The Rounds: Shaunelle McKenzie is a Mommy!

Originally aired on Sunday, March 28, 2010 on Soca Therapy with Dr. Jay de Soca Prince (Flow 93.5 FM Toronto)

In this edition:
- Trelawny Carnival this weekend (Jamaica)
- Bacchanal Blocko 2010 Cancelled (Jamaica)
- Fadda Fox, Skinny Fabulous and Monstapiece rock UWI Carnival (Jamaica)
- Rupee remixes "Frenzy"
- Bomani plans new Vincy Mas fete (St. Vincent)
- Shaunelle McKenzie gives birth (St. Vincent)

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  Easter is just one week away, which means just a few days till Jamaica Carnival for Soca fans in Trelawny. ...Three days of revelry to the sounds of Byron Lee’s Dragonaires led by Oscar B.  Other events include a soca / reggae party on Good Friday, Family Fun and oldies disco day on Saturday, and a sport bike show on the Sunday.  It’s definitely not your traditional expression of Carnival other Easter for that matter.  But then again Jamaica has always been on the forefront of cultural innovations!

            Jamaica’s other carnival,  Bacchanal Jamaica, just announced the cancellation one of it’s signature events this season.  Sad to say, the Bacchanal Blocko is off for 2010.   Organizers cite unforeseen circumstances.

Nurse Karen and Skinny Fabulous in Toronto (2008)

Students in Jamaica celebrated UWI Carnival last night.  They lucked out on a hot show  from Fadda Fox, Skinny Fabulous.  In a just a few minutes the action will continue on The Plumbers Boatride.  With the weather we’ve been having over here, doesn’t a boatride in sunny Jamaica sound perrrrrfect?

Meanwhile , Barbados’ soca sweet boy Rupee  is back home after one month of touring in Europe.   Toronto Hip Hop fans will be excited to hear that he’s got a remix of the song FRENZY on the way.  It feature’s T-Dot rude bwoy Kardinall Offishall, so keep your ears to the ground for that.

Nurse Karen and Kardinal Offishall in Toronto (2008)

Toronto fete-goers had a couple of great indoor options for entertainment over the weekend.  One fete featured Bomani from St. Vincent.  If you missed him, he tells me  he’s hard at work organizing his first ever concept show for Vincy Mas 2K10.  It’s called Soca in de Dark.   The dimly lit, intimate night of groovy and raga vibe is set for the Month of May and will feature a cast of SVG artists as well as a guest appearance from Krosfyah!

Bomani and Nurse Karen in New York (2008)

           If you know the Vincy scene, you would know that Bomani sings in a band called HS Phaktor with a talented female vocalist by the name of Shaunelle Mckenzie.  Last Saturday, Shaunelle became a new mom, giving birth to a bouncing baby girl named Sade.  She weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounzes, and from all accounts, she’s happy, healthy and verrrry hungry! 

Shaunelle McKenzie and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent (2008)

            I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  For more info on everything you heard.  Check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or Follow me...”Nurse Karen” on Twitter.  Now, back to de Docta!

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The Rounds: Welcome Destra to Motherhood!

Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM "Soca Therapy" with Dr. Jay de Soca Prince (Sunday, January 17, 2010)

In this edition:

-  Chutney artists donate to Haiti (Trinidad and Tobago)

-  Nicole David to star in "Island Secrets" TV show (St. Lucia)

-  Shaunelle McKenzie's is expecting (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)

-  Destra welcomes her baby girl (Trinidad and Tobago)

-  Fire Empress to defend her title at Tobago Soca Monarch (Trinidad and Tobago)

- 12 advance to Mashramani Soca Monarch (Guyana)

___________________________________________________________


Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. It’s five days after the tragic earthquake in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The fiercely proud republic is scrambling to put the pieces back together as international aid begins to trickle in, and I just wanted to take a moment to make my humble appeal to you the listeners to help in any way you can. To start, why not follow the example of Trinidad’s Chutney Artists who together have already donated $20,000 from the organizers of Chutney Soca Monarch to the Haiti Disaster fund set up by the T&T Red Cross Society. They even set up an account at the Republic Bank for those wishing to donate. More than $100,000 dollars was raised on the first day of collections. Great to see Caribbean people assisting their brothers and sisters in need. Please join in and do the same.

