The Rounds: Crop Over is coming, producer preview...

In this edition:

• Private 6 turns 20.
• Shurwayne Winchester releases a new album
• Bacchanal Jamaica Midnight in Paris
• Crop Over music preview
• Alison Hinds nominated for 2009 IRAWMAs

Good Evening Soca Lovers!

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.  While April may be the rainiest month of the year in these parts, there's no reason to assume that means spirits are low.  There's lots to celebrate all over the soca world, as we take on Spring with a bang.

   Last week Thursday, up and coming St. Lucian soca artist, Private 6 turned 20. If you don't recall the name, he brought us a song called Kalina on the Soca Blutooth Riddim in 2007 with an artist called Orion, and last year he had a cheeky diddy called "For Cable", that made a bit of a splash at home and abroad.

      Shurwayne Winchester and YOU is celebrating the release of their first studio album together, simply called YOU.  The CDs were pressed last week, and lucky fans in Trinidad will be the first to be able to grab their copies starting Thursday - just in time for Easter.

      There's no doubt that Easter is one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar.  For me, its a quiet weekend spent in church, and with close family and friends.  In Jamaica, Easter weekend is all about Bacchanal Jamaica Beach J'ouvert, featuring Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts.  On Friday night, the Bacchanal Mas camp was already hot with action for Midnight in Paris with Destra Garcia and Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon.  
Denise Belfon and Nurse Karen backstage at UWI Splash, Trinidad - February 2009.

 Jamaica has serious soca fans, making it Destra's favourite place to perform.   I heard great reports from the performers, but off stage, Tortola's soca songbird Jalena wasn't having such a great night after being robbed in Kingston.  That’s gotta suck!  Had a similar experience in Trinidad, but LET’s not talk about me...

          Over in Barbados, preparations for Crop Over are underway at all the studios.  Red Boyz are saying they won’t be doing soca this year. Peter Coppin is pumping out what he hope will be the 2009 version of the coconut tree riddim.  And Xtreme Platter/ Jammas…other wise known as Big Red, King Bubba and Foreigner Frank are working on an compilation album that will feature themselves plus Lil Rick, Jana, Peter Ram, Rashida AND  Don Trent.

Biggie Irie is spending this weekend recording two tracks with Dwaingerous…so there’s plenty of great new music just around the corner. 

Before I go, let me say congratulations to Alison Hinds on her International Reggae and World Music Awards nominations last week. Ally made the cut in two catergories, Best Female Vocalist and Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer.  I'm still waiting on the complete list of nominees, but I'll keep you up to date.  I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds.  Stay in the know by reading the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net.  Or get up to the minute updates by following me on twitter:  That's twitter dot com slash nurse karen.

(Nurse) Karen
http:/www.twitter.com/nursekaren

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Private 6! (Video)

Nurse Karen and Private 6 in St. Lucia, July 2008

Lucian Posse!

I have to send you a great big goofy HELLO from Toronto!  Just found out that there's a direct link to (Nurse) Karen (Etc) from the St. Lucia Carnival website, and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  

I'm real glad to have you following me for the carnival season.  So I thought I would celebrate by recognizing the born day of one of your native sons.  Thursday, March 26 marked the 20th birthday of Private 6!  He's a spirited fella who's been strengthening his performance chops with the help of Slaughter Arts.  Some of you may know him from a collaboration with Orion on the Soca Bluetooth Riddim in 2007 called Kalina.  But he had a pretty big tune last carnival with "For Cable".  <--- If you're not a Lucian, think about it... 

 

I was on the island to see de man perform the chune, and I figure this would be a great time to share.  Private 6, all the best for carnival 2009...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY rudebwoy!

These are random clips from SLU Soca Monarch 2008, so you'll see Mantius, Platinum George, Ilah Man, and Nicole David too!  Enjoy...

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

http://twitter.com/nursekaren

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Booster Shot: New Album on the way from Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U.

Get ready Shurwayne fans! 

Mr. Smooth Voice has a new CD coming out called "You".  There will be 11 tracks, including his duets Maxi Priest and Serani.  For now, fans in T&T will be able to grab it at the regular outlets on the island starting Thursday, April 9, 2009.

It's the first offering from the Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U..  So the entire band is pretty stoked to have an album under their belts after only 6 months in existence.

Congrats to all involved....just make sure the rest of us can get it legally sometime soon!

