The Rounds: Was a soca nominated for a "Canadian Grammy"?

Originally aired on "Soca Therapy"
Flow 93.5 FM Toronto (Sunday, April 18, 2010)
with Dr. Jay, Marxman and Nurse Karen

- Montreal Soca DJ gets nominated for a Juno Award (Canada)
- Machel gets 5 IRAWMA nods (Trinidad / USA)
- Happy Birthday 5Star Akil (Trinidad), and Jalena (BVI)
- BVI Music Fest line up announced (BVI)
- Kerwin Du Bois and Farmer Nappy to perform in Toronto (Canada / Trinidad)

Good evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Tonight the Canadian Music industry is gathered to distribute the Juno Awards in St John’s, Newfoundland. We will all the nominees the best of luck. It’s exciting to see the international appeal of Canadian music growing each and every year.

Now, we all know there’s no soca category at the Juno’s, but this year there happens to be one song nominated in the Best Reggae Recording Category that the producer himself considers to be a variation of soca. If you get a chance, get online and look for “Wha-la-la-leng” by Face-T, produced by Montreal touring DJ Ghislain Poirier.

Ghislain Poirier and Nurse Karen in Toronto 2009

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The tune was originally recorded for Poirier’s 2009 Running High EP, for which the whole team gave a live performance right here in Toronto two Thursdays ago. A win tonight would be highly unlikely for such a hard to categorize song, but none the less, 3 snaps for soca!!!

So if half of a song in the wrong category doesn’t exactly satisfy your craving for soca music at an awards show, might I remind you that the International Reggae and World Music Awards are set for May in New York. Not only are Fay-Ann, Skinny, Alison, Machel and others nominated for top honours, (Machel leading the race with 5 nods), but a few of them will be performing live....AND... you can still vote online to support your favourites. Check them out at I. R. A. W. M. A. Dot com.

Nurse Karen with Machel Montano, Toronto 2007

Today’s happy birthday greeting go out to DJ Five star Akil’s in Trinidad. You heard me mention his unfortunate multiple gunshot wound incident last week. I’m sure like never before, he’s celebrating life. On Wednesday, BVI songstress Jelena will ring in her special day.

Knowing Jalena, the celebrations probably started this weekend, since it was officially announced that she will join a cast including the likes of WCK, Gyptian, Nina Sky, Fantasia Barrino and Harella to perform at the 2010 BVI music festival at the end of May. The weekend long festival draws talents from across the Caribbean, and the United States to the British Virgin Islands.

Nurse Karen with Birthday Day Girl Jalena in St. Vincent, 2009

If you’re looking for something to do this Friday, why don’t you come and join de Doctor at Best Fete Forver aka BFF, with special guests Kerwin Du Bois and Farmer Nappy. It’s a party with a purpose, so be sure to attend with lots of canned food in tow, to help the Daily Bread Food Bank and to get in for a special discounted price.

Kerwin Du Bois and Nurse Karen in Washington, D.C, 2009

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on everything shared tonight. Check me online at Nurse Dash Karen dot com, or follow me “Nurse Karen” on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta...


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On De Scene : St.Lucia Carnival Calendar 2010

It has been a while soca lovers but Carnival is a mere 3 months away in St.Lucia and promoters, artists and bands are not wasting any time with starting up the festivities! I must admit this year things are shaping up nicely. So eager!

So here is an update on everything St.Lucia Carnival

NG Soca Stage will be kicking things off with their first event dubbed "Soca Therapy" on April 17th 2010. Music is coming in slowly as everyone paces themselves to what is expected to be a successful season.

Also the following bands have announced their Launch dates :

Just 4 Fun Carnival Band portraying " THE GREAT LOVES OF THE PAST" - April 24th , 2010

Red Unlimited Carnival Band portraying " UNSPOKEN DESIRES" - May 8th,2010

Toxik Carnival Band portraying "MAS BEYOND" - May 15th, 2010

From the looks of things, 2010 has by few more websites pertaining solely to St.Lucia Carnival on de scene.

www.luciancarnival.com

www.slucarnival.com

www.stluciacarnival.net

So what excuse you have for not being informed? NONE!

Lastly , I was fortunate to get my hands on the Calendar of Events for St.Lucia Carnival 2010 compliments www.stluciacarnival.net .

SAINT LUCIA CARNIVAL 2010

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Events marked with a Red Astrix will be broadcasted live on the website.