Down in St. Lucia the island is abuzz over a new television drama series called Island Secrets. The small screen soap opera is written by soca artist Jose Torso and stars former Road March queen, Nicole David as a wealthy house wife that secretly manages the mythical island’s illegal drug trade.

Nurse Karen and Nicole David in St. Lucia (2009)

            I’ve got an island secret to share, that takes place on St. Vincent. HS Phaktor lead vocalist, Shaunelle McKenzie is celebrating a birthday today. This birthday is particularly special as it’s the last one she will celebrate before she becomes a mother in a few short weeks. For those who didn’t know, the veteran artist who performs alongside Bomani is pregnant with her first child.

Speaking of babies!!! A certain somebody isn’t pregnant anymore!!! Destra Garcia gave birth to a bouncing bay girl on Thursday, January 14th in Trinidad on day before her scheduled due date. Not sure of the correct pronunciation, but the baby’s name is Xaiya (spelled, X-A-I-Y-A). Mommy and daughter are both doing fine!

Destra

       In the meantime Destra’s band is back to work this weekend, backing Fire Empress has she defends her Soca Monarch Title tonight in Tobago. The Ricky Bobby band made the trip to Trinidad’s sister isle yesterday to lend their support to Fire Empress’s performance of “De Session Done”.

It’s Carnival time in Guyana too. 12 artists just found out that they have been selected to proceed to the Semi Finals of Mashramani Soca Monarch on January 30th. Three of the 12 do not live in Guyana. Stay to tuned to Dr. Jay’s Rounds and the Nurse Karen Etc blog for more.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. To get the latest in soca news, check out Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow me, Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Shaunelle McKenzie!

  Happy Birthday to a sweetheart with an incredible voice!  Miss Shaunelle McKenzie is celebrating her bday today in St. Vincent.

Shaunelle McKenzie and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent

This year Shaunelle has 'birth' on her mind as she awaits the arrival of her first baby in a few weeks. We had a little chat this afternoon and she let me know she's expecting  a little girl, around March 17th.  The pregnancy has been without complications...which any mother would tell you is a real plus.  Wishing her the best as she enters this new season of life!!!!!

Here's Shaunelle's big tune for the road from 2009 "Player's Anthem"

Players - Shaunelle Mckenzie

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Nurse's Lounge: C-Lightning Bashment Wedding!

Saturday, June 27 – C-Lightening Wedding

When you hear the word ‘wedding’, certain items usually come to mind; church, a white dress, respectful guests on their best behaviour. Well, perhaps you’ve never been to the union of two

soca freaks! On Saturday, June 27, Rachel and Noel of C-Lightening dot com exchanged vows

around the pool at the Canash Beach Apartments in Calliaqua, St. Vincent.

I met Rachael maybe 18 months ago on the video set for “Sexy Chocolate Girls” by Farm P. Rachael was fronting like she was playing in the Rhythm section, and I was totally dressed wrong for the shoot on the Palazzo patio in the cold spring air. She introduced herself...and since then the bond has grown immensely.

Rachael is a born Vincy who fell madly in love with her Trini knight in shining armour nearly 15 years ago. They have two handsome twin boys and a relationship that makes you believe in that good stuff all over again. It was such an honour to be invited to be a part of their special day!

Whenever I post a “Nurse’s Lounge”, I try to give readers a glimpse of my personal

whereabouts and involvements in this crazy world of Caribbean Entertainment. A wedding is a

private family function most of the time...but this one couldn’t have been more different.

As webmasters of a site that promotes the businesses and music of their homelands in St. Vincent and Trinidad, Rachie and Noel's wedding could be nothing short of a total bashment. It just HAD to be! The wedding was meant to start at noon, but our bride didn’t appear till close to 2 pm. Guests were entertained by the open bar...something you don’t normally get to enjoy at the ceremony! Rachel was escorted by her father to the stage ahead of her groom. That’s fitting, since as the Vincy in the couple...this is her turf. She ought to be waiting for HIM!

