Booster Shot: Roy Cape to be honoured at World Creole Festival

Nurse Karen and Roy Cape (June 2009, St. Vincent)

Dominica's annual World Creole Festival is right around the corner. The music event features a wide variety of music styles that relate to the island's joint African and French heritage. Usually we think of Cadence, Zouk, Bouyon and Kompas when the Creole Festival comes around, however, there's a healthy dose of soca and calypso in the mix as well. This year Trinidadian veteran bandleader, Roy Cape will be among the honorees!

Cape is being recognized for his contribution to Caribbean music for decades, both at home in his native Trinidad and Tobago and in Dominica. He will travel to Dominica to perform in the 3-day long event, October 30 through November 1st. This is the saxophonist's first appearance at the fesitival, although it is reported that Roy Cape's first performance on the Nature Isle was in 1969 with the Sparrow Troubadours. He came back again with Black Stalin in 1988.

The World Creole Festival continues to grow as one of the region's premiere music events. If you like reggae, you can catch Morgan Heritage and Maxi Priest. However, for soca lovers, the final show is looking like a very hot ticket. Scheduled appearances include the likes of WCK, Denise Belfon, Iwer George, KMC, Daddy Chess, Kurt Allen, Chocolate and of course Roy Cape All Stars.

Roy Cape says he was bestowed the 1994 Hummingbird Gold National Award in Trinidad, but he finds it special for another country to pay tribute.

Very special indeed. Congratulations Mr. Cape!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Booster Shot: Iwer George retiring as a soca artiste?

Warning: This one is debatable.  Even so, you heard it here first!

Last Saturday, the big event in Toronto was CVR Fire Fete.  The evening featured performances by: Scrappy, Kenneth Salick, Ricky T, Zoelah, Edwin Yearwood, Super Jigga TC, Skinny Fabulous, Blaxx, KMC and Red White and Black.  Geez, that was a mouthful.  A bunch of other artists were advertized, but those are the ones who actually performed.

Here's the big news.  Iwer George made a couple of big announcements during his performance backed by Red, White and Black.

Lemme sum it up.

• 2009 will be his last year releasing music as an artiste
• He wants to be the next President of Trinidad and Tobago
• He's going back to school to get his Master's

No doubt, the man said every word. 2000 patrons heard it too. Still, it appears I have a few items to confirm, before President George Maxwell Richards should start shaking in his boots.     I know how it goes when a room full of people jumping to your songs, that Carnival Jumbie starts to wine up with the Hennessy Jumbie...and your mouth could be possessed.

Stay tuned!

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

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The Rounds: Machel launches his first book, Boy Boy and the Magic Drum

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.  First, I want to wish all Grenadians a very Happy Independence weekend.  February 7^th marked 35 years since Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique officially became a nation. 

Cruising south in the Caribbean Sea, we hit Trinidad and Tobago.  The Carnival season is really starting to heat up with new results every day!  ...And we're off!  On Friday, season four of Synergy Soca Star came to a close with Richard "Chynee" Valentine taking the top prize. He performed "Carnival Bacchanal" with KMC in Round One to a screaming house, and really sealed the deal in round two with his solo performance of "They Wanna Be Like". Skinner Park sang along word for word, as the one called Chynee sang his way to victory.  He gets a bMobile recording contact and a brand new car.  Sounds like a great start to his new career.

Last night, the hot ticket in San Fernando was the 2009 Chutney Soca Monarch Finals. Ten acts took a shot at the crown, but it was first time finalist Kenneth Salick who would eventually be named the winner.  Salick has made it as far as the semis 3 times in years gone by, but this time around he took it all the way with Radica/Why You Gone.  The results were decided exclusively by mobile text messages from the general public.  So, the fans have spoken.  

Here's what they said.  In fourth place is visually impaired artist, Asha Kamachee, in third is Hunter with Jep Sting Naina.  Ravi B is runner up with Doolarie, and first...you already know that part.

