|
| Friday, November 14, 2008 |
|
Volume 5 Issue 45
|
|
|
IN LOVING MEMORY OF 'MAMA AFRICA' MIRIAM MAKEBA
|
By Graeme Ewen guardian.co.uk
Miriam Makeba, who has died aged 76, was known as Mama Africa and the Empress of African song. She was one of the most visible and outspoken opponents of South Africa's apartheid regime from the '60s till its dismantling in the early '90s. She was also the anti-apartheid movement's most audible spokesperson, having entered the top flight of international performers and able to sell out prestigious concert halls with a repertoire that changed little over three decades of musical evolution.
Makeba's career propelled her from township singing group to global celebrity, feted in some countries and banned from others. She was a natural and consummate performer with a dynamic vocal range and an emotional awareness that could induce the delusion of intimate contact in even the most impersonal auditorium. But her personal life was an epic tragedy of injustice, domestic upheaval, exile and torment.
Miriam "Zenzi" Makeba was born in a township suburb of Johannesburg. Her father, Caswell, was Xhosa; her mother, Christina, was Swazi. The name Zenzi (from the Xhosa Uzenzile, meaning "you have no one to blame but yourself"), was a traditional name intended to provide support through life's difficulties.
Later the family moved north to Transvaal, where Caswell worked as a clerk for Shell. Her mother was a spiritual healer who also took jobs as a housemaid. After the early death of her father, Miriam was forced to work, and for a short spell she also did housework. But she had already noticed that "music was a type of magic" which could elevate her from the poverty that surrounded her. As a young girl, her singing had been praised at the Methodist Training school in Pretoria, but what should have been the highlight of her amateur career turned to disappointment. She had been due to sing "What a Sad Life for a Black Man" for the visit of King George VI, but after the children had stood waiting in the rain, the royal visitor drove by without stopping to hear them.
When apartheid was introduced to South Africa in 1948, Makeba was old enough to grasp the consequences, and to see the limitations placed on the career of her mentor Dolly Rathebe, her senior by four years. Makeba gave birth to her daughter Bongi at the age of 17 and was then diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated unconventionally, but successfully, by her mother. The first of her five husbands left her shortly after.
Her musical career progressed more smoothly. Since the turn of the century, American jazz and ragtime had been absorbed into South Africa and transposed into local forms. Combined with Anglican church hymnody, this had led to the distinctive vocal harmonic style known as mbube, practised in many communities by "evening" or "night" choirs of enthusiastic amateurs. Following a period with the Cuban Brothers, Makeba's big break came in 1954 when she joined the Manhattan Brothers, a top band whose vocal harmonies were modelled on the American Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots.
Initially, when the Manhattans travelled abroad Makeba joined a female group called the Sunbeams.
Eventually, Makeba went on tour with the Manhattans, getting her first taste of the outside by world visiting Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Congo. Playing at home she also experienced some of the most heartless and shameful aspects of the apartheid system, which she later recalled in her autobiography, Makeba: My Story (1988), written with James Hall.
In 1957 she was recruited as a soloist in the African Jazz and Variety Review that toured Africa for 18 months. Then she landed the female lead role in King Kong, a legendary South African musical about the life of a boxer, which played to integrated audiences and spread her reputation to the liberal white community.
The key to her international success was a small singing part in the film Come Back Africa, a dramatised documentary on black life directed covertly by Lionel Rogosin. Makeba played herself, singing two songs in a shebeen. When the film was finished, Rogosin invited her to attend a screening at the 1959 Venice film festival, where she became an instant celebrity. She was flown, via London, to New York, where she appeared on television and played at the Village Vanguard jazz club.
The calypsonian Harry Belafonte took her under his wing and guided her through her first solo recordings. African standards such as Pata Pata and the Click Song, which she first performed with the Skylarks, formed the basis of her repertoire and remained the most popular songs throughout her career. Shortly after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, Miriam heard that her mother had died, but her own South African passport had been revoked and she was prevented from returning home for the funeral.
Thus began 30 years of exile. Her life in the US continued to unfold like a showbiz dream. She was recording and touring, and meeting all the stars, from Bing Crosby to Marlon Brando: the young newcomer was also staggered to find herself appearing along with Marilyn Monroe at the famous birthday celebration for John F Kennedy.
Her first return to the continent of Africa came with a visit to Kenya in 1962. The following year she gave the first of several addresses to the UN special committee on apartheid, and South Africa reciprocated by banning her records. Shortly afterwards, she was the only performer to be invited by the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie to perform in Addis Ababa at the inauguration of the Organisation of African Unity.
A second marriage, in 1959, proved short-lived. In 1964, Hugh Masekela, the South African trumpeter, became her third husband. In 1966 she earned a Grammy award with Belafonte.
Increasingly involved in, and identified with, black consciousness, Miriam became associated with radical activity not just against apartheid but also in the civil rights movement and then black power. In 1967, while in Guinea, she met the Black Panther leader Stokely Carmichael, who became her next husband the following year.
Carmichael changed his name to Kwame Touré and she returned with him to his own place of exile in Guinea, the west African Marxist state whose leader, Sekou Touré, gave sanctuary to enemies of the capitalist west. After that fourth marriage ended in divorce in 1978, she turned down a proposal by the president, but two years later married an airline executive and moved to Brussels. During her time in Guinea, Makeba had become a double exile, unable to return home and unwelcome in many western countries (she was banned from France), although she collected a sheaf of diplomatic passports from sympathetic African states and enlivened several independence celebrations.