He walked the ‘aisle’ too...and by aisle, I meet the deck of the pool. The wedding party was a

good 20 people, dressed in Hawaiian style clothing, with leis around their necks. The guests were all made to dress in pure white. Must say, Caribbean people know how to rock that style very well!

The MC, Andy is a Toronto-based Vincy who Rachael has known all her life. He’s a big joker, which kept everything jovial and fun. After the priest pronounced them man and wife, out came the jello shots in every colour of the rainbow. Sandwiches were served to tie us over till the enormous spread of Trini cuisine was unveiled for dinner.

The evening was truly a joyous occasion. Half wedding. Half fete. Eventually the MC would have to share his mic with an impressive cast soca artistes, all who agreed to impromptu

performances out of good natured generosity. So who performed? Coyaba

, Black Roots, Jamesy P, Shaunelle McKenzie, Luta, Blaxx and more! Yes...it was a big show!

When Luta began to sing Rumbo, the fun really began. The wedding party formed a conga line around the pool and encouraged guests to join in. Next thing I see...Noel dove in..and so did the rest of the bridal party. No one cared about their newly tailored outfits. No one worried about the transparency of their white and/or pink outfits. It became a pool party. Sadly, I wasn’t quite so confident. My eyelit lace dress would not have forgiven me for that type of abuse.

As the sun began to set, the dancing continued, both in and out of the pool. Everyone was having a beautiful time, especially the happy couple.

Congrats Rachael and Noel. You deserve every happiness! May you be blessed...just

as you continue to bless me and others.

Special thanks to Kathy for the pcitures. My camera was on vacation for a few days!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Caribana Results

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Caribana in full effect…yo! If you are one of those stay home and avoid the crowd kinda people, you picked the wrong weekend for that. Thursday and Friday Lamport Stadium was THE place to be for the King and Queen show and Pan Alive.

Too many results to announce them all…but here are a select few: Congrats to Joella Crichton and Toronto Caribbean Connection on their Queen of the Bands win for the portrayal – Rhapsody. Ronald Alleyne from Callaloo won best King for The Mystical Dragon.

At Pan Alive, dem Montreal people from Salah's Steelpan Academy caused major bacchanal in Toronto for the 2nd year in a row. The two-time pan alive champions have Afropan, and Silhouettes settling for 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Now to the road. Yesterday's Caribana Parade of the bands was a sight to behold. Beautiful Mas on the Lakeshore. Thousands of revellers. Music and food and competion for so. No more long talk... Here are your unofficial results for Band of the Year.

In third place, I took a small wine on one of their 3 trucks alongside Flow's own Jester, and Soca Sweetness from KOS after my feet already had their fill of the pavement in the Stingray section of Tribal Knights (yes Marxman, big up).

If you haven't clued in yet, I'm talking about Carnival Nationz. They walked the plank straight to 3rd place for their presentation of Pirates.

In the number 2 spot this year is historically Toronto's winning-ist band Louis Saldenah Mas K Club with THE DEEP.

Congratulations to Jamaal and Marion MaGloire, all the masqueraders and the top notch entertainment like Dr. Jay the Soca Prince for defending their 2007 Band of the Year title with a vengeance. Their presentation of Alkebulan dazzled onlookers with the colours, patterns and textiles of Africa to win 2008 Category A Band of the Year. If you're like to keep score...those are the same bands in the same spots as last year.

Yours Truly with Toronto Revellers' Band Leader Jamaal Magloire earlier this Summer

Before I go, a lil gossip for de maccos and dem: St. Vincent's Shaunelle McKenzie has been liming in Toronto for about a week on business. My girl decline a few carnival gigs so she could work her WAISTLINE at fetes instead.

Nurse Karen and Shaunelle Back Stage at SVG Soca Monarch Semis 2008

Earlier today, I heard St. Lucia Soca Monarch and Road March King Ricky T was detained in the US customs area at Pearson International Airport here in Toronto.

SLU Records Family, Me n Ricky T in St. Lucia

I think his passport was a little too colourful for them, and somebody prolly wanted to get his autograph. I would too, after all he mashed up the dutty side of KOS J'ouvert on Friday. He was travelling with fellow Lucian Teddyson John, who was allowed to board his flight as scheduled.

