The Rounds - May 28, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
May 28, 2006
Good Evening Soca lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
I just don’t get it. Far be it from me to complain about the weather when it’s hot and sunny. But how come the long weekend was soooooooooo cold, and now that bikini weather has struck…I wukkin’ Monday and de Yankees and dem have an extra day to fete.
So, it’s all systems go for carnival in San Francisco, Orlando and Atlanta. And if you were at Soca or Die last Sunday, you might believe that it’s carnival time in Toronto too. You should see people! So, don’t mind me. I acting vex that I have to work this weekend. But last weekend, I was real wukking. A little wuk for Kes the Band, A little wuk fuh Destra…and a whole set a wuk for Maximus Dan.
As much as we may complain about what we have to do to pay the bills, you gotta to be thankful that you can make your daily bread. Five weeks ago sexy soca crooner Bomani broke his jaw at a show in New York. Imagine that. You sing to make your living, then you end up in a freak accident that means you can’t open your mouth to sing…just months before your busiest time of year. The former Vincy Soca Monarch had his mouth wired shut for over a month…but on Wednesday they finally freed his jaw. He will be back to work…releasing his new songs for Vincy Mas next week.
Kevin Lyttle is hard at work right now too. Most of us would think that a guy like him has life pretty easy. I mean, how many soca artists can say they’re signed to a major record label? Well, meh friends that is a good question because Kevin Lyttle can’t say that either. Well…Not anymore! Atlantic Records was happy to cash in a few years ago. Turn Me On was a big hit that pushed Kevin Lyttle’s self titled album to sell more than 2 million copies worldwide. But, times tuff dread…it’s back to the drawing board. Lyttle was released from his contract…and now he’s in studio making new music that’s ten times hotter. I guess now we could say he’s self employed…
But such is life. Tomorrow is Monday and for most of us it’s back to work… All things considered, you might as well count your blessings.
I’m Nurse Karen and those are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to SOCA at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Keep on wukking! Now back to de doctor…

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The Rounds - May 21, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
May 21, 2006
Good Evening Soca lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
We live in a time when everyone (and dey bruddah) have an opinion, but facts can be a little harder to find. Such is the case with Toronto’s beloved Caribana. The story changes from week to week, but even for me…is a little tricky to figure out exactly wey goin’ on! Fact is -- Caribana brings plenty money to de local economy and it brings plenty people to Canada. I hear dat in spite of all the infighting behing the scenes, all other Caribbean carnivals (outside de Caribbean) simply pale in comparison.
It’s de long weekend. De unofficial start to Summer. So, ah decided to make good use of my time off by doing some research. What makes WE ting so nice?
For my case study, I took a look at carnival celebrations in three popular US destinations. Next weekend is de time to jump up in San Francisco, Atlanta and Orlando. There will be fetes and mas bands and j’ouvert and ting…so is de real thing. Or so, I thought. Over in Atlanta, the celebrations started in the early 1990’s, when Caribana had already been up and running for 25 years. They call it Peach Carnival after the state fruit, a fruit that can’t even grow in the Caribbean, by the way. So dat might be why the recipe doesn’t work as well down there. Doh get me wrong…they’re running a smooth event and it looks like, we could learn something from our neighbours. For the first time ever two rival organizations joined forces to make this year’s Atlanta carnival the best one yet. The Carnival Bandleader’s Association joined forces with the Atlanta Peach Carnival to deliver the Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival and the Parade of the Bands. They had Kiddies Carnival yesterday too.
That is one element of Carnival that just took root in the Caymen Islands this year for the very first time. Remember I done tell you about Batabano Carnival down there. I UNDERSTAND that the Caymen Islands is a nation in the Caribbean that used to be governed by Jamaica. But what I don’t get is how come the main attractions at jr. carnival had so little to do with anything Caribbean. I mean everybody loves celebrities, children no less…but did they have to go with Mickey Mouse and Sponge Bob? I guess Sponge Bob is OK, afterall he does live in a Pineapple under the sea.
Over in San Francisco, they keep it real. Next weekend Dora the Explorer will Grand Marshall their BIG PEOPLE parade. I ain’t really sure where she come from, but I did see a Dancing Dora at the mall and dat girl could real wine she waist. San Fran has a more multicultural focus than Caribana since it was started by both the Latin American and Caribbean communities…and authentic mas still shines through. Mas Makers Massive is one camp that has been there from the start. This year it’s all about "Canboulay" , you know the traditional characters: Stick fighters, Baby Doll, the colonial elite and of course de Jamette…allyuh keep allyuh pointing fingers to allyuh selves. Thanks.
Caribana has had it’s brushes with non-traditional characters too, just not of the cartoon persuasion. I still remember seeing Diddy, Biggy and Little Kim on the Lakeshore…oh yeah and Shaq. You can’t miss him! Dat boy long, yes. But even with big time distractions, soca and calypso still come first.
Not in Orlando! It looks like carnival, it smells like carnival…but it sounds like Hip Hop! Well that’s how they advertise it. And if I had to pick one place to free up next weekend…believe me when I say it wouldn’t be the place where soca the last music genre on the list.
So despite troubles in the past, we really had a good thing going with Caribana. Both sides are discussing how to get past the “Crabs in a Barrel” ting they been dealing with for so long. In a statement last week, Canadian Calypsonian and CCC spokesperson Elsworth James said they made a deal for the Mas Bands Association to run this year’s event and even use the Caribana name. The CCC hopes to get back full control of their festival next year.
The fact of the matter is I done with research for today…this my long weekend and from now…I’m studying Soca or Die! I’m Nurse Karen and those are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to SOCA at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de doctor…