Love and soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

http://twitter.com/nursekaren

P.S.  Mr. Winchester and MOI.  here in Toronto, November, 2008

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Free Download: Crown Prince Supa Soca Vol 12 "Rock Your Body"

Soca Lovers!!! Here's a speshy from Florida's DJ Crown Prince! This compilation features his personal favourites from Trinidad Carnival 2k9...and beyond!

It's yours to download: HERE

Listen out for a few tracks you probably won't find on other mixes.  Prince included Farmer Nappy's "Go Brave", an underrated tune that didn't even make the cut for his own band's nightly stage show. Check out the Zouk track from California-based Christopher Neil.  You'll also hear 3 tracks from Florida's own Crossovah Band among the list of favourites.  I think you'll enjoy this one!  Make sure you visit his podcast page, so you never miss one of his mixes again!

01-Patrice Roberts-Intro 
02-Sizwe C-Fyah 
03-Zan-Slip Away 
04-Farmer Nappy-Go Brave 
05-Machel Montano_Busy Signal-Push Bumpers 
06-Patrice Roberts-Looking Hot 
07-Skinny Fabulous-SS drop 
08-Skinny Fabulous-Head Bad 
09-Alison Hinds-Drop It 
10-Peter Ram-Tight 
11-Crown Prince Mix Break 
12-Crossovah-Test Di Foundation 
13-Iwer George_Ziggy Rankin-Whine 
14-Barrie Hype SS Drop 
15-MastaMind_Patch-Rum n Roti 
16-Kmc-Drunk 
17-Crossovah-Outta Control 
18-Jamsey P-Soca Daggering 
19-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
20-Zoelah-Wine up on me 
21-Tizzy_Richard Trumpet-Wuk Meh 
22-Destra_Denise Belfon_Alison Hinds-Obessive Winers 
23-Fay Ann-Heavy T 
24-Fay Ann_Beenie Man-Wine 
25-Benjai_Scar-Tanti Sey 
26-Bunji Garlin-We Done Deh 
27-Sergio Mendez-Magalena 
28-Busy Signal-Up In Her Belly 
29-Teddyson John-SS Drop 
30-Crown Prince Mix Break 
31-Kes the Band-Thunder 
32-Zan-Hold You Down 
33-Crossovah-SS Drop 
34-Crossovah-Party 
35-Shurwayne Winchester_Serani-All I Need 
36-Patrice Roberts-Bubbling Gal 
37-Nadia Batson-Bumpers Rule 
38-Bunji Garlin_Beenie Man-Plenty Gyal 
39-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
40-Skinny Fabulous_Blakey-Tek Off D'Panty 
41-Crossovah-SS Drop 
42-Crossovah-Rock Your Body 
43-Skinny Fabulous-SS Drop 
44-Skinny Fabulous_Crown Prince-The Anthem 
45-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
46-Destra-Sassiness 
47-Ricky T-Too Much Rum 
48-Benjai-Whole Day 
49-Christopher Neil-Unkown Zouk 
50-Crown Prince Mix Break 
51-Blaxx-Tusty 
52-Stabby-Go Stabby 
53-Skinny Fabulous-Head Bad 
54-Crown Prince Mix Break 
55-Mr Slaughter-Staggering 
56-Isla Man-SS Drop 
57-Faye Ann-Meet Super Blue 
58-Destra-Bachannal 
59-Machel Montano-We Won't Stop 
60-Iwer George-Ready 
61-Machel Montano_Lil John_Pitbull-Floor on Fire 
62-Ricky T-'Ole 
63-Skinny Fabulous-Get On Bad 
64-Patrice Roberts-Sway In Di Mas 
65-Machel Montano-Ravin 
66-Skinny Fabulous_Patrice Roberts_Barrie Hype-Outro

Prince, thanks again!    

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

www.twitter.com/nursekaren

P.S.  Follow (Nurse) Karen (Etc) for some VERY exciting news about DJ Crown Prince coming soon!  In the meantime, here's me and Crown Prince partying it up in Miami, October 2008.

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Booster Shot: Alison Hinds nominated in two IRAWMA categories

Quick one...

The press conference for the International Reggae and World Musica Awards was held yesterday evening in New York. The show has a category here and there that applies to Soca entertainers, so that's why I'm talking about it!

Still waiting on the official list of nominees, but I do know that Alison Hinds was nominated in two categories:

BEST CALYPSO/SOCA ENTERTAINER

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST


This year's awards show takes place at 7pm on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the York College Performing Arts Center in Jamaica, Queens.

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