When Makeba played at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in 1985, it was her first appearance in Britain for 11 years, and also her 53rd birthday. There she replied to the criticism that she had turned her back on the west and had gratuitously insulted white people, notably some unfortunate teachers in Jamaica who had suffered an unjustified, personal attack while watching her perform: "People have accused me of being a racist, but I am just a person for justice and humanity. People say I sing politics, but what I sing is not politics, it is the truth. I'm going to go on singing, telling the truth." When her beloved daughter Bongi died after a traumatic miscarriage that year, Miriam succumbed to a kind of "spiritual madness" that she believed she had inherited from her mother. The following year she was awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld peace prize for her campaigning efforts.
She always took time to endorse the cultural boycott of South Africa of which she was a figurehead. As the apartheid barriers showed signs of crumbling she was embroiled in another strange episode, which saw ANC supporters boycotting her show at the Royal Albert Hall. She herself was accused of breaking the boycott by collaborating with Paul Simon on his controversial Graceland project, with an album in 1986 and concerts, including one in Zimbabwe the following year. Simon was the one being picketed for not conferring with the exile groups before his recruitment drive for South African session players. Makeba and Masekela gave him full support, however, and welcomed the controversy because it brought important issues into general discussion and made cultural activity even more potent.
To much of the world, Makeba had reached a level of statesmanship that verged on saintliness. She was the first choice performer at festivals as euphoria built up before and after the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990 and the realisation that apartheid was almost over. After 30 years away, Miriam returned to South Africa to a respectful reception and performed sporadically. But the music business had moved on and, despite working with the hotshot producer and multi-instrumentalist Sipho Mabuse, the opportunities for giving concerts had diminished.
Many younger South Africans had no idea who Makeba was or what she had struggled for on their behalf. Nonetheless, when she announced her retirement in 2005, she found that she was still popular abroad: "Everyone keeps calling me and saying 'you have not come to say goodbye to us!"
So the farewell tours continued till her death in Naples, where she collapsed on stage after singing in a concert in memory of six immigrants from Ghana shot dead last September, an attack blamed on the city's organised crime. When she was in Britain last May with her much younger eight-piece band, led by her grandson Nelson Lumumba Lee, John L Walters found her in "confident, clear-voiced form", defying the limitations placed on her mobility by osteoarthritis. She is survived by Nelson and her granddaughter Zenzi Monique Lee.
Miriam Zenzi Makeba, singer and activist, born March 4 1932; died November 10, 2008
|
MIDNITE'S VAUGHN BENJAMIN AND KORA PLAYER YOUSSOUPHA SIDIBE COLLABORATE ON FOR ALL
|
Historic Reggae and African recording released on Sacred Sound Records
This groundbreaking recording FOR ALL is a collaboration between Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite, one of reggae's most stimulating lyricists and potent vocalists whose works address the fundamentals of ancient wisdom, Rastafari and the African in the Diaspora and Youssoupha Sidibe, a kora player with a diverse musical palette and member of the mystic Sufi Baay Faal community of Senegal, West Africa.
Released on Youssoupha's Sacred Sounds Record label, the evolution of the project has its origins on the performance stage and ultimately in the individual artists' parallel efforts towards healing and cultural understanding. The initial idea came about when they met at a performance in Northern California during the fall of 2007.
Youssoupha Sidibe performed after Midnite did on the evening's bill. When Youssoupha began to play, the members of Midnite began to participate by vocalizing during the kora performance. On that same night, Vaughn Benjamin asked Youssoupha whether he would like to record together and they headed in to the studio.
The two artists then made plans to continue the recording process and Youssoupha traveled to Midnite's home on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Over a period of a month in December in 2007, the tracks for FOR ALL were laid down. What the project signifies is the first instance where African traditional artist and a modern Reggae artist have collaborated on a full-length recording that has been made available to the record buying public. As Youssoupha notes: "I went to St. Croix to bring the tradition back." And the evocative nature of this set of recordings is noted as he recalls, "When I went there, it was making me feel like I am doing something important, I didn't even hesitate, I was thinking that this is my home and these are my people."
As Youssoupha and Vaughn developed their collaboration, the musicians shared a mutual understanding that the vocal style that was being formed around the kora had an authenticity expected of a singer accustomed to singing with the challenging intricacies of the kora. As Youssoupha reflects on the recording process for For All he notes, "It is not easy to sing with the kora, but he didn't have difficulty because he sings like a Fulani. "The kora is a mystical instrument, the sound takes you somewhere."
The recording engineer for this collaboration is Keyronie Allembert, and the songs were recorded at his Make Moves studio. Keyronie played an integral part in the project, contributing to songwriting and arrangements. He has done many recordings and projects with Vaughn over the years. Youssoupha describes the vibes as very strong during the recording process explaining, "We were very excited when we were doing this, it was like we were making history."
