The Rounds - February 26, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
February 26, 2006
490
Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
It’s Carnival Sunday in Trinidad…and guess who ain’ kay? Ok…Ah lie. Better watch what I say, cause the doctor would have my head. I do care, but I’m just a little jealous. I’m here contending with snow and the February blahs, while Doctor Jay’s only concern is how to keep his energy up for days on end of fun fun fun.
Mr. Shurwayne Winchester is having himself a great carnival. Friday night he snatched the International Soca Monarch crown from defending champion Bunji Garlin. But not only that…the singer of sweet sultry songs from Tobago stole the Groovy Soca Monarch title too. So meh friends, if you’re not acquainted with his big tune “Can’t Wait”. Well you better don’t wait…because right now it’s the biggest soca song anywhere.

Not everyone was happy about Winchester’s win on Friday. De Gals dem Sugar…also known as Beenie Man, was there as a guest artiste. He came on the stage making noise about the competition judges’ decision. Woy…is like the Olympics in T&T!!! You didn’t hear if from me, but I hear the French judge had a deal with the Russians! HA!!! Don’t worry with me and my comess. I gotta make my own fun, while I’m here alone in all the snow.
I spoke to Dr. Jay this week and he tells me he’s having a wonderful time. The music: hot! The people: hotter…and the temperature will only increase to a climax on Monday and Tuesday. That’s when the madness hits the road.
But you all know, Trinidad is not the only place on the globe jumping up to soca right now. Member I told you about the Carib Soca Monarch competition in Guyana? Pressure! Michelle “Big Red” King was crowned champion on Monday morning, but last year’s King, Adrian Dutchin did not let her celebrate for long before he called for a Re-Count! Well, they don’t play in Guyana. The dispute has flooded the news for nearly a week and Big Red says, she wants the matter resolved in court. Music is serious business, ah tell you. Especially when there’s money at stake. (Is like that French Judge real making de rounds) tee hee
In case you were wondering, they don’t play in St. Vincent either. The annual Vincy Mas carnival is one of the biggest in the Caribbean. Every year a slew of talented artists pump out new tunes that keep the whole Caribbean bumping for a long time to come. . Once St. Vincent Carnvial comes around there’s no shortage of mas and music. It’s followed by St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Caribana, Nottinghill, Labour Day and…and all that before the Summer is through. Well Vincy Mas isn’t until July, so why am I talking about it now? The multi-island paradise that brings you stars like Kevin Lyttle, Jamesy P, Bomani and Skinny Fabulous. The jewels of the Caribbean that give you classics like “Teaser”, Rudeness on the Road, and “I Doh Mind”…and big time riddims like the Lava Slide…has already begun releasing tunes for Vincy Mas 2K6. Problem Child, the man who brought you MAD last year…has a new one called “Friends with benefits”. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Dr. Jay played it for you two weeks ago. He was the first DJ in Canada to have it. And when DJ’s start playing Vincy Music, it could only mean one thing…Summer is right around the corner!
I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Lata!

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The Rounds - February 19, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
February 19, 2006
490

Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
Just one week ‘til the main event in Trinidad and if you ask me, the world feels a little off kilter. The big man in the business has hit the ground running in T&T with a slew of other heavy weight DJs and artistes. For the next ten days, the soca world will revolve around the birthplace of steelpan and calypso. And my friends, we have no choice but to succumb to its gravitational pull.

Who will be Soca Monarch? Who will win road march? Which soca diva has the most mesmerizing wine? Have patience my patients, the answers will be yours in two weeks time.
Don’t fret though… I do have a l’il news for you NOW as well. Last weekend Rooplal Girdharrie dethroned Heeralal Rampartap to become the 2006 Chutney Soca Monarch Champion OF THE WORLD!!!! (or sumting so! Teehee) He sang his way into the big leagues with "The Last Jump Up" and "Dholak Bhajayai". Pardon the mispronunciation; it seems meh Hindi is escaping me!
In any language, and in any land…one thing I understand is carnival. Two young Dominicans are expressing the joy and pageantry of Mas Dominique in a whole new way. Gerald Mathews and Daryl Thomas have created a web site that will let people like you and me watch real time video of all the official carnival events over the internet. Take a look at Dominica Carnival Dot Com for a schedule of upcoming broadcasts.

On Friday, the official schedule of events for Bacchanal Jamaica was released to the public. Revellers can look forward to events like the popular Beach J’Ouvert, Pan Night, Bazodee and the Road Parade. We’ll keep you up to de time…come April, when Jamaica’s carnival season really heats up.

Now about heat…I have to say, I’m sorry I didn’t head south with Doctor Jay. In Port of Spain, they had a little today, but it was a balmy 30 degrees. If the weather doesn’t hold up (No fear of that) but if it doesn’t. We know Dr. Jay will create some heat on Tuesday when he plays at GLOW Exotica alongside Ginuwine, Destra, Alison Hinds, Maximus Dan and many more. FY-ERRRR!!!!

