Bacchanal moves closer to climax

Over the next several weeks the organisers of Bacchanal Jamaica say they will be ‘kicking it up a notch’ as the climactic Carnival Road Parade 2K6 nears.

There are only two more Mas Camp Fridays left and the acts that are lined up are as lively as last week’s performance by Machel Montano. This Friday belongs to Appleton, with the popular Appleton Mug Madness in effect all night. KMC from Trinidad and Tobago with special guest artiste Bounty Killa, is the headliner. Also performing are Denise Belfon and Leftside and Esco. The house disco, Sparkles, will be spinning the popular soca songs for this season.

Music Remains in the Soul

Slick, over-produced pop tunes aimed at the No.1 spot are pretty much to be expected if you cast half an eye over the charts.

But before the likes of Take That, Westlife or Blue or Busted, there was Musical Youth.

When they hit the No.1 spot in September 1982, they had thousands of teenagers all over the country singing the words to their catchy single Pass The Dutchie.

You would expect Grant, 36, to look back with at least a little anger at the brevity of a chart-topping career in the five-piece reggae band, which, within two years of scoring a bonafide worldwide hit, was all but over.

Producer balances art and commerce

Ansel Collins’ Double Barrel is one of those roots reggae staples that musicians and roots music lovers have no problem returning to again and again. Still in the biz, Collins is looking to put out a new album, composed of soul-stirring organ work and haunting vocal-free arrangements like Emperor Dessalines and Nzinga.

Relative newcomer Nkosi has a similar Afro-centrism in his lyrical attack, but with more open arrangements.

Beenie Man hunts Hit List for Mafia House Productions

Rising deejay Hit List has been making a name for himself on the stage show circuit. His high energy performances and chart hit Please Stop the Killing (currently riding all major local charts) haven’t gone unnoticed. Reports are that dancehall kingpin Beenie Man has been hunting Hit List to sign him to his recently formed Mafia House Productions entity. Mafia House Productions currently has under its roster among other acts, Don Mafia (formerly known as Gringo) and Razor.

Luciano teams up with Jewish DJ sensation

Roots singer Luciano will shortly collaborate with Hasidic DJ Matisyahu, one of the hottest acts currently on the international music scene. The track is slated to be included on Luciano’s upcoming disc for VP Records.

The ‘Messenjah’ and ‘Matis’ first met in the summer of 2005 when the latter opened for Luciano on his east coast US tour. Recently, the two combined to tremendous applause on the west coast during Matisyahu’s show at the Long Beach Arena. The performance attracted the attention of the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Trials of a Hasidic Rapper

Music fans seem thrilled with Chabad-Lubavitch singing sensation Matisyahu; his new album, “Youth,” debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. Critics, on the other hand, are a tough bunch: Some complain that he’s not black, while others say he has betrayed his Jewish ideals.

On the day after his album’s release, The New York Times ran a withering review covering both the new album and a recent live show. The basic gist: Don’t let the black hat fool you; this guy’s as white as a ghost. “He is… a white reggae singer with an all-white band, playing (on Monday night, anyway) to an almost all-white crowd,” Times music critic Kelefa Sanneh wrote. And not only is the singer a cheap substitute for the real deal, Sanneh wrote, but his music is, too. “Perhaps Matisyahu’s fans aren’t familiar with a little-known group of performers who still make great reggae records: Jamaicans.”

Montserrat’s Kulcha does reggae too

Caribbean musician Kulcha Don is dispelling the myth that only Jamaican, Puerto Rican or Bajan-bred artists can create the ubiquitous dancehall and reggaeton sounds that blare these days from car and home sound systems.

But Kulcha Don, born Reinford Gibbons on the small island of Montserrat, is breaking such stereotypes with his third LP, “It’s All About You,” coming out today through Philly-based Ruffnation Records. The album offers a seamless blend of soca, reggaeton and dancehall reggae. Which should be no surprise, because Kulcha says he literally grew up on those vibes.

JASMINE’S JUICE

I ended the week at Damian Marley’s historical show at Brixton Academy which was a real party, but not as heavy as the after party organised by Radio 1Xtra at Mayfair Club Isis where we danced with Damian and his crew, as well as Fat Joe (fresh from his new job as Pimp My Ride international host), a camouflaged Sean Paul who the groupies tried hard to get near, JD Dready, Manny Norte, DJ Dodge and Est’elle, who brought her mate Jade Jagger.

The night was heavy – no other music was played but reggae in the sexy Arabian-themed club, where waiters with silver trays handed us wine and champers and we danced hard till 3am – a beautiful end to the week.

Independent Online Edition > From Jamaica to the world: The legacy of a legend

As one of Bob Marley’s former bandmates sues his estate for £60m in royalties, Steve Barrow explains what happened to the other members of the reggae legend’s inner circle

The Wailers
The line-up of the group that signed to Island included Bob, Peter Tosh (right) and Bunny Wailer, with Aston “Family Man” Barrett (below) and his brother Carlton on bass and drums, plus Earl “Wire” Lindo on organ. This group made Catch A Fire and Burnin’, the first two albums that established the group internationally. Peter, Bunny & Wire had all left by the time Natty Dread was recorded in 1974. Along with the Barretts, the group now included the guitarist Al Anderson and Bernard Harvey on organ. Vocal harmonies were sung by the I-Threes trio.

Mikey Cambpell – Still at the Controls

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/images/20060318T160000-0500_100894_OBS_MIKEY_CAMBPELL___STILL_AT_THE_CONTROLS__1.jpg” alt=”" />

In the late 70s the refrain Dread at the Control Tower assumed cult status in what was arguably radio’s last golden pre-cable TV and Pre- Internet reverie.

Michael Campbell, the man behind that refrain and one of Jamaica’s most innovative and original radio personalities, is currently in the island, celebrating two siginficant milestones – his 30th anniversary as The Dread at the Control – and his father’s centenary.