Youssoupha contributes chants in addition to kora on the song "Selassie Bring It On" Vaughn sings, "as the culture is reborn" he makes reference to Goree Island, the place known as the point of no return, which was located in Senegal. This is the location where the slaves were held before departure. Youssoupha Sidibe worked as a guide there at Goree Island in his early years, and it was there that the concept evolved in him and his music to become a vehicle for healing, as he saw African-Americans and their emotional reaction to the experience when they would visit as tourists. He realized then that his music could become a source of strength and a way for many to return to the glorious culture of their ancestral past. The song goes on to describe this as Vaughn sings that the music can "bring inspiration, compassion in a musical declaration."
The vocal portion of "Selassie Bring It On" that is chanted by Youssoupha is in the Wolof language of his native Senegal. Here he speaks of tradition calling on the ancestors and it is translated as, "Our tradition, Black people, wherever you are…today we are going to praise your ancestors, because our tradition is one, we share it, and we are entitled to it. Today we come to put our hearts together to create an opening. Amazing! Whoever hears this song, will know that we went back to our roots. We brought back the Diaspora with us."
On "Babe Suckling" Vaughn and Youssou remind us to "make a joyful sound, make an upfull noise, as children of the earth." They explore the "tradition of the old days today" and to still find a way to gather and play, and that those from the younger generation know it instinctively, as "four year old know these ways, three-year old knows these ways." These are reminders to us all that "culture makes our brutish heart refined" and that we should be "making some good of all of this called life."
"Jali" takes a more traditional Senegalese kora format and starts with a lengthy intricate solo from Youssoupha while Vaughn calls on the players of instruments and the healing power of music. His message "everybody need" and "everybody bleed" is a call to alleviate "sufferation in imanity (humanity)." And the vocal portion that is performed by Youssou translates as: "God created the Jali as god created the human being and created music, and that is what makes us happy, feeding our souls, and that is what keeps us company. The Jali/griot is the one who is the shepherd or the keeper, he is the one who is cultivating it and it is our tradition, that is why we praise the Jali."
For more information and to listen to songs from the FOR ALL recording please refer to the Yousoupha Sidibe artist My Space profile at <http://myspace.com/youssouphasidibe> or the Midnite website, http://www.midniteband.com/
For distribution and retail inquiries please visit ebreggae.com <http://ebreggae.com/> , vireggae.com <http://vireggae.com/> , midniteband.com <http://midniteband.com/> , Cdbaby.com as a digital download and CD, http://cdbaby.com/cd/midnitesidibe, or your local retailer.
|
BLUE LAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL NOV 29, 2008 NEW ZEALAND
|
BLUE LAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL
"Get Back To Your Roots"
Saturday 29 November 2008
Gates open: 12.30pm, bands kick off approx 2pm until 11pm
Location: Blue Lake Domain, Rotorua
The Blue Lake Music Festival (was Blue Lake Dub Experience) is back again, this time on Saturday November 29, 2008, at the same beautiful venue, the Blue Lake Domain in Rotorua. Who wouldn't want to watch some hot live gigs in the summer sun amongst the gorgeous redwoods and with Lake Tikitapu for a backdrop?
Special guests DLT and DT are going to open up the stage with Che Fu, Rhombus, dDub, Little Bushmen, 1814, The Midnights, Masef and Roots Batallion, it’s going to be a spectacular mixture of dub, reggae, roots and psychedelic rock music.
Gates open after lunch and there's music until 11pm that night. Kids under 16 are free with a paying adult (ID may be required) so get your tickets through Ticketmaster (early bird on now for a limited time, family passes and buy 5 get your 6th free), bring along the kids, chilly bin of good food and some sun protection - cuz it’s going to be a scorcher. Alcohol and food will be on sale onsite, but you can bring your own food, but not alcohol. Come on, get back to your roots and support Aotearoa music.
Check out http://www.bluelakemusicfestival.co.nz for more details.
|
CHEF MAYRA: A RAVE REVIEW BY JAMESCURTBYRUM
|
|
What is the best meal you've ever had?
For myself, it was the food I ate at my wedding... maybe, because it was prepared by my bride's sisters with so much love.
I had previously thought this meal would be impossible to top, until...I had the pleasure to enjoy the delectable tastings of Chef Mayra Trabulse'! A.K.A Dr. Flavor(www.mychefmayra.com). This spunky, yet sophisticated Latin-born, Cuban Lebanese lady prepares a powerful blend of soulfully inspired meals that are laced with Jamaican and Latin-Caribbean goodness. Every bite of her food has its own unique taste. Hence, the nickname. This last weekend, I was fortunate to have been invited to a Vegan-Caribbean style dinner at the home of our gracious editor Kaati and sponsored by Stephanie Tejada of Strawberry Creek Collection (Gourmet Condiments). My wife has been on a healthier eating path, so I was obliged to escort her three hours East to Nevada to attend the feast. Shortly before the meal, a soft-spoken red-headed whirlwind, Chef Mayra announced, "The foods-a-comin'! Are you ready?" A four-course meal that began with Chef Mayra's Signature Salsas, bean and veggie, both capable of attaining unabashed mouth watering guiltless satiety. Next, a sultry five herb and four spice salad that could make the least virginal pallets among us blush. Followed by a vivacious explosion of cooking chemistry, a tremendous tempura tofu with jerk sauce and a touch of pineapple sweetness. Caribbean fusion egg rolls caressed with chipotle and cranberry chutney.
Are you envious yet? You needn't be...Chef Mayra is available for private hostings . Along with Latin-style rice and peas that could have been a meal all by itself, and sides of sweet Cuban plantains.
