The Rounds: Getting ready for the final soca showdown

Good Evening Spex and Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's rounds. I'm sure you've figured it out by now. Dr. Jay is off in Trinidad for his annual pilgrimage to the soca mecca. Last week the Caribbean Prestige Foundation released the finalists for this Friday's soca monarch competition.

As predicted it will be a truly international competition with entries from six different Caribbean nations among just 20 contested spots. Unfortunately, Zoelah did not make it. But Problem Child will be there to represent SVG. St. Lucia's Ricky T is having a great season in Trinidad. The lehgo me riddim can be heard pumping from every sound system…given some extra stamina by Machel's "Jamishness". So it's no surprise that Ricky will be doing it big for Saint Lucie come fantastic Friday.

For Antigua, Tizzy will be in the groovy category showing them why she's hot. Grenada's reigning soca monarchs Luni Sparks and Electrify are in power along with Carricou's sexy Nnika Francis.

Barbados posse…Biggie Irie will be defending his groovy monarch crown against the Soka Junkie hesself, Mr. Dale.

As for Trinidad's contigent. Toronto's own Kerwin Dubois, scored at the very top of the groovy category. Kerwin is a Trini Artist, but he living here now…so we claiming him now. Especially since he's got two smash hits in Gyal Farm and Hear me now. Always, a solid artist and producer, it warms my frigid canuck heart to see him gettin his shine.

Some of you might not remember that this is the traditional carnival season all over the world. In the Caribbean, it's party time in Aruba, Martinique, and Dominica as well. Dominica held it's soca monarch competition just last night!

This weekend, the Carnival prizes were finally handed out from St. Kitts Christmas Carnival. As a smaller carnival in a smaller island the money isn't quite as impressive as what Trinidad's winner's can expect. But I'm sure King Konris was happy to get his meagre four grand for winning soca monarch anyway.

A word to the wise, when you singing soca, whether big or small…earnings are earnings. And this is the time of year when our favourite artists need to be careful about putting away some cash to pay their taxes. If you think about it, when Machel Montano HD commands one hundred twenty five THOUSAND TT dollars per gig. And he's performing nearly every night. You better believe the tax man is paying attention. I had to laugh when I read an article in a Trinidad newspaper warning self-employed persons of their responsibility to report their income. Self-Employed is really just a code word for "Allyuh big balling, stinkin rich, superstars making me cough up 100 US Dollars for an all-inclusive fete." Not too often that I empathize with tax collectors…but after buying all my fete tickets. I tend to agree.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's rounds. Please text me your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5 or leave them online at (Nurse) Karen (Etc) at triple w dot mustardseeds dot net

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The Rounds: New Possibilities for 2008

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. We’re two weeks into 2008, and the year is full of possibilities. January 2nd was jump up day in St. Kitts. You already heard it! Grand Master’s Band song called Boom Bam Bam unexpectedly beat out Small Axe Band and King Konris for road march.

In St. Croix, they started a new tradition at Cruzian Christmas Festival. They proved that anything can happen when they crowned their first ever Party Monarch. Congrats goes out to Toby Derima aka Toby Dee of the Xpress band for wowing the judges with his performance of Hands High.

In Trinidad, the possibilities are endless for carnival 2008. The hype has begun for the International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions. The Caribbean Prestige Foundation released the list of semifinalists this week. From the looks of it, the competition is becoming more international than ever! Tizzy is repping Antigua. Mr. Dale, Peter Ram AND Lil Rick made the cut for Barbados. For Grenada, Nnika Francis is back, along with Luni Sparks and Electrify. Then there’s St. Lucia boasting 4 semifinalists in Ricky T, Teddyson John, Allan Piper and Mariann. Then for meh Vincy peeps, it’s Problem Child, Jamesy P and Zoelah.

Highlights on the home turf include the return of Bunji Garlin, who’s in the semi’s with his wife and she daddy…my boy…SuperBlue. Seem’s like Crazy made an impact on the veterans last year cuz Rootsman is trying a ting for 2K8.
Understand, the 62 semifinalists still have to duke it out to see who will compete against defending champs Biggie Irie and Iwer George for this year’s crown. There will only be ten competitors in each category on February 1st. I’ll keep you posted.

It’s going to be a fantastic year musically. January brings us the Air Jamaica Jazz fest January 24th to 27th, and the Barbados Music festival on the 27th too. Then all attention shifts to the soca mecca of Trinidad and Tobago, where the music is coming out fast and furious. With plenty of surprises yet in store.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Text your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5 or check me out on Nurse Karen Etc at triple W dot mustardseeds dot net.

Now, back to de docta!

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The Rounds: Trinidad gives the gift of pan to Nigeria

Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Karen Richardson
January 1, 2006
429

Good Evening Soca lovers …Happy New Year! This is Nurse Karen making Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
I’m still recovering from a wicked and wild old year’s night with family and friends.
But I am here in the flesh, ready and energized for a happy and prosperous 2006. Dr. Jay promises plenty vibes in the mix from his crate full of tricks. And as the good nurse that I am, I’m doing all I can to prepare you for your Soca Therapy. All your favourite segments are back from 6-9 every Sunday…I’ll be here making the Rounds.

New Years is a big party throughout the Caribbean. So, I want to wish all the people jumping up in the Bahamas for Junkanoo a safe and happy time. The Phil Cooper 2006 New Years Day Parade experienced lower ticket sales than average, as did the boxing day parade last week….but that is not stopping thousands form enjoying the festivities. This year’s street party consists of 27 bands and will kick off at noon on January 2nd.

Kittitian Crew, don’t think I forgot you. But I know better than to think you’re listening to me right now…when allyuh flattening Basseterre to the sounds of your new Party Monarch, Konris Maynard. Pretty fitting that the new king was crowned for a song called Sunday J’Ouvert.
These days, once the clock strikes 12 on January 1st…the countdown begins to Trinidad Carnival. In anticipation of that, Trinadad and Tobago’s ambassador to Nigeria gave the gift of Steel Pan to the city of Calabar. Mr. Patrick Edwards presented a 54 piece steel band as part of Calabar’s Christmas Festival. The governor of the Cross River State says his administration is commited to learn and participate in the rich culture of the Caribbean Islands. He added that there’s a strong affinity between Nigerians and the Trini’s because they share the same culture and heritage.

Well, that’s no surprise to me. Together we aspire, Together we achieve. In Jamaica, a soca ambassador is getting ready to be honoured at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, January 28th. Byron Lee and his Dragonaires Band have been in the calypso business since 1956. His fifty year career includes more than 700 hundred titles and ten international mega hits. We’re talking Butterfly Butterfly…let we do de butterfly, Soca Tatie…and SOMEBODY must remember Tiney Winey. Congratulations to the iconic performer, producer, promoter and band leader, Mr. Byron Lee.

Those are Dr. Jay’s Rounds, I’m Nurse Karen.

Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Ah gone.
Now back to de Docta

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