Sunday, January 31, 2010

Soca was a perfect sync at Jazz fest

Patrons at the 14th staging of JAMAICA Jazz and Blues festival at were in injected with high energy as soca music ruled Friday night through Trinidadian Machel Montano.

Throughout his entire 45 minute performance jazz and blues fans relinquished themselves from their seats and submitted to the call of their feet to dance as the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny was transformed into a carnival-like atmosphere second to none.

While Machel showcased his usual onstage gyrating antics to much delight of his unyielding fans, he unveiled a different side as he paused to do sing the emotional Don’t You Leave Me song dedicated to our Caribbean neighbours Haiti who were devastated by the recent 7.0 earthquake as he played the keyboard. With hits like Dance With You and Its Carnival Machel could do no wrong as he had patrons waving and dancing up until he exited the stage.


Prior to Machel’s performance, The Queen Projects thrilled the crowd through the commanding vocals of Tamia, Deborah Cox and Kelly Price. The highly anticipated performance by these three divas delivered on its promise to entertain. As they sang the new single Mirror the audience reflected the love by showing their support and rocking to each note they uttered. Each gave the other an opportunity to perform solo on the jazz fest stage before regrouping to assist each other on their respective hits. With Tamia’s Stranger In My House, Deborah Cox’s Nobody’s Suppose to Be Here and Kelly Price’s Friend of Mine they helped each other with their individual hits to culminate a brilliant and unforgettable performance that will cement them in the hearts of jazz fest fans.

 Known for her eccentric sense of style in fashion and music, a captivating Erykah Badu had patrons hypnotize by her bass heavy, jazz and hip hop soulful sound as she went On and On at the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues festival. With the absence of her mega hits Bag Lady and Tyrone Erykah did not fail in her bid to exert her musical diversity while pausing at regular intervals to talk to audience. Opening with The Healer she had the audience induced throughout her over one hour performance and her onstage mixing skills on an electric drum.


Closing an evening of excellence in music is something international star Billy Ocean has accustomed to and last night was no different. From Caribbean Queen, Colour of Love to Love Zone, Suddenly each song registered into the hearts of his fans and even moving some to tears. “We love you Billy” continued to echo from adoring fans as he took them on a timeless musical masterpiece.

Among the early acts who performed creditably well were Robin Banks, Karen Holness, M’Lonie and Bengy Myers.


Saturday, January 30, 2010

Jazz fest Talent Stage. AWESOME

From local to international musicians they all contributed to an excellent and memorable production on the Art of Music (Talent) Stage at the 14th annual staging of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues festival in Trelawny.

With shear precision and a mixture of roots rock reggae, rhythm and blues and jazz music, Thursday night’s Talent Stage delivered on its exceptions to entertain a music hungry audience.

Through the Kingston-based Omega Element band, early birds at jazz fest were given an appetizing entertainment treat which kept the small but faithful audience grooving to their original Angel In Disguise song along with other renditions.

However, the crowd immediately rushed to converge in front of the stage when the heard the next act, Claudius England and the Radikal Band executing beautifully composed reggae songs.

With an all Christian cast of musicians, Claudius’ social commentary messages kept patrons enthralled by his knack to entertain while addressing the issues affecting individuals in society. Sporting a dreadlock and performing original songs he wrote, this energetic 27 year-old musician took jazz fest patrons on a journey that will cement his place in music with his Abstain From It song which discussed the issue of sex outside of marriage.

Through a fusion of rock and reggae his Got To Hold On was a hit he maintained the momentum with each song he unleashed. So engaging was his performance, that Claudius and the band were called up for an encore. Nevertheless, he could not conclude his 30 minute performance without singing So What and Wrap Your Arms Around Me.

Digicel’s Rising Star contestant Nickeisha Barnes was electric as she tantalized the audience with her smooth but commanding voice. With Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive Nickeisha continued to attract attention to the Talent Stage. Dancing, singing and talking to the crowd her antics gained her new fans as she performed at the prestigious event for the first time.