Served lastly, a crescendo of melted madness drizzled over vegan desert cake winked with a raspberry kiss to seal the deal. Hands down, best meal I've ever had! The combinations of herbs and spices cooked without animal bi-products left me feeling joyously satisfied and nearly speechless.
Later, I was able to sit down with Mayra and ask her a few questions about the origins of her passion and the secrets of her unique presentation.
Let me just say first, that meeting Chef Mayra is like meeting Lucy and Ricky Riccardo of "I Love Lucy" all mixed into one person! Please check out her online videos. Her spirited character compliments her food very well. She learned to cook as a young child in Mexico City. "I would wake up early with the maid and help prepare food. My family life was a bit dysfunctional, so cooking helped to bring the family together under one banner of happiness." She says, "It was a way I could receive positive attention." She is quick to point out that food doesn't make you happy, but we are happy to have food! No doubt, we are thankful that the Creator has blessed us with her talents. She is a teaching chef, so I asked her, what is one important thing she has learned along the way. Her answer, "People all over the world are missing pleasure without guilt". She saw a need and filled that need. She says, "It's not what you do, it's how you do it that makes the difference!" Amen, Selah, and Aho to that!
After enjoying one of her delicious dinners, people often find themselves confessing their edible oddities and sinful secrets to her. She often tells them, "We just need to eat according to our design. We can rid disease by listening to the recipes of nature. To simplify: We sometimes need to go back to our roots to move ahead." "Let the vegetables talk to you... instead of popping a Viagra, we need to slice open an Omega rich aphrodisiac Avocado !"
She is filled with a wealth of wisdom and has the determination, drive, and focus to deliver her intentions with precision through a bevy of vibrational raising rations. Praise Jah for our food and for those who prepare it.
Thanks, JamesCurtByrum
To contact Chef Mayra aka Dr Flavor
call: 702 372 4709
www.mychefmayra.com
|
RENEGADE REGGAE CONCERTS ON YOUTUBE
|
Many of the Reggae and Ska concerts from this past summer's Renegade Concert Northern California Reggae Series were videoed by CJ from Sequoia Digital Promotions and can be found on the Tahoe Jammin Reggae youtube web channel – Tosh Meets Marley at the River Ranch Lodge (Tahoe City, CA) is the featured video this month…
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminREGGAE
Enjoy these cuts and more will be added almost weekly throughout the winter.
Show videos include-
Tosh Meets Marley
Pato Banton
The Wailers
Prezident Brown
The English Beat
If your band is playing a show in the Lake Tahoe/Sierra area and you would like to have them videoed for this and other web promotion uses contact cjmccoypromo@gmail.com for details of the services etc.
CJ
530-573-0805
http://www.tahoejammin.com
VIDEO CHANNELS
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejammin
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminBLUES
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminROCK
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminREGGAE>
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminBLUEGRASS
http://www.youtube.com/tahoejamminHORIZON
|
RICHIE B'S HOT MIX 102FM - NOV 14- STRAIGHT FROM YARD!
|
JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM
NOVEMBER 14, 2008
TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES
TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 2 16 Trailer Load of Money-Vybz Kartel- Adidjaheim Records/ Chimney Records (1wk@#1)U-1
02 3 18 More Money-Harry Toddler-Downsound Records U-1
03 1 15 I'm So Special-Mavado-TJ Records (4wks@#1) D-2
04 5 12 Robbery-Macka Diamond-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings U-1
05 4 17 Inna Di Car Back-Mavado-Big Ship (pp#4)D-1
06 7 12 Goodas Clap-Stacious-Ward 21 U-1
07 6 19 Dem Yah & Dem Yah - Flippa Mafia - Board House (2wks@#1) D-1
08 10 10 Water Man- Buju Banton - TJ Records U-2
09 8 13 Overcome- Mavado-Big Ship (pp#8)D-1
10 11 12 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records U-1
11 13 7 No Games-Serani- TJ Records U-2
12 12 9 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab NM
13 9 15 Bottom of the Barrel-Tifa-Ward 21 (pp#6) D-4
14 16 4 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings U-2
15 15 6 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II NM
16 14 8 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music (pp#14)D-2
17 18 2 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records U-1
18 19 3 Tic Toc-Busy Signal-S. S. M. G U-1
19 17 5 Work Out-Vybz Kartel-Big Ship (pp#17)D-2
20 - New Daggering - RDX-Apt 19
TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES
TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 2 7 Barak Obama-Cocoa Tea-Roaring Lion (1wk@1)U-1
02 3 11 Stronger-D’Angel-Sons of Spoon U-1
03 1 16 Keep It To Yourself-Queen Ifrica-Don Corleon (2wks@1) D-2
04 5 12 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Upliftment Music Int’l U-1
05 7 8 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp U-2
06 4 16 Rest Your Love on Me-George Nooks-Tad's Int'l (2wks@1) D-2
07 9 9 I Surrender –Beres Hammond -No Doubt Records U-2
08 12 8 Muss Come A Road- Mr. Vegas – A-Team U-4
09 6 22 One of a Kind-Leroy Smart-WWS (3wks@1) D-3
10 10 26 Different Page - I-Octane - Rated R/Arrows (2wks@#1) NM
11 11 8 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(pp#11) NM
12 13 5 One More Try-MBC-Boot Camp U-1
13 8 26 Bed Of Roses-Noddy Virtue and Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection (2wks@1) D-5
14 14 4 I Feel Good – Beres Hammond – Penthouse NM
15 16 4 Gun Town-Morgan Heritage-Don Corleon U-1
16 17 3 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Upliftment Music Int’l U-1
17 18 2 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records U-1
18 19 2 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records U-1
19 20 3 Herbalist Farmer-Chuck Fender-No Doubt Records U-1
20 15 19 Yuh Nuh Simple - Tony Anthony-B-CRISSAS (pp#6) D-5
TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 1 10 The Diamond Series - Blue-George Nooks-Tads International (3wks@#1) NM
02 4 9 Come To Jamaica-Richie Stephens-Pot of Gold U-2
03 2 20 The Ultimate Reggae/Dancehall X-perience - Various Artistes–Tads International (4wks@#1) D-1
04 5 7 Just Believe-Noddy Virtue- Reflection U-1
05 3 8 Jamrock Classics Vol 1-Various Artistes-Gargamel D-2
06 8 4 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records U-2
07 7 6 Dwight Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies-Dwight Pinkney-Abeng Int’l Records NM
08 6 22 The Strong One-Etana-VP Records (7wks@#1) D-2
09 9 3 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l NM
10 10 2 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon NM
_____________________NOTES_____________________________________
Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.
Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover
TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position
Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play
ALL SOUND SYSTEMS, SELECTORS, RECORD SHOPS, NIGHT CLUBS & RADIO DJS WHO WISH TO ASSIST US AS WE COMPILE OUR WEEKLY CHARTS, PLEASE FURNISH US WITH ONLY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS.
CALL: 876/968-5817 NOW!!!
|
THE RIPPLE EFFECT CHNY2K9
|
9th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration in Negril, Jamaica Jan 24-31, 2009
Packages on sale now at www.chny.org
Attend multiple concerts with CULTURE featuring Kenyatta Hill, The Overtakers, Little Feat guitarists Fred Tackett and Paul Barrere, Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Laura Reed & Deep Pocket, Snake Oil Medicine Show, CX-1, fire performers, and dragon parades.
Participate in community events such as the Friends of the West End Kids Fair, an Orphanage Concert at West Haven Children's Home for the Disabled in the mountains; and an Art, Music, and Play Donation Drive for several Jamaican schools and West Haven Children's Home!
Packages include passes to all concerts, community events, round trip airport transfer from Montego Bay to Negril, bus trip into mountains to visit West Haven, catamaran ride to a private secluded cove to snorkel & swim and enjoy a dinner buffet and open bar, t-shirt, orientation & tropical fruit buffet with mimosas, orientation travel packet mailed to your home before the trip, on-ground hospitality, and more. Guests are encouraged to support the West End community through attending events such as a variety show and crafts fair by the Divers Village Girls Club, a Bingo Block Party by Positive Vibrations, and the Love in the Yard party by Rough House. Packages are available both with and without accommodations. Accommodation packages are limited and selling fast!
Robert & Julia Roskind and the Gathering of the Peacemakers are joining the Ripple Effect! Roskind has authored many books including Rasta Heart : A Journey Into One Love and has produced over 50 commercial free events that focused media attention on nonviolence in Jamaica through One Love, community reasonings, and Reggae music. Visit http://www.rastaheart.com for more information.
Thus, in addition to 7 days filled with music, fun, sunshine, helping kids in need, snorkeling, laughing, jamming by the blue Caribbean Sea, and supporting sustainable community tourism in Jamaica, you are invited to participate in a series of Reasonings with the local community including elders from the book Rasta Heart.
The Ripple Effect's combined donation drive with Little Feat continues and we have added another international act to our donation drive to be announced Nov 1st at our website.
Proceeds from The Ripple Effect CHNY2k9 support DeepBlueRipple International Inc. - Partnering with communities to provide art, music, and play to disadvantaged youth.
For the schedule of events, to purchase a package, or just get linked in visit http://www.chny.org
Peace and Philanthropy Through Fun!
One Love
|
INTERNATIONAL CARIBBEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL NOV. 16th 2008
|
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to see all of the top-ranking Reggae artists at once? Been waiting fi go a yard? Well here's your chance!
Now you can experience THE hottest Reggae festival of the year, enjoy a weeklong vacation and have an irie time with thousands of you fellow Reggae fans for less than $2,000. Next year marks the 17th anniversary
of the legendary Red Stripe Reggae SumFest. The best artist such as
Richie Spice, Lady Saw, Beenie Man, Macka Diamond, Mary J Blige and
countless others have made this festival biggest sensation on the
island. Next year promises to be even better!
Ebony Excursions has partnered with Baba Roots USA and Sunset Beach Resort to bring Reggae fans a one of a kind experience for SumFest 2009!
All travel packages include:
- 7 Nights Hotel at Sunset Beach Resort
- VIP Bands for all SumFest Events
- All Meals and Beverages at the Sunset Beach Resort
- All gratuities
All prices are based on double occupancy
Space is limited Don't miss out!
