The Rounds: Machel Montano to Release a new album on Delicious

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Happy Easter. Today marks the beginning of the official carnival week in Jamaica. With Lent behind us, our friends in Jamaica have no excuse not to indulge in the fullness of the season. Next Saturday morning is a beachside j'ouvert like no other. Then it's time to don all the pretty costumes next Sunday.

Theatre-goers in Trinidad got a special treat from the Easter bunny at Queen's Hall this weekend. A trini-verson of the Grease musical opened on Thursday. Danny Zuko's gang has changed from the Burger Boys to the Roti Boys, and Sandy Digregorio becomes Sandy Beach. Most of the songs from the original production have stayed the same, but naturally, the rhythms have evolved from 1950's rock and roll to soca and chutney.

A date has been set for the 27th annual International Reggae and World Music awards. The show goes back to New York's Apollo Theatre in Harlem on May 4th. There's not much soca being recognized, however, Machel Montano makes the list with three nominations.

Speaking of Machel Montano, if you missed his twenty-fifth anniversary performance last year at New York's Madison Square Garden. You're in luck! He'll giving two more shows on March 28th in the same world-calss venue at 8pm and 12 am. This year, the amazing production goes beyond all things HD to include a host of guest performers, including international favourites who made a splash at Trinidad's Carnival. With 2008 hits like Congoman and Oil and Music, naturally The Mighty Sparrow and David Rudder had to come along for the ride. But that's not it! Jamaica's Macka Diamond will be there to perform Mo Wuk with Patrice Roberts. Peter Ram will bring the carnival bacchanal of Crop Over with "Pumpin'", while St. Lucia's Rikki T and St. Vincent's Problem Child are gonna represent the Windward Islands with their road march winning anthems.

It's perfect timing for a show of this magnitude. Machel's got a new album dropping in April!

I understand that might be confusing if you're in Trinidad and you've already been pumping the Flame On album since February. I'm not sure how much this new offering will differ from his catalogue of 2008 soca hits, but it WILL soon be released internationally on the Delicious Vinyl label. It's called Wining Season. Boasting the Shaggy remix of the title track, plus Defense - Machel's remake of Lil Jon and Pitbull's 2007 reggaeton song The Anthem, there's hope this latest release will have some crossover appeal.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Be sure to leave me your comments at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W dot mustard seeds dot net! Now back to de doctor.