Nurse Karen with Teddyson John at St. Lucia Soca Monarch 2008

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's rounds. Check me online this week for more info on Caribana as well as lots of news from BIM, GREENZ, Tortola and Antigua Carnival at the Nurse Karen ETC blog at triple w dot mustardseeds dot net. Now, back to de docta!

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Nurse's Lounge: Vincy Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Every time I'm in St. Vincent, I am amazed at how many people down there are singing soca. When you tune in to the radio stations, there are nuff songs to be heard, but you may not realise how many more are pumping out of speaker boxes, in ipods or just on other radio signals.

Now that I'm hear, I'm noticing that again. There I was, thinking I was up to date, just because a handful or producers are nice enough to forward their releases to my inbox, but yet again, I feel like I had no idea.

So tonight, the lime is Soca Monarch Semi-Finals. 35 artistes are vying for 20 coveted spots. Everyone is hoping to defeat 6-time soca champ Fireman Hooper from his perch as soca monarch. We'll see if this will be the year.


Here are three videos full of clips of the semi-finalists competing:












This year, the Monarch will earn automatic entry into the International Soca Monarch finals in Trinidad and Tobago 2009. So, the stakes are high. The winner doesn't just walk away with $20 000 EC, but also an additional $100 000 TT appearance fee once they grace the stage in Trinidad. That news brought former soca king Maddzart out of hiding, and brought soca monarch virgin, Problem Child into the ring for the first time.

It's been such a rainy weekend here in St. Vincent, so I suppose the moderate turnout isn't so bad for a Sunday night in Kingstown. None-the-less, the music community made sure to show up.

Here are a few of the artistes I ran into at Victoria Park.

Ras X

DJ Twenty

Fire Empress

Colin Peters from Mystik Vibration

Shaunelle McKenzie

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The Rounds: Germany's Soca Twins make their Toronto debut

Good Evening Soca Lovers,







I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. It's big carnival weekend right now in the States. With Philly, Tampa and West Palm Beach revelling in the sun, it's no wonder there's so much weet soca music in the air.







The Luminat'eau festival is heating up the Harbourfront Centre this weekend. Last night, hundreds of fans got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see live FREE performances from Calypso great David Rudder and Reggae Rude Bwoy Jr. Reid. That was the lime for me yesterday before I rode east for "The Buzz." Big up Soca Sweetness...for a fete that can only be described as HAWT!!! Soca Twins ripped it. X-caliber mashed it up...and KOS dunned de place for good measure.

The Soca Twins: Boone Shatta and Frankie Fyah

It was good to see Boone and Frankie Germany's Soca Twins sound on their first appearance in Toronto. And to Mr. Slaughter, nice to see your bamsie back in Toronto after too long! But dahlin' Germany is not NOW and has NEVER been an island. Please take note:

Mr. Slaughter

Big weekend in St. Vincent and the Grenadines! Last night was the annual H20 Soca Wet Fete. This year Machel Montano HD was the headline entertainment alongside a stellar cast of energetic local performers.

At 8 o'clock tonight SVG will make history as theCarnival Development Corporation will stage the ever Ragga Soca Monarch competition during the carnival calendar. Ragga Soca in St.Vincent and Barbados is what the Trini's and Grenadians refer to as groovy. In years gone by this competition was held in the month of October as part of the nation's independence celebrations. Tonight 15 finalists will vie for the crown. The competitors were selected from44 entrants. The last winner was Skarpyon, he's back with a sweetlove joint called Forever. Hoping to stick it to him is Zoelah, Dani-O, Karen Veira, KC, Tabia, Skinny Fabulous and Blakey, Bomani, Dennis Bowman, Squitty, Bam, Shady, Fullclip, Shaunelle and Galanaire. Dah show go be nice!

St. Lucia's Carnival officially opened about ten days ago with the largest launch in its history. Organizers are hyped that this is going to be the biggest year yet, with a record 12 competitive mas bands including a brand new entry called Toxik. That was the inspiration for Ricky T's song of the same name…so you know where to find him onde road carnival Tuesday. Wham to Dem!

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please share yourcomments online at the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at triple w dot mustardseeds dot net…and make sure you download the podcast. Now back to de doctor!

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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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