For more information, please contact:
Ashlie Randolph
sumfest@ebonyexcursionstravel.com
http://ebonyexcursions.com/Upcoming_Event.html http://www.myspace.com/ebonyexcursions
|
TAKE NOTICE OF EMPIRE ISIS
|
HTTP:// WWW.MYSPACE.COM/EMPIREISIS
After two sucessful songs being premiered on MTV's hit show "THE HILLS", MTV has requested EmpireIsis via her publishing house "Pig PACTORY" for another tune. This is now ISIS' third song on the most popular show on MTV and her 8th major placement on mainstream television. Watch eps 413 this Monday at 10pm for her new single "Participate". (Scroll down to download)
ISIS has solidified herself as the premiere D.I.Y (do it yourself) indie urban artist out of Canada. She is making an international spash without any major label support and being invited to play major festivals such as CMJ MUSIC MARATHON, MIDEM, SXSW. and CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK. Visist her myspace to find out more about this artist.
ISIS ON THE FOLLOWING TV SHOWS:
This is now ISIS 7th TV/Commercial placement including:
1. Welcome to the Captain
(CBS Primetime) 8:30PM Paramount
2. Notes from the Underbelly
(ABC Primetime) 9:30 PM Warner Brother
3. Robson Arms
(CTV Primetime) 9:30 PM Canadian Television
4. Burn Notice
www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/ <http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/> USA Networks
5. Coors Light
http://www.coorslight.ca/
6. The Hills eps 405
http://www.mtvrealityworld.com/2008/09/15/songs-from-the-hills-season-4-episode-5/
7. The Hills eps 406
http://www.mtvrealityworld.com/2008/09/15/songs-from-the-hills-season-4-episode-5/
8. The Hills eps 413
http://www.mtvrealityworld.com/2008/09/15/songs-from-the-hills-season-4-episode-5/
Single : Participate
Label : Monumental Records/DEP/UNIVERSAL
Producer : Prayon
DOWNLOAD
1. Participate - CLEAN - MP3
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/620852643/4e8a78fe2f7cf8639671bd22654d46f7
2. Participate - CLEAN - WAV
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/620852643/4e8a78fe2f7cf8639671bd22654d46f7
Mission Music Video
Space : http://sebastiendr.com/mission/
Contact booking & Management
Awan Jones : awane@empireisis.com
Questions? Contact Empire ISIS <mailto:awane@empireisis.com> or Empire ISIS , c/o FanBridge, Inc. - 14525 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, Oregon 97005, United States
|
CARIBEFEST CELEBRATES NEW ARTS CENTER IN MIRAMAR - November 15 &16 2008, Miramar, Florida
|
Veteran reggae singer Gregory Isaacs, will lead a diverse list of Caribbean performers scheduled to perform at Caribefest-Community Showcase, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, at its new location, the MiramGregory on stagear Town Center Plaza and new Cultural Arts Center.
Staged annually by Caribefest Inc., and the City of Miramar,
Caribefest-Community Showcase is a free multi-cultural festival focusing on the music, food and culture of the Caribbean. The festival has a tradition of featuring top Caribbean acts, and the inclusion of Isaacs to this year's list continues that custom.
As part of the opening celebrations of Miramar's new Cultural Arts Center, the festival was relocated to this new venue and has expanded to two days.
On Saturday, November 15, the free event will feature Gregory Isaacs along with Soaria, the Brazilian songstress whose Portuguese rendition of Taurus Riley's hit "She's Royal" has been getting a lot of airplay. Popular Haitian band T-Vice will also perform along with the universally appealing group MaWon, showcasing traditional Haitian Roots music, Kompa, Reggae and R&B. New York-based Reggaeton rapper Negro Baby will strut his stuff as well as locally based Reggae singer King Banton as well as the the Latin group James De La Raza and El Ritmo Band. Rounding out the festivities will be the Virgin Islands Mocko Jumbies, Trinidadian steel band and neighborhood dance groups.
The festival will feature a varied selection of booths selling Caribbean foods such as jerk chicken, curry goat and fish, plus cool drinks to quench the thirst of patrons jamming' to the music while enjoying the evening's entertainment. A selection of T-shirts, art and craft items as well as other novelties will also be available from vendors. Major corporations will also be offering free gifts as well as valuable prizes such as trips and gift baskets to lucky raffle winners.
Bradshaw Hague On Sunday, November 16, the focus turns to Caribbean Jazz as veteran Jamaican musician and founder of the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival Sonny Bradshaw graces the stage of the new Cultural Arts Center. He will be joined by vocalist Myrna Hague, saxophonist Dean Frasier, Grammy nominated Haitian-born Reginald Policard on keyboards as well as trumpeter Jean Caze.
This elegant evening of Caribbean Jazz is a fitting way to crown celebrations of the new Miramar Cultural Arts Center, which will be the home to many Caribbean-themed events. Tickets for the Jazz Gala will range from $30 to $55 and are available online at MiramarCulturalCenter.org.
Caribefest-Community Showcase is presented by Caribefest Inc., The City of Miramar, All Service Refuse with support from Comcast Cable.
For further information contact: Alex Davis of Caribefest Inc., at
954-270-4601 or Lolita Dunn of the City of Miramar at 954-704-1631
|
IBE SIGNS ELIJAH PROPHET
|
Island Boy Entertainment (IBE) recently signed Elijah Prophet to our roster as his exclusive booking agent. IBE will be handling all of Elijah Prophet US & Worldwide bookings.
Elijah Prophet born in Jamaica, first visited a recording studio in 1996
with producer Jimmy Hinds. This session produced the singles "Mr. Badman" and "Mankind". The same year, Elijah Prophet received the "Best New Artist" award in the Stone Love star search contest.
