The Rounds: Bajan songwriter to open for Beyonce

In this edition:

• Bunji and Fay-Ann give frist concert following the birth of baby Syri
• Happy Birthday Super Jigga TC
• Happy Birthday Skinny Fabulous
• Carnivals; Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco
• Shontelle Layne to open for Beyonce's UK tour
• Synnnah signs a recording deal

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Where were you when Benjai, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons gave their first full length soca concert following a historic 2009 Trinidad Carnival season? Me? I-WAS-THERE at I LOVE SOCA...Watching every glorious moment of the much anticipated event. ...As Benjai did his funky dance moves. ....As Bunji literally bounced with jitters to get back on stage as the band 

struck the opening chords. I was there when Fay-Ann made us “Focus” on her fit body, that just 10 weeks ago was fat-and-round-and-pregnant! That show was full of highlights. Big up Dr. Jay for consistently coming through for Toronto with top rate entertainment!

Birthday Boy TC and Moi! (Toronto, 2009)

Yesterday, Trinidad’s Super Jigga TC was marking an historic occasion yesterday too! It was his 32nd birthday! So b-day shouts go south to the DJ, radio and TV personality, host of Synergy Soca star, songwriter and soca artiste! Hope it was wonderful. Speaking of birthdays, St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous is revving up for his 26th birthday this Wednesday. He recently wrapped up his penultimate semester at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, just in time to kick it at home for Vincy Mas! First stop, Atlanta Carnival.

Skinny will be a joining a cast that includes Iwer George, Red Hot Flames, Superblue, and more at Atlanta’s Festival Village next Saturday and Sunday. But, America’s biggest city in the sSuth will be teeming with activity as 3 ( count em) THREE different festival committees host separate Caribbean carnivals over Memorial Day weekend.

The Nurse and the Skinny, (New York, 2008)

A few hours down the I-75, the city of Orlando will be jumping up for carnival too. San Francisco also traditionally celebrates Carnival this time of year. The party continues in 2009, with a decidedly latin feel. So, if you’re looking for soca ...you’re better off on the East Coast.

Bajan singer songwriter, Shontelle Layne will be on a completely different coast from now until at least June 9th. The award-winning soca songwriter, who is turning heads as she launches her career as an R&B diva, will be the opening act for all 15 date of her UK tour. Congrats girl! Knock ‘em dead.

The Grenadian artist who brought us "10 Commandments of a Jab Jab" recently signed with a small US label to make his music available to international audiences. Synnnah will be working with Sam Michaels and Dan Matthews of Klubjumpers. That duo are grammy winners who have worked with the likes of Mariah Carey and Lil Wayne in the past. Synnnah’s new sound will evolve into something more clubby than usual, but he hopes that eventually he will be able to introduce the US market to that real deal type of soca.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information, you already know to check me out at Nurse dash Karen dot com. Or follow me – Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now, back to de docta!