• Lucian Line Jam – Monday 24^th May – 2:00 pm

• Press & Sponsors Launch – Wednesday 26^th May – 8:00 pm

• Official Carnival Launch – Sunday 30^th May – 3:00 pm*

• Carnival Queen Show – Sunday 27^th June – 6:00 pm*

• Kaiso Headquarters – Friday 2^nd July – 8:30 pm

• Groovy Soca Monarch – Saturday 3^rd July – 8:00 pm*

• RC Jam – Sunday 4^th July – 4:00 pm

• Calypso Semi Finals – Sunday 4^th July – 4:00 pm*

• Soca Monarch Finals – Saturday 10^th July- 8:00 pm*

• National Junior Carnival – Sunday 11^th July – 1:00 pm

• Carnival Arts Exhibition – Monday 12^th – Friday 16^th July – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

• Mas On The Square – Monday 12^th – Wednesday 14^th July – 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
• Mas On The Square – Thursday 15^th – Friday 16^th July – 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

• Inter Commercial House Calypso Competition – Thursday 15^th July – 8:00 pm*

• Panorama – Friday 16^th July – 8:00 pm

• Muzik An Nou (The Music In Us) - Saturday 17^th July – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

• Calypso Monarch Finals – Saturday 17^th July – 8:00 pm*

• King & Queen Of The Bands & Caribbean Soca Monarch – Sunday 18^thJuly – 8:00 pm*

• J’Ouvert – Monday 19^th July – 4:00 am to 8:00 am

• The Pageant - Monday 19^th July – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm*

• Parade of the Bands – Tuesday 20^th July – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm*

Please Note: Dates and Events are subject to change; Venues will be announced at a later date;

For more information please contact

The Cultural Development Foundation

Barnard Hill, Castries

Tel: +1 (758) -452-1859

e-mail: cdf@candw.lc

Stay Tuned Guys as St.Lucia Carnival Unfolds.

Peace and Soca

Rochelle

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The Rounds: Usain Bolt jumps into the action for Bacchanal J'ouvert

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Jamaicas two carnivals come to a dramatic end this weekend. Friday night, revellers, artistes and local heros got together in a cloud of mud, powder, paint and water for Bacchanal J’ouvert. Jamaican dancehall king and carnival lover Sean Paul, was sorry he had to run away from the excitement early to catch a flight to Australia, but the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt was in no rush for J’ouvert to end. Nope, not at all...he was in the middle of the action at Mas Camp in Kingston covered from hear to toe in Blue and White paint!

Photo of Usain Bolt courtesy of www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Over in Virgin Gorda, King Paido won his 4th Calypso Monarch Title with the songs “Time to Check Ourselves”, and “Dey Pon Farmville” a chune about that game on Facebook that half of you are probably playing right now. So now he’s got four wins in Virgin Gorda, the last being in 2000, to match the four wins he has in Tortola as well. If you ask me, there’s a good reason they call the man King.

St. Thomas has crowned their first ever party monarch last weekend, and HER name is Rudy! The addition of the competition, is a definite step in the right direction for Soca Music in the US Virgin Islands. The tune is called Pressure Me and a video for said song is just around the corner. So don’t forget to check me for that when the time comes.

After this weekend, the next big carnivals on deck are St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. But New Yorkers will be plunged headlong into both carnivals before the soca lovers in the island even get to. Last night in Brooklyn, the Vincy community paid tribute to one of its best loved calypso and soca artists, POORSAH. This year marks 30 years in the biz for the iconic political and social commentator. Known for his tiny stature, nasal voice and frantic running and pacing on stage, Poorsah has 5 road march titles under his belt.

Poorsah at SVG Soca Monarch Semifinals, 2008

St. Lucians in New York are gearing up for... “I must be in dat” the event dubbed as the Official US launch of St. Lucia Carnival. It will feature 2010 mas presentations from a variety of popular mas bands, top DJS, and of course, performances from a cast of St. Lucian artists. I think the best thing about it is that Brooklynites will get a chance to register for Lucian Carnival costumes on site, before they even book flights to head to home in July.

When I was in Trinidad for Carnival, I was surprised to turn on the TV and see that Akil Borneo, a popular DJ on 96 We FM had put out a song as a soca artist under the name 5Star Akil. Well, that same guy made news for a completely different reason this past week. On Thursday Akil narrowly escaped death after being shot 5 times in St James Trinidad. He was rushed to hospital where he was swiftly operated on. While he’s not completely out of the woods yet, the good news is, he is in stable condition with hopes to recover.

My shot of Akil on the mic Carnival Tuesday 2009 with Evolution mas band, Trinidad

Before I go, special belated birthday greetings go out to Knycky Cordner who celebrated her special day on Monday in Trinidad. Patrice Roberts turns 25 today, and Sizwe C turns 30 on the 16th. Happy Birthday to all. I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on everything I mentioned tonight, visit me online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow your favourite non-medical Nurse on Twitter. Twitter dot com slash Nurse Karen. Now back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: 96 WE FM DJ shot 5 times in Trinidad

Akil Borneo

Disturbing news out of Trinidad last night.  Popular 96 WE FM disc jockey Akil of Associate Degree was shot five times  in the area of St. James.  Thanks be to God, he managed to survive, but he's in hospital.  I have heard conflicting reports of his present condition. For the 2010 Carnival season, he tried his hand at being an artiste, under the moniker, 5Star.  