The following songs:
"I Can See Dem" and
"Burn Down The Walls Of Babylon"
charted in Jamaica and Toronto and allowed Elijah to receive the Tameka Award nomination for "Best New Reggae Singer".
Elijah new single 'Rainy Night In Summer' is currently receiving a lot of buzz and air play on radio stations throughout the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and the US.
Elijah is currently available for US & International bookings. If you are interested in booking Elijah Prophet for your venue or event, please contact Island Boy Entertainment.
ISLAND BOY ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
3330 Cumberland Blvd., Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30339
Trevor 'Money Maker' James
770-933-6234 (Office)
866-851-0366 (Toll Free)
678-522-9915 (Mobile)
404-745-8830 (Fax)
trevor.james@islandboyonline.com
http://www.islandboyonline.com
|
THE GOOD MEDITATION TOUR
|
|
BEAUTIFUL, AMERICA!
|
By artist, Jesse Joshua Watson
http://www.jessewatson.com
mail@jessewatson.com
"Leadership does not mean domination. The world is always well
supplied with people who wish to rule and dominate others."
-Haile Selassie I
|
REGGAE RUNNINS, KY-MANI MARLEY LIVE IN FLORIDA, NOV 29TH!
|
COME SEE Ky-MAni Marley, Warrior King and Mr. Styx
at The Mojo Room
6682 S US-1 Port St. Lucie , Florida
Showtime: 9PM
For More INFO: 754-234-3180 or 954-478-0391
|
UNITED REGGAE AWARDS
|
http://www.unitedreggae.com/awards/
Welcome to United Reggae Awards 2008
The United Reggae Awards recognizes those working hard to keep Reggae music vibrant in 2008.
The United Reggae Awards is the people's award.
It is totally up to YOU, the general public to decide the outcome.
Vote now to guarantee that your favorites win. Any recording released between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2008 is eligible for the 2008 awards.
Voting closes January 31 2009.
If you can't think of any nominees for a particular category you don't have to vote in that category. Your other votes will still count.
Vote for your favorite artists and win a selection of albums, singles, books and DVDs.
The 1st prize: an amazing selection of albums, singles, books and DVDs worth 100 €
The 2nd prize: a great selection of albums, singles, and DVDs worth 75 €
The 3rd prize: a big selection of albums, singles, worth 50 €
|
TOP SHELF : : TIME TO WAKE
The day Top Shelf fans have been waiting for is here. On Tuesday September
16th Northern California's own Top Shelf released their first full length
album, Time To Wake. It has been a long time coming but along with their
blood, sweat and tears, Top Shelf released the album people have been
waiting for. With sold out shows in Northern California full of fans eager
to hear Top Shelf in their CD players, the band is happy to finally have the
album to satisfy.
Time To Wake, which has been in the making for the last 2 years, is an
original blend of alternative rock mixed with reggae and funk to create a
new sound that gets people moving and thinking from beginning to end.
Throughout the album lyricist Carter Lane delivers words of hope and
inspiration in a time of need, proving that the focus of Top Shelf is to
bring positive, genuine, high quality music to everyone.
The exciting release of the band's new album marks a personal milestone for
the four members. Never before has the band been ready to take on the rigors
of the music industry and lifestyle. But now, with the release of Time To
Wake, Top Shelf is ready to be thrust into the music world with plans of
shopping their new CD to music labels, promoters and radio stations world
wide.
Carter Lane, Drew Nicoll and Chad Goodin along with guitarist Sean Erickson
have been working hard to prepare for the release of this album. Over the
past year the band has been touring, writing songs and recording all
independently, successfully gaining fans and spreading their music. In
celebration of the album the band headed out on another successful
California tour playing from San Diego to Mendocino County.
Time To Wake is available on iTunes and CD Baby for people everywhere.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule and
interview with Top Shelf, please call Highest Vibration Music at
707.391.8676 or e-mail highestvibrationmusic@yahoo.com
Carter Lane
Highest Vibration Music
Top Shelf Booking
707.391.8676
Contact: Carter Lane FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cell - 707.391.8676
Email highestvibrationmusic@yahoo.com
|
SILVANUS : : TALK TO JAH
'Talk to Jah' CD was released 2007.The feed back and Reviews are excellent.
'Goddess of the Earth' seems to be the track that Radio DJs and the public like the most.It is a track that is delicated to all women but it was written for my grand mother.Who passed away 3 Years ago at 93 Years old.
The CD is distributed in the USAby Ernie Bs Reggae Distribution and is also available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silvanus
We are negotiating a Distribution deal with Champion Sound Distribution in the U.K.
http://www.myspace.com/silverglobe
http://www.myspace.com/silvanus12
|
INDIGINUS : : WAKE UP
IDIGINIS is the musical inner-thought brought to life in order to show the ONENESS that has existed in man since the begining of time. As a band of Souljahs from different parts of the world, you are able to witness the culmination of different cultures & ideas...
With Aauzraam's powerful lead vocals & thought provoking lyrics, Dizzy Boots' heart pounding bass, Mikey Dub's sweet leads on guitar, I-Jahman bubblin' keys & vocals, Lee's Slammin' Riddim Guitar and Vocals - once a touring member of THE WAILERS, and Boba keepin' it all on time behind the drums...
...THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN... WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF IDIGINIS
Still 'in the womb' - under nine months old, IDIGINIS have been blessed with opportunities to play Houston Reggae Festival 2008 with Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor, Third World, Elephant Man, and more to an overwhelming response. The band has recently played dates with Groundation and Pato Banton's Mystic Roots Band. IDIGINIS were also chosen to be a part of a taping for ABC's Wifeswap in Houston after NYC casting agents found the band online through MySpace - the airdate is Fri, October 31st, 2008 and is part of the primetime network shows' 4th Season.
IDIGINIS has been building a following fast - pumping out their mix of tuff modern roots infused with rock and hints of dub, while paying homage the classic foundation riddims of reggae music - to larger crowds show after show in their hometown of Houston. The band plans to tour extensively next year, including offers from overseas. Coming up in early 2009, shows confirmed include the Houston Reggae and Ska Festival @ Meridian in Houston, and an opening slot for Badfish (Sublime Tribute) @ the newly opened House of Blues Houston.
IDIGINIS are currently putting the final touches on a self-titled debut EP with a TBA release date set for this winter. The five track debut will feature the first single "Jah Kingdom Come" - with a dub version serving as the bonus 6th track. Upon its release, the EP will be set for online distribution through iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, CD Baby, and more. The record is being produced and engineered by MD Thompson @ Ivory Tower Studios in Houston (The Midnight Pilots, Jack in the Pulpit, Victoria, History of Our Presence), and to be mastered at the legendary Lion & Fox Studios in Washington D.C. (Gregory Isaacs, Midnite, Groundation, SOJA).
IDIGINIS is currently seeking representation in the form of management, U.S. and International booking, and signing with an independent label - one that will understand and work toward's the bands' vision of spreading love and truth all over the globe.
|
PATO BANTON & MYSTIC ROOTS BAND TOUR, GROUNDATION TOUR DATES
PATO BANTON & MYSTIC ROOTS BAND 2008 U.S. TOUR
Pato Banton & The Mystic Roots Band Shows:
Wednesday Nov 12th: South Lake Tahoe, CA. (21+)
Thursday Nov 13th: Chico, CA. (21+)
Friday Nov 14th: Laytonville, CA. (all ages)
Saturday Nov 15th: Laytonville, CA. (all ages)
Sunday Nov 16th: Hayfork, CA. (all ages)
Tuesday Nov 18th: Seattle, WA. (21+)
Wednesday Nov 19th: Eugene, OR. (all ages)
Thursday Nov 20th: Portland, OR. (21+)
Saturday Nov 22nd: McKinleyville, CA.
Sunday Nov 23rd: Oakland, CA.
Thursday Dec 4th: Kaunakakai (Molokai), HI.
Friday Dec 5th: Lahaina (Maui), HI.
Saturday Dec 6th: Honolulu (Oahu), HI.
Thursday Dec 11th: Lihue (Kauai), HI.
Friday Dec 12th: Kailua-Kona, HI.
Saturday Dec 13th: Hilo, HI.
Friday Jan 2nd: Solana Beach, CA. (21+)
GROUNDATION TOUR DATES
Date Venue/Event Location
11/14 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach,CA
11/15 Downtown Brew Co San Luis Obispo, CA
11/16 McNears Mystic Theatre Petaluma, CA
11/17 The Independent San Francisco,CA
back to top
|
ON THIS DAY IN REGGAE
|
|
|
|
|
| 1960: |
Admiral Tibet (Kennel Allen) is born in Freehill, Jamaica. |
| 1968: |
Harry Anslinger, father of marijuana prohibition, passes away. |
| 1972: |
"I Can See Clearly Now," by Johnny Nash, peaked at #1 on the U.S. pop singles chart. |
| 1975: |
Cuban troops save the MPLA government in Angora by defeating an invading South African army.
Several Jamaicans 45s -- including Revolutionaries' MPLA and Angora -- express solidarity with liberation struggles in southern Africa.
|
| 1984: |
Keith Hudson passes away (dies of lung cancer) in New York, USA. (b. 1946) |
| 1997: |
Jimmy Cliff is awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
This
is the third honour to be bestowed on him by his country as he
previously received the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in the field
of music and the Order of Distinction.
|
|
|
THE LOVE OF JAH
Dearest Jah, May we become
worthy of the hope that we were created in your image.
May we become worthy and grateful for this beautiful world and rare opportunity
of life.
May we understand that the best and worst of all of us is in each of us,
and thereby find love and compassion in all of our sisters and brothers of this
world.
Thank you. Amen.
|
|
Click on festival name to click through to festival website.
|
RBA Publishing Inc is home-based and women-run with headquarters in Reno, NV. We produce the annual Reggae Festival Guide magazine (now entering its 15th year), the top-ranking website: www.ReggaeFestivalGuide.com, and this weekly reggae newsletter: The Reggae Festival E-Guide with just under 17,000 weekly subscribers. We love what we do and look forward to input from you with your suggestions, critiques, questions, etc.
Call 775-337-8344 or email eguide@reggaefestivalguide.com
One Love,
Kaati and Irisa
back to top
|
|
Information - both editorial and advertising - in the Reggae Festival E-Guide - is believed to be correct but not guaranteed - so check it carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news, just report it.
|
|
|
| |
|
