ticket good for two free round trip tickets to Jamaica courtesy of Air Jamaica. Go to http://ptosh.com/benefit.html to order your copy while they last. Proceeds benefit the Peter Tosh Foundation. Additionally, tracks from the album are available online via the new Weed format where you can play a song three times before paying for it (weedshare.com), and if you share the files, both you and the artists profit from the online sales revenue. Volume II of "Put My Faith In Jah" is scheduled for a June 2004 release date.

The talented and lovely JUNO Award-winning Canadian reggae star Sonia Collymore--former singer for Beres Hammond--has released her new single "Takes 2 To Play The Game" in advance of the summer release for the album "YG (What You See Is What You Get)."

RAS Records has two CDs set for June 2004 release: "Open the Door," by Gregory Isaacs features producers Mafia & Fluxy, and the latest from Sizzla, "Jah Knows Best."

Baldread the Bald Head Dread (Mustapha Craig, the toaster for the Bay Area's reggae rocker group Red Di) has released his second solo CD entitled "Inna DanceHall." You can listen and purchase the CD at www.cdbaby.com or check out www.baldread.com for more information.

The "Standpipe Rhythm" is now available from All Access Entertainment and FIWI Records. Artists riding the riddim include Kris Kelli, Yogie, Lenn Hammond, Brah Yhan, Ma'Shall, G. Scott, and K-OS.

DVD & BOOK NEWS

Are you ready to wind your waist? The DVD "How Fi Dance Reggae, Vol. 1" (Scent-U-Us, $14.95, ages 18+) demonstrates the hottest reggae dance styles from New York to Jamaica. Narrated by Natty Paul, the DVD also features an exclusive interview with the legendary Bogle.

Resin Music has just released "Reggae Nation: The Real Spring Break." Filmed in Mexico, the show's performers include Eek-A-Mouse, Mr. Vegas, Tippa Irie, Badfish, music by Sean Paul, Slightly Stoopid, plus wild college students, Hawaiian Tropic girls, hard-body contests, pro surfing, clubbing and more. MTV's Syrus hosts this R-rated DVD. Includes a bonus audio CD.

"Rasta Heart:A Journey Into One Love," by Robert and Julia Roskind, chronicles that events leading to the 2002 Gathering of the Healers: The Healing of the Nation press conference held at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica. This book follows the journey of the authors and well-known Jamaicans--including Bob Marley's mother Mama B; wife Rita Marley; children Julian, Damian, Kymani, Stephanie and Sharon; musicians Luciano, Denroy Morgan and Tony Rebel; and political figures Antonnette Haughton, Prime Minister Patterson and Edward Seaga--to the meeting where they asked the people of Jamaica to be the first country ever to heal itself with "one love." Since that conference, the murder rate in Jamaica, which had been climbing for 14 straight months, has dropped by twenty percent. "Rasta Heart" is now available for $7.50 per copy (half-price) from One Love Press or at Amazon.com. Additionally, "One Love, Healing of the Nation" concerts will be held throughout the year. Check the website at http://www.onelovepress.com for more information.

REGGAE FROM OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

With the success of Midnite, St. Croix's phenomenal reggae band, it seems that more reggae artists from islands other than Jamaica are reaching U.S. shores. Inner Visions--a roots reggae band from the tiny island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands--has recently completed its first U.S. tour after 25 years of Caribbean exposure.

Mt. Nebo Records is an independent reggae label in the Virgin Islands, with studio offices outside of Washington, D.C. Their groundbreaking 2002 release, "Talkin' Roots - Volume 1," won the IReggae.com Compilation of the Year. Watch for the follow-up this year.

Also from St.Croix, roots singer Dezarie, with special guest "Ikahba," embark on their "Gracious Mama Africa, Troddin To Zion Tour" beginning in June.

Nasio Fontaine, the reggae artist formerly from Dominica, is on the lineup for Reggae on the River 2004. He'll be touring the U.S. West Coast this summer, after performing in Miami, Washington, D.C. and Jamaica this past winter. http://www.Nasioreggae.com

In Dominica, youth AIMA (Aimaziah Moses) recently released his first CD "No Barriers." Sounding somewhat like Sizzla, Aima's CD showcases 16 of his songs. An impressive debut. (Call 212-268-4993 in N.Y. or 767-449-8883 in Dominica for more info.)

BAY AREA CLUB NEWS

Congratulations to DJ Smoky and his King of Kings posse on their two-year anniversary of bringing reggae music to the Shattuck Down Low in Berkeley, CA. Check out their anniversary party on April 18, 2004 featuring Jamaican artist Determine along with numerous local DJs. (See related article at http://www.jahworks.org/music/KingofKings.htm.)

"Red"--a new party on Friday nights--goes down at Simone's (380 Embarcadero West) in Oakland's Jack London Square (the old Oak tree Building). Resident DJ Henry spins soul, R & B, dancehall, urban grooves and neo-soul with special guests Toks, Sake 1, Daniella and more. http://www.newvibe.com

WEB RADIO & LINKS

Reggae webcasts emanate from around the world. Tune in to http://www.dancehallstyle.zik.mu every Monday (9 p.m.) and Tuesday (4 p.m.) to hear Prince Thierry as he broadcasts from France (showtimes are local).

DJ Lance-O hosts Reggae Vibes at http://www.kulchashok.com. Lance-O is now featured on Power 96 FM in Miami from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sundays, at http://www.power96.com.

ReggaeJams Radio broadcasts 24/7 through www.djgerg.com, offering an 11 hour mix of dancehall, reggae, and soca music. DJ Gerg is also found on Live 365 Radio at http://www.live365.com/stations/reggaejams?play.

If you're not blessed with access to my favorite music store, Amoeba Records, check into Ernie B's Reggae Distribution at http://www.ebreggae.com for a huge selection of reggae, from the classics to the hottest riddims.

Corinne Mah is a freelance writer and publishing specialist based in San Francisco and the Commonwealth of Dominica. A veteran of the music business, she has worked with diverse musical genres in various locations for more than 20 years.