The years can’t lessen Marley’s mystique, fame

Nearly 25 years after his death, reggae legend Bob Marley continues to fascinate people. Thursday, a Miami International Film Festival documentary celebrates his legacy.

In the unspoiled countryside where the remains of Jamaica’s most famous son lie inside a marble crypt, children’s voices wail the words of Bob Marley’s legendary lyrics as curious visitors search for the secret to his prophetic wisdom.

Marley, the legendary reggae maestro who died of cancer in Miami 25 years ago, continues to be bigger in death than in life. That is true both in Jamaica, where his birthplace has become a shrine, and in his adopted home of Miami, where his mother and most of his 11 children still live. He is the subject of lectures and books, festivals and films — there is even a Marley-themed store on South Beach.

Zest becomes major reggae player

Music group Zest announced its intention to become a major player in the reggae market today with the acquisition of Greensleeves.

Zest announced that it has conditionally agreed to acquire the entire share capital of an independent reggae record label and music publisher Greensleeves Records for £3.25m in cash and shares

Video review – Beautiful

The twice-over grammy award-winning reggae sensation Damion ‘Jnr Gong’ Marley has a new video called Beautiful, featuring Hip-hop star Bobby Brown, who is really trying to make a comeback.

Jnr Gong really did portray what the lyrics were telling us. With all the beautiful colours that are really vibrant and outstanding, the video really catches our attention.

Thank God for Carnival

Carnival has been viewed traditionally as that religious event which precedes Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season. Lent has largely lost its religious significance for many, but Carnival continues to perform many social functions, some of which are not immediately obvious. It is the time of the year when the nation exhales, when many people, especially women, take a break from stress-inducing activities. For many, it is a season when people feel good about themselves, and about the country itself. It is also a time when the cultural artistry of our citizens flowers and is most on display, and when many of us are proudest of our nation.

I say all this knowing that there are many citizens who are allergic to and apoplectic about Carnival, especially the two-day procession of bands, and seek refuge by going abroad or to the beach. We even have those who, like the lady from Cascade, argued that those who took part in the recent march against crime should have boycotted Carnival to make “the ultimate statement that the country’s security system was inadequate to protect citizens and visitors at this time.” Clearly, such an initiative would have had unintended consequences that might be socially expensive. We should however note that many who avoid the streets on the two days of Carnival still take part in some aspects of the pre-Carnival activity, either directly or vicariously through media offerings. In more ways than one, Carnival is the quintessential national festival, and this holds across age cohorts, gender and ethnicity, though in various proportions.

Devon Pennant Lady Of Magic Chillin

Devon Pennant is a young artist from Brixton, South London whose mix of soulful Reggae and contemporary Pop offers an exciting new brand of British Reggae.

In an era when Dancehall continues to sound more and more like an extension of Hip Hop and Ragga, Devon’s truthful lyrics and sassy beats are a ‘breath of fresh air’, respectful of decades of Reggae tradition but brave enough to be original at the same time. The use of acoustic guitars in his arrangements adds a definite rootsy authenticity to his style.When he’s not making music Devon is busy writing novels and will soon complete his fourth book. As with his music, his stories combine solid realism, original and unusual themes plus a welcome dose of humour.

In the footsteps of the ‘Grandmaster’

“This one was actually for daddy. He premeditated this one.” So said soca composer Kernel Roberts to the Sunday Express yesterday.

Roberts penned this year’s Road March hit “Band of the Year” and made it clear it was to continue the “legacy” of his father, the calypso legend Aldwyn Roberts, known to all as Lord Kitchener, the composer of ten Road March titles.

“Band of the Year” by soca starlet Patrice Roberts (no relation to the Kitchener clan) and soca superstar Machel Montano rocked the radio airways, fueled the fetes and parties this Carnival season and ultimately grabbed the coveted Road March title.

St. Kitts Music Festival presents a Soca-Calypso Explosion

National calypso and soca superstars will take centre stage on the opening night of the 10th annual St. Kitts Music Festival. This night traditionally features the best performers of the soca and calypso genres.

According to an official press release, “music lovers, regional and international media will be treated to a spectacular show with dynamic presentations, showcasing the musical and lyrical styles coming out of St. Kitts/Nevis.

“Scheduled to perform are the reigning national senior Calypso king, the sensational twenty-two year old, Konris Maynard; the 2004 National Senior Calypso Monarch Socrates; alongside the Nevis Culturama calypso giants –reigning King Dis N’ Dat and 2004 Culturama Calypso King Meeko. All of whom will be backed by the renowned Legends Band of St. Kitts/Nevis.

Damian Jr Gong Marley

When “Welcome To Jamrock” erupted onto airwaves halfway through 2005 it came as a shock to some—but not to Damian “Jr Gong” Marley.

The song is about the farthest thing from commercial music offerings today—an outraged and unapologetic description of the poverty and “political violence” ravaging his homeland of Jamaica—but “Welcome To Jamrock” hit—and hit hard—because it’s the sound of truth and the result of years of work to bring that truth to light.

“I spent a lot of time thinking and this is the fruit of that labour,” explains the youngest child of the musical Marley family.“The song might be a ‘success’ so why be blind to that? But success can’t surprise given the time put into it.”

Matisyahu’s debut pulses with rapturous reggae

So after all the buildup, after the Hasidic Jewish singer became an unlikely Pied Piper luring U.S. rock fans to reggae music, how does Matisyahu do on his major-label studio album debut (due in stores Tuesday)?

It’s notable that despite its hip-hop touches and experimental quirks, Matisyahu’s is a fairly undiluted form of roots reggae. Like the 2005 live album that sparked his popularity, the new music is a dead-serious expression of the genre’s bedrock issues — spiritual solace, the plight of the exile, the struggle for freedom, the value of community.

Mr. Peppa doubles up with Gangster Guerilla and Life of a Superstar

Rising dancehall toaster Mr. Peppa (real name Arael Walters) is back on active radio duty with two hot new singles, Gangster Guerilla and Life of a Superstar. Both songs were produced by Mark Pinnock of Natural Bridge Records and have been in consistent rotation at radio over the past few weeks.

Mr. Peppa, who hit the charts late last year with Talk on the I-Rob rhythm, has been poised to hit the big times for sometime now.