The Rounds: Soca stars hungry in New York

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. This weekend Jamaica kisses their 20th anniversary carnival season good-bye. Revellers took to the streets today, for a jump in the hot sun.

Closer to home in New York, it was all things Machel Montano at Madison Square Garden's WaMu theatre on Friday night. (Check we together in Toronto in December)

The HD camp and their international cast of friends entertained 16000 fans between the two sold out shows that evening. What fans saw from the audience was an energy packed performance of chart topping soca hits. Behind the scenes, your nurse discovered the conditions weren't the best for some of the performers. With one show at 8 pm and one show at midnight, it's a long day at work for the entertainers. Unfortunately, organizers failed to provide any food whatsoever for the "and Friends" portion of the cast, quietly waiting back stage. So don't study the vibrant energy and smiling faces you can now see all over YouTube, there were a lot of grumbling bellies balling out with every jump and wave.

One of the next big gigs on the Machel Montano docket will be Miami's longest running Memorial Day Long-Weekend Reggae Concert: Best of the Best. I know Machel is not a reggae artist but lately he's been covering Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain" and he's still performing Dutty Wine in his set, even though most people stopped doing the dance in favour of keeping their insurance policies. So the big concert takes place on Sunday, May twenty five at Bicentennial Park. Mr. Slaughter will be there as a DJ. You know he alway UP IN DAT...here's a shot of the 2 o'we in the Tribe All-Inclusive in Trinidad last month.

...And this is Walshy from Black Chiney. He go be there spinning too. Miami is his home turf.

The reggae acts include Super Cat, Buju, Beenie, Sizzla, Junior Reid, Barrington Levy, Tarrus Riley…ok, lemme stop. Nuff reggae. Nuff said.

While we on that vibe, I thought I'd let you in on some big news in Britain. Reggae artist Maxi Priest just replaced Ali Campbell as the lead singer of the band UB40. They are best known for the 1983 remake of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine" and now they are set to release a modern take on "I Shot the Sheriff" featuring Mr. Maxi Priest.

Soca shares influences with a variety of Caribbean art forms. One such ORAL tradition is that of Rapso, it's a poetic storytelling style that relies heavily on rhythm and rhyme. In Trinidad, and organization called the Rapso fraternity is getting ready to host the 19th annual Rapso festival in April. People who go, will get a chance to take workshops, and even perform! This year the focus is on education….and me being a poet, I decided to do my part by educating you. So there you have it.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Leave me a comment at the (Nurse) Karen (Etc) blog, online at triple w dot mustardseeds.net and don't forget to download the podcast. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds - November 12, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers, you’re listening to Soca Therapy and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds for November 12th, 2006.

Bunji Garlin is taking his brand of soca music to a higher level. Last week the former Trinidadian soca monarch signed a production and distribution deal with VP Records. VP is known throughout the Caribbean as the most consistent local music label, producing reggae stars like Sizzla, Luciano, Beres Hammond and this year’s mega-success story Gyptian.

The artist has begun working on new music for this project, including an updated duet version of “Hot Hot Hot” with Arrow, a song with Freddie MacGregor and a pan song with Kernal Roberts.

Bunji’s new agreement guarantees worldwide distribution, ensuring that fans can purchase his upcoming soca album on the shelves of their favourite record stores everywhere.

Bajan Calypsonians are outraged at the lack of support for their music on local radio stations. With the 40th anniversary of Barbados’ independence on the horizon, the United Artistes of Barbados are making their voices heard. Association president and reigning Calypso Monarch David “Kid Site” Piggott tells the media he is disgusted that so little Bajan music can be heard on air during independence time.
A major concert in celebration of the Nation’s anniversary featured Damian Marley, Cocoa Tea and Baby Cham…all of whom are Jamaican artists with no direct linkage to the island of Barbados. The national radio station Voice of Barbados, claims that the UAB’s charges are completely unfounded. As of November 1st, bajan songs comprised 100% of the station’s music programming as they counted down to independence weekend. The rest of the year, Barbadian tunes account for 2 out of every three songs played.

Meanwhile in Trinidad, Pan Trinbago is celebrating the twin island republic’s indigenous instrument. On November 19th, the organization will be hosting an Awards ceremony called “Honouring the Panguard.” The celebration is a tribute to a group of people who introduced the sweet music of the steelpan to the world fifty-five years ago. The list of recipients is extensive, however, notable honorees include the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra, and the First National Steelband. The Honorable Joan Yuille-Williams, Minister of Community Development, Culture & Gender Affairs will be present representing the government.

You’re listening to Soca Therapy on Flow 935 and those have been doctor jay’s rounds. Please email your comments to soca (S-O-C-A) at FLOW 935 dot com. Now, back to Doctor Jay.

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