So, if you’re about to board a plane in the next few days, have fun…but remember to be safe. As a good friend of mine in jolly old England likes to say, "don’t just live for the moment live for the memory of the moment." So, we look forward to hearing from you when you get back!
I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Lata!

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The Rounds - February 12, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
February 12, 2006
490

Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
Trinidad carnival is in full swing. That can’t possibly be a surprise to you, unless you live under a rock. The action comes to its climax on February 27th and 28th. That’s when the streets of Port of Spain literally dance in a cavalcade of colour and music.
Festival fever hit Trinidad months ago...and here in Toronto we’ve now officially caught on. Last night’s Doh Cry Ah Leaving party….was Doctor Jay’s eleventh annual warm up fete before he takes off to flatten Trinidad. This is a party that noooooooooo-body ever wants to miss. To prove it, soca lovers like you gobbled up eleven-hundred discounted tickets in less than four hours. Toronto must be ready fuh Carnival in truth…because these tickets sold like hot doubles a whole FOUR weeks before the party. Now today, the nurse is here to help you recover. All that sweetness…can be dangerous if you’re not used to it. So we gonna give it to you one dose at time.
Thursday night, Fireball became the first winner of the Synergy Soca Star competition. That’s a little something like Canadian Idol for Soca. He took the title after wowing thousands of screaming fans to the tune of “Don’t Stop” by Shurwayne Winchester’ . Taking his name to heart, this little upstart moved through the crowd on the shoulders of his supporters who were led by flame bearers. Watch out Bunji….this one might be the next Fireman.
If you’re packing your bags for T&T and you’re planning to attend the Soca Warriors fete on Carnival Saturday, I have some bad news for you. Miss Janet Jackson will no longer be hosting the event. HER people say that she’s skipping carnival due to health problems. However, other reports from New York make the bold claim that Janet is packing on the pounds and just might be preggers. Well, gyurl dat is not what we would call a health problem in my profession. But what do I know, really? I’m not a doctor!

I’ll tell you what I do know. The festivities are coming fast and furious in Trinidad. Last week saw the Chutney Soca Monarch finals, and two fetes dedicated to the best female performers: Ladies night Out and Soca Divas Live…and it’s only getting started.

Over in Guyana, the Carib Soca Monarch competition will wrap up next weekend. All three female semi finalists have advanced to the finals. I hear that the semis were rather lack luster this year, with one notable exception. Joann Goodluck, also known as DJ Madonna is said to have gripped the audience with her outfit as much as her performance. Journalists described her skirt as eye-popping, and x-rated…mind you….nobody seems to remember what song she sang.

I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds - February 5, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
February 5, 2006
450

Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
It’s February now and there’s no shortage of things to celebrate. Black History Month, Super Sunday, Mas Domnik, Trinidad Carnival…It’s no wonder valentines falls this month…cuz I think I’m in love.

Last week Dr. Jay really raised some eyebrows when he premiered a soca remix of Secrets by Ginuwine. What, you didn’t hear? Ginuwine has a soca tune featuring Bunji Garlin and 2 Intrigue…and if you want to hear it live…you can catch him on stage at GLOW for Trinidad Carnival. No my sweets…the slick R&B crooner will not be riding pony, and not quite doing the donkey dance either. But still…dat is a serious soca debut. The Glow fete has been an international favourite for the last six years. The party features some of the best soca artistes and tours to Carnivals in Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent, Jamaica, London, Miami, New York, Washington DC and even here in Toronto. But it doesn’t stop there, artists featured at Glow also get featured on an annual compilation CD. So music crossover goes both ways…and these days soca is where it’s at.

Musical mastermind Machel Montano has experimented with different sounds and styles throughout his career. For 2006, he’s already collaborated with Mr. Vegas, a crowd pleaser in the world of Jamaican Dancehall. But he’s keeping it local too. Yet again Machel is trying his hand at Chutney Soca. Montano has joined forces with fellow Trini Andy Singh to create a little ditty called “Sundar Larki”. They say it means Beautiful Women…of course if they had just named it after me they wouldn’t have to explain.

The semi finals of the TSTT International Soca Monarch Competition went off last week at Soca Broadway. The crowd had a whale of a time, but local residents of Woodbook were not having sot much fun. Apparently, the carnival events kicking off at Hasley Crawford Stadium are breaking the law. Too much noise pollution! Now, I’m not saying the monarch contenders sound like a set of pots and pans….but, they sure are loud. The top scorers were Mr. Vybe’s hit “The Thing” and “We Reach” by Iwer George. For those of you who were rooting for the Grenadian artiste vying for top honours. Sorry to say, soca sweet boy Sheldon Douglas is the only one who got through. Papers in T&T report that Baby Killa’s stage show simply could not compare to the backflips he came with last year. Tallpree left didn’t turn heads AT TALL. And this one’s my favourite…but only because I’m a nurse. Newcomer Nnika had trouble pulling it together after her vomiting spell backstage. IS OK baby…probably just some bad curry ar sumting.

I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de docta!

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