Many horn players, few opportunities

Jamaica has a sterling history of horns in its music, the trumpet, trombone and saxophone giving songs a sparkle onstage and in the studio, and people such as Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Wilton Gaynair, Lester Sterling, Sonny Bradshaw, Nambo Robinson, Dean Fraser and Tony Greene among those who have played their way into popularity.

There is, however, a distinct deficiency of horn players coming to public attention, though not of the people playing them.

Blakk Rasta features in Amsterdam’s biggest reggae festival

Ghana’s reggae sensation, Blakk Rasta, performs live in Holland, on a platform which has for years been the preserve of Western and American reggae artistes.

The concert, which comes off at The Sand in Amsterdam city, is the most popular reggae event in Holland.

Blakk Rasta rubs shoulders with some of the world’s biggest reggae and dancehall greats from Jamaica, including, Capleton and Elephant Man.

Gay activists protest upcoming Buju Banton performance at Miami’s James L. Knight Center

Several gay-rights groups are protesting a Halloween-night concert at a city of Miami-owned hall by Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, whose hit song Boom Bye Bye advocates shooting gays in the head and setting them on fire.

“”The message is that gay people’s lives are cheap, and that harming gay people is OK,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, a statewide gay-rights group calling for the concert to be canceled. “Any time a message of violence and hatred against any group is put out there, it has to be challenged.”

Errol Bonnick fuels his passion for music

The entertainment industry is replete with instances of artistes starting out as a member of a group, then branching out into solo acts. On the international stage there is Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Beyonce, while locally such artistes include Bob Marley, Judy Mowatt, John Holt and Da’Ville have all gone down that road. Now, another former group member is seeking to make a name for himself as a solo act. Bonnick… it is sometimes overwhelming as a solo act, but at the same time, extremely rewarding

Back in 2003, a reggae band emerged on the local scene and from the first note it was clear that this aggregation of young, talented Jamaicans was destined to go places. The crisp, clear roots reggae sound of this band made them a backing band of choice and an act in itself. That band was Live Wyya. They won Irie FM’s Big Break Competition in 2003, and by 2004 they were Jamaica’s representative at the Global Battle of the Bands in London, where they finished creditably

He might have been giant

Despite his near sellout of the Trocadero Saturday night, things could have been better for Buju Banton.

The 36-year-old Jamaican roots reggae/dancehall singer and lyricist was once set to follow in Bob Marley’s giant steps. By popularizing dancehall with his innovations of lyrics speaking of social consciousness and his use of live instrumentation throughout the ’90s, Banton should have been massive.

Before converting to Rastafarianism and righteous thinking, Banton was a lightning rod for controversy.

Gay groups anger Buju’s management

The cancellation of another Buju Banton concert in the United States, due to pressure from gay rights groups, has prompted an angry response from the singjay’s management.

Banton was scheduled to perform on October 8 at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the show was cancelled Tuesday, according to the Deseret News.

Jamaican reggae legend Max Romeo

Max Romeo. is on the brink of ending his forty year career, but retains much of the vim and vision that made him a pioneer of rude reggae in the Sixties. Today’s World Tracks is an exclusive exchange with one of the monuments of reggae music. This is Max Romeo like you’ve never heard him before, and we were lucky enough to catch up with the reggae man on a balmy evening in Agadir, Morocco.

Tuff Gong signs distribution deal with Disney

A giant of family entertainment has teamed up with the biggest brand name in Caribbean music. Tuff Gong Caribbean Distributors, part of the legendary Marley stable of corporations, has reached an agreement with Hollywood and Walt Disney Records for the exclusive distribution of their catalogue throughout the Caribbean.

The Disney license allows Tuff Gong to carry the music from classic family films such as The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, as well as current Disney phenomenon Hannah Montana.

Lest we forget Peter Tosh, Free I, Doc Brown

Last Friday, September 11, had immense global historical significance. This date is traditionally celebrated in Ethiopia as New Year’s Day according to its ancient Julian Calendar.

Since 2001, it took on new meaning in the western world as for the past eight years the calamity that was 9/11, is being commemorated. Not to be left out is one of Jamaica’s greatest misfortunes and reggae’s most tragic losses, the brutal slaying of Peter Tosh, along with his associates broadcaster Free I, and Winston “Doc” Brown.

Tarrus Riley’s music is ‘Contagious’

Tarrus Riley is mixing styles on his newest album and he’s spreading it “like a virus.”

So many artists are throwing a little reggae into their music, and Thanks to artists like Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Shaggy it’s really entered the mainstream in America. Now, the title of Tarrus’ newest album, Contagious, is an outright acknowledgement of the growing trend.