The evening could not end without Jon Saxx and the Endless Possibilities band out of Florida. So captivating was these musicians that not even a brief moment of rain could stop their rendition of Prince’s Purple Rain. Through his mastered skill on the saxophone, Jon Saxx demonstrated why his audience idolizes his work as he massaged each note of Floetry’s song Say Yes that only left patrons saying yes to the end of a beautiful celebration of music at the Greenfield Stadium.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Undressing Jazz through Jon Saxx


Jon Saxx and the Endless Possibilities band out of Florida mesmerized a capacity-filled Blue Beat audience  in Montego Bay as they seduced the ears with beautiful musical notes.

The band, who also performed on Thursday night’s Art of Music (Talent) Stage at the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues in Trelawny, won the Band Quest which secured them a spot on the talent stage.

Through his mastered skill on the saxophone, Jon Saxx demonstrated why his audience idolizes his work as he caressed each note of Floetry’s song Say Yes through his instrument. At no point the group felt out of place during their performance, as the Blue Beat offered the ideal jazz-friendly ambiance with a Caribbean appeal that encouraged each melody.

Clad in brown and white three piece suit with his trademark hat, Saxx induced the desire to listen as he and the band played Robin Thick’s Lost Without You while he encouraged a sing-along with the audience. As it that was not enough Saxx and the band made sure that persons had a different perspective to jazz music when the did Sam Cooke’s Change Go Come.

 With the help of a fellow musician and friend of the group, Frank Aravya the group did an excellent rendition of Prince’s Purple Rain to conclude an evening of beauty through jazz.

Over the years the Art of Music (Talent) Stage was mostly dominated by local acts however, the organizer of JAMAICA Jazz and Blues event  sought to extend a spot on this stage to members of the international music community. As a result, musicians from around the globe had an opportunity to showcase their talent at the Festival, with the introduction of the new internet-based competition.

What has also made it enticing for the musicians is that during the jazz festival,  patrons will be given numbers to text and indicate who their favourite act were. Their performances at the Festival would then be uploaded to the Festival website for an internet vote. The band with the most points at the end of the voting period will be champion of the 2010 JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Band Quest, and will receive several prizes including a guaranteed booking to perform on the main stage at the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival in 2011.

Jazzing all the way in Jamaica


From bonfires to colour coordinated LCD lightings at the venue entrance to match the lights on stage, Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny ignited on Thursday night through musical masterpiece and unique décor to compliment the hosting of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival.


Persons were no longer felt inclined to walk with their own portable seats at this year’s staging of the musical festival will entertain a diverse seating arrangement from various angles stationed on three levels. “Part of the beauty of this venue is that persons can sit comfortably in their seats within a sheltered area and enjoy the music festival in oppose to the previous arrange that we had where persons had to bring their own seating and such” Elmore quipped.

Despite the absence of the ocean by the venue and the lush green space that is signatory of the Aqueduct, a production transformation by Turnkey Productions to enhance the aesthetics at the Greenfield Stadium, and elevate the festival’s capacity to deliver an orchestrated musical magnum opus.

Satisfying ones appetite food is an important detail to the success of the Jamaica Jazz and Blue over the years and with more than double the venue space at the facility, a larger and greater variety of food courts and bars was available for the public to partake.
Elmore confessed that adequate parking was an issue “but we have corrected that in our move to Trelawny as in addition to the parking facility, we will be clearing a huge section of the property to accommodate the commuting public”. The Mayor of Falmouth Collin Gager endorsed the move by the production team to come to Trelawny which he believes the town will benefit from the parish through exposure.

Jamaica Jazz and Blue is being hosted from January 24-30. The weeklong trail began in Kingston with Jazz in the Gardens, Jamaica Pegasus featuring: Roy Ayers and Tony Greene on January 24th, Jamming in Sunset at Jamaica Grande with Maxi Priest, Joe Roy Jackson and A Jazzy Affair at Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay Jon Secada and Roy Ayers on the 25th, Tuesday 26 January: Grooving at RIU, Montego Bay featuring: Maxi Priest, Joe Roy Jackson which will be held simultaneously at the Blue Beat Jazz Bar, Montego Bay where Jon Saxx and the Endless Possibilities Band from Florida performed, Wednesday 27 January: Grooving at Iberostar, Montego Bay with Maxi Priest and  Roy Ayers.
Main