Booster Shot: Troots & Ice have an album?

Fully confessing I was slow on the uptake with this one. Been talking to Mark Cyrus of Master Room studios this week about the music he's produced out for Vincy Mas 2009. If you don't know the name, most people would nod with familiarity when I mention that he's the guy behind Jamesy P's "Nookie" and unique groovy/ragga joints by the duo Troots & Ice. I'm sure you remember songs like Senorita, and Mi Amor

Well guess what... After what - 7 years of dropping a song here and there for Vincy Mas, Troots & Ice has finally released a full length album. The official launch date in stores will be June 26, 2009 on the streets of Kingstown, but check it: You can already download the whole thing on Amazon.com

So I did the work, all you need to do is click to listen and download right from this link. Tracks are 99 cents each. Please buy original soca! Support the artists....puh-lease.

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The Rounds: TriniBashment Turns 4!!!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. As the weather begins to dip up here in Toronto, all eyes are on Miami for carnival. The action takes place next Sunday in South Florida with Road parades in both Miami and Broward. And YES, I WILL be there.

Naturally there's an air of excitement as the Caribbean community prepares for the annual festival. However, last week this excitement was met with grief when Miami Carnival CEO, Selman Lewis passed away on Monday. Lewis, just 60 at the time of his death was born in Trinidad and migrated to the US in 1969.

He's responsible for North America's third largest Caribbean carnival, after Caribana and Labor Day, and was ALSO the president of the China Mas group, a carnival band having won Miami's band-of-the-year title for 7 consecutive years. A public memorial was held for the community leader on Saturday. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Lewis' wife, and family.

You've heard me mention it before, the west Indian community in Florida means business when it comes to getting organized. Now, with a Federal election right around the corner, it's time to Soca D Vote once again. Soca D' Vote is a non-partisan community collective working to educate the Caribbean American community about their rights as voters. Next weekend representatives will be attending both carnivals with voter registration applications to make sure...we lil island people could have a big impact on Washington.

Other news this week....Soca 919, otherwise known as TriniBashment Radio celebrated its 4th anniversary last week. The world's first 24/7 soca music radio station was launched in Point Fortin Trinidad in 2004 by none other than De Boss...Mr. Iwer George.

Limin' with De Boss in Toronto, May 2008

And lastly, Bomani rang in a birthday on Tuesday with friends in New York...but if you're in New York two weeks from now, maybe you can celebrate with him at his annual Birthday Bash in Brooklyn. He'll be hanging out in the US for a month working on some projects.

Bomani celebrating his birthday in Toronto last year!

We also send out b-day wishes to some key players behind the scenes in the extended soca family: Natasha Andrews Noel of Mastamind Productions and Mark Cyrus of Master ROOM Studios.

The birthday girl herself, Business Manager of Mastamind Productions, Natasha Andrews-Noel in Trinidad (2008)

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please send me your comments online at the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at mustardseeds.net, and get your weekly podcast of The Rounds at Soca Therapy dot com. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds: Bring your Mas and come! Vincy Mas 2K8 is officially on!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. I'm finding new respect for the month of May! How can you not love a month that's going to be jam packed with amazing fetes, band launches, and carnival kick-offs? How can you not love a month that has all those things packed into one day?!

Saturday, May 3, marked the birthday of former Xtatik percussionist and vocalist Farmer Nappy. He's busy working on new releases for Barbados' Crop Over Festival.

Last night also marked the first ever Toronto edition of Shal Marshall's signature fete…Gyal Farm…and the girls came out in country and western costume, Daisy Dukes and all. Everybody knows where the ladies go, the gents will follow. So Callaloo mas camp can look forward to several masculine masqueraders in their hot new Gyal Farm section for Caribana 2K8. The section will be headed by Kerwin Du Bois and Shal Marshall, and was designed by Marlon Singh. It features peachy beads and feathers for the girls and straw hats in a matching motif for the boys.

Batabano Carnival wrapped up yesterday in Grand Caymen. Dexter Seusahai from Toronto's Tribal Knights Mas Band made the annual trip to see his beautiful designs hit the road with Swanky International. He'll be back in Toronto soon to launch his presentation of Deep Rising at Soca or Die. The Saturday night portion of the first-ever two-day long fete will feature performances by Destra and Atlantik, Tizzy, Maximus Dan and Kerwin Du Bois.

Yesterday was also the official launch of Vincy Mas. This year's theme is "Bring Yuh MAS And Come!" and all of Kingstown took it to heart. The crowd spilled out of the Chamber of Commerce Car Park for 6 hours as they were treated to all the elements of carnival; pan, calypso, mas and soca. Zoelah reigned supreme at the best new song competition for the second year in a row. She beat out Danielle Veira with her uptempo double entendre, Zoom In. Kevin Lyttle made a brief appearance to premiere his new ragga track "Come See Me" featuring Lexxus. Later, Shaunelle McKenzie brought the house down with her performance of Don't Let Go, a smooth one produced by Mark Cyrus and written by Luta. Dr. Jay gave it a spin last week. The night closed out with performances by Luta, Jalena, Tabia and Fireman Hooper, all backed by the Akcess Band. Don't you just love May?

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please leave your comments at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W dot mustardseeds dot net. Now back to de docta!

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