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The Rounds - May 7, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
May 7, 2006
Good Evening Soca lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
Everybody knows Nurse Karen has the inside scoop when it comes to soca, so wherever I go people does be asking me for the latest on their favourite stars. St. Vincent’s Kevin Lyttle helped take soca worldwide with the 2001 smash hit “Turn Me On”, last year he bought the attention back to his multi-island paradise with “Home for Carnival”. So, I know all yuh asking…where is he now? This year Kevin Lyttle is taking it to the motherland. I mean Africa. (cuz Kevin mudda from vincy) Kevin Lyttle recently recorded a song with Bobi Wine, a dancehall artist from Uganda. They met in April when both artists were in the UK for a series of shows. The single is due out in July.
If I had to pick Trinidad’s biggest star, it would have to be Machel Montano. When he wrote the words to Scandalous, I think he might have been tapping in to his PSYCHIC powers. Cuz is real scandal for Xtatik these days. Last week, the band’s headquarters was broken into and ransacked by somebody who believed they needed the musical equipment a lot more than the biggest band in soca music. Machel’s mummie (who happens to be the band manager) told the press that the thieves made off with two keyboards, two drum machines, two cordless mics, drumsticks and a CD player. Da-is just rude, ent?
The timing couldn’t have been worse either. Xtatik was set to play the St. Lucia Jazz Festival the next day and Harlem’s Apollo Theatre yesterday leaving them scrambling for equipment.
For the second year in a row Antigua’s rising star of soca monarch fame is launching her very own Mas section. Tonight, Antiguans will get to see Claudette “CP” Peter’s Exotic Red section for the very first time. Exotic Red will hit the road as part of Passions Mas Troupe’s 2K6 presentation, but Peters is having the costumes built at a separate location. As they count down to Carnival, CP’s Mas Camp promises to be the party peoples’ choice, as revelers get set for weekly fetes with Taxik.
Virgin Islands soca band Elvis White may not have shaken up Toronto yet, but their climb to stardom became evident in Atlanta last week. My sources tell me they had the whole crowd dancing at the 2006 Dogwood Festival 2nd Annual Grammy Block Party. A few notable members of the Atlanta chapter of the Recording Academy had nothing but praises for the Caribbean band. That’s gotta mean something good!
Grenada posse, I have some good news for you! Did you hear? August is de Time! That’s the theme for Spice Mas 2006. Grenada’s carnival was officially launched yesterday evening at the Tanteen Netball Courts…So from now on, the first Saturday in May will always mark the beginning of Spice Mas…and a hot and spicy Tuesday in August will always signal the end.
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 doctor…

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The Rounds - May 7, 2006

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
May 7, 2006
Good Evening Soca lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
Everybody knows Nurse Karen has the inside scoop when it comes to soca, so wherever I go people does be asking me for the latest on their favourite stars. St. Vincent’s Kevin Lyttle helped take soca worldwide with the 2001 smash hit “Turn Me On”, last year he bought the attention back to his multi-island paradise with “Home for Carnival”. So, I know all yuh asking…where is he now? This year Kevin Lyttle is taking it to the motherland. I mean Africa. (cuz Kevin mudda from vincy) Kevin Lyttle recently recorded a song with Bobi Wine, a dancehall artist from Uganda. They met in April when both artists were in the UK for a series of shows. The single is due out in July.
If I had to pick Trinidad’s biggest star, it would have to be Machel Montano. When he wrote the words to Scandalous, I think he might have been tapping in to his PSYCHIC powers. Cuz is real scandal for Xtatik these days. Last week, the band’s headquarters was broken into and ransacked by somebody who believed they needed the musical equipment a lot more than the biggest band in soca music. Machel’s mummie (who happens to be the band manager) told the press that the thieves made off with two keyboards, two drum machines, two cordless mics, drumsticks and a CD player. Da-is just rude, ent?
The timing couldn’t have been worse either. Xtatik was set to play the St. Lucia Jazz Festival the next day and Harlem’s Apollo Theatre yesterday leaving them scrambling for equipment.
For the second year in a row Antigua’s rising star of soca monarch fame is launching her very own Mas section. Tonight, Antiguans will get to see Claudette “CP” Peter’s Exotic Red section for the very first time. Exotic Red will hit the road as part of Passions Mas Troupe’s 2K6 presentation, but Peters is having the costumes built at a separate location. As they count down to Carnival, CP’s Mas Camp promises to be the party peoples’ choice, as revelers get set for weekly fetes with Taxik.
Virgin Islands soca band Elvis White may not have shaken up Toronto yet, but their climb to stardom became evident in Atlanta last week. My sources tell me they had the whole crowd dancing at the 2006 Dogwood Festival 2nd Annual Grammy Block Party. A few notable members of the Atlanta chapter of the Recording Academy had nothing but praises for the Caribbean band. That’s gotta mean something good!
Grenada posse, I have some good news for you! Did you hear? August is de Time! That’s the theme for Spice Mas 2006. Grenada’s carnival was officially launched yesterday evening at the Tanteen Netball Courts…So from now on, the first Saturday in May will always mark the beginning of Spice Mas…and a hot and spicy Tuesday in August will always signal the end.
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 doctor…

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