His first release was a song called "5 Star Bumper" for which the below video was produced. It  received fair rotation on the nation's music channel, Synergy TV.

Stay tunes for updates as they become available.






My thoughts and prayers are going up on your behalf today, Akil.  Here's hoping for a fast and complete recovery.

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The Rounds: How soca artists spent Easter...

Originally aired on Sunday, April 4, 2010 on "Soca Therapy" on Flow 93.5 FM, Toronto with Dr. Jay and Marxman.

In this edition:

- Destra's first post preggers performance in Toronto. (Trinidad / Canada)
- Toronto Fire Fete (Canada)
- Edwin at Virgin Gorda Carnival (Barbados / BVI)
- Oscar B returns to Jamaica (Tobago / Jamaica)
- Artists observing Easter (Barbados / Jamaica)
- Changes in store for Crop Over 2010 (Barbados)



Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. It’s easter Sunday and it’s my hope that my voice finds you surrounded by family, friends and everlasting hope as you celebrate God’s promise of eternal life. If by chance you find yourself alone today. Think again. Dozens of soca artists are forced to be away from loved ones as they travel internationally to entertain fans.

I chose to spend last night with family, but the cast of Toronto Fire Fete spent a good chunk of the special weekend away from home. The show boasted Destra’s first show in T-Dot in almost two years. Not to mention, her first local appearance since she gave birth to little Xaiya!!! Yes gentlemen. She has her body back. And you know Destra, she’s definitely still thick in all the right places.

Destra back in all her glory on Saturday night (Photo by Soca Dread)

Patch created a gutter riddim Frenzy, selling pipe on Canadian soil. Terri Lyons, made her sweet voice known to Toronto. Trinidad’s Dynamic Duo JW and Blaze Palanced thru the city ...as is their custom. Skinny Fabulous let go the Vincy beast , etc, etc. My point is...Sometimes you gotta do what you got to do where you gotta do it, and if you find yourself away from the people you love this holiday. At least you have us ! (Awwww....)

JW and Blaze at another Toronto performance last month

Edwin Yearwood woke up today on the Island of Virgin Gorda after a well received performance at THEIR Easter Festival last night. There really is no place like home in Barbados, for him, but Management tells me that the seven thousand dollar a night villa they stayed in makes up for at least SOME of the inconvenience.

Tobagonian soca singer Oscar B left his fam in Tand T to returned to Jamaica for the first time in a long time. He lived and worked there as a singer in Byron Lee and the Dragonaires for eighteen years , having recorded such hits as Soca Tattie and Soca Butterfly. Beyond his excitement over taking to those familiar stages once again, Oscar says he’s looking forward to de bun and cheese!

If you’re not out painting the town red to the sounds of soca this weekend, trust me you’re not in the minority. Many artistes are deeply spiritual, and prefer to break their Lenten fasts with worship and thanksgiving in the traditional way. Dancehall/crossover icon Mr. Vegas wasn’t going to let anything keep him out of church this morning, and Bajan Party Monarch and Sweet Soca Monarch TC was heading to an Easter play when I chatted with her today.

Nurse Karen and TC at Trinidad Soca Monarch (Feb 2010)

Looks like she will be defending her crowns in a new venue this year, as the Those competitions will no longer be held at East Coast or Farley Hill National Park for that matter. The event will be rebranded “Soca Royale” , the wheres and whens of which are yet to be announced. Barbados Ministry of Culture just announced a slew of venue changes for the upcoming Crop Over season, including a new route for the Kadooment day parade.
I’ll be sure to get all the details on that for you in the upcoming weeks, but for now. Enjoy this blessed Easter, wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing. I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on the stories you heard today, visit me online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow me, “Nursekaren” on Twitter. Now, back to de docta!

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Booster Shot: Happy Birthday Knycky Cordner!

Wishing a blessed and happy birthday to a cousin in the cousin culture, matron in the music and sister in the struggle.

Today we celebrate the birth of Nurse Karen Etc's very own Knycky Cordner, a woman who has truly done it all.  Known for great looks, exceptional talent and a vibrant personality, Knycky is a fixture in the Trinidad entertainment community whose contributions span music, radio, television and the written word.  She is a straight-talker who's no nonsense attitude and electrifying smile inspire thousands of viewers and fans of Digicel Rising Star and the band Ventures.

Our girl's recent triumph over hip surgery has been an inspiration to witness from the sidelines as she continues to stick to her commitments and convictions with elegance and poise.  In short we love her.

Looking forward to reading more of her insightful views right here on this blog!

Happy Birthday Knycky, Have a great one!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen


Enjoy Knycky's humorous 2009 release "Bam Bam Take Over Town"

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Eye Unit: Terry Seales - Stalker

Follow me on Twitter...

Twitter.com/NurseKaren

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