On Wednesday, Machel Montano launched his first ever children's book, "Boy Boy and the Magic Drum" at Trinidad's National Library.   The fictional tale pays tribute to Trinidad and Tobago, as the nation that magically transformed dirty oil drums, into beautiful musical instruments.  Machel told the media that the project took him four years to complete, but he's already got plans for a second book called, "The Perfect Situation."  The pages of Boy Boy came to life yesterday afternoon in  a live musical presentation at the Jean Pierre Complex in Port of Spain.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds.  Check me out online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at www.mustardseeds.net for video clips of the events mentioned tonight and RESULTS from the International Soca Monarch Semi-Finals, happening RIGHT NOW. Now, back to de docta!

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The Rounds - January 21, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s rounds. It’s great to be back here at Flow after a much needed vacation. The last two Sundays I was liming on de beach with toda mi gente latina en Santo Domingo, but trust me, allyuh were on my mind. Now…I am back AND black and ready to roll.



I hear that Doctor Jay can’t stop talking about de big Doh Cry fete that is nearly sold out once again. He could tell you “Doh Cry” all he wants, but I feel is cry you go cry when you realize exactly what the man is leavin you for. Trinidad carnival season is upon us, and in case you live under a rock it is one of the best shows on earth. A couple hot weeks of music and madness, beauty and pageantry that really can’t be beat.

Down in the twin island republic, fresh new soca music is blazing up the dancehalls and airwaves. Every DAY is news. Rita Jones break way from Roy Cape All-Stars. Rikki jai is competing for Chutney monarch after a three year absence. Artistes are scratching their heads for new ways to catapult themselves to popularity and mas camps are busy building costumes for thousands of revelers from home and abroad. Doh cry? You mad or wha? Doctor Jay has a first class ticket to paradise, while de rest ah we go get lef back in de snow.

This past week Trinidad’s national library system launched a program called Lyrics and Song that will bring soca stars into the library to speak to youth about social issues. Kees Dieffenthaller and Nadia Batson of Kes the Band were first up to bat and Alison Hinds, Destra and Maximus Dan will be taking their turns over the next four weeks. The first session dealt with HIV/AIDS education, warning youth not to be completely dotish during carnival. They spoke on the theme, if you dream it, you can achieve it. And I really believe that, which is why I hay dreaming about Port of Spain.

You every wonder who is the J’ouvert Fiddler? Do you remember that instrumental track from Carnival 2006? Better yet, over Christmas were you curious to know who were the parangderos who pumped out “Black Cake and Sorrel”? If you look on the back of those CDs, the songs are credited to “Da SPIRITS”, but who are the Spirits, really? People who talk soca with me know that I have a lot of respect for the producers….the sound men who pull all the elements together to make a song sound just right. I’m sure you could tell - I’m a huge fan of Shawn Mastamind Noel. Well, on Thursday Mr. Noel let the cat out the bag issuing a release identifying himself as THE sole instrumentalist on those masterpiece works. Shawn dahlin, If I WAS wearing a hat, I would take it off to you right now. Your music sweet, sweet and nice.
One of the most anticipated events when it comes to carnival music is the 2007 International Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch competition. Last year, Shurwayne Winchester marched off with both the crowns and all de money…only time will tell if he can do it again.
What I CAN say now is the organizers are making some changes to make the show even better this go round. More than $8 million dollars TT is committed to producing one unforgettable night. It also makes me feel nice that veteran music man Crazy intends to compete with the young bucks in the groovy section with his sexy hit “Cold Sweat”

MTV Europe has signed on to broadcast both competitions as well as other snippets from carnival. The groovy soca show will feature 10 finalists rather than six and the guest acts will be Machel, KMC, Destra and Beenie Man.

So, what to say friends? …it’s official Doctor Jay is soon leaving for Carnival, but Doh Cry. You could get a taste of the carnival action at Doh Cry Ah Leaving 12 on Saturday, February 3rd. Doh Cry, but Doh stick…tickets nearly DONE sell off.

I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send me your comments at SOCA at FLOW 935 dot COM. Now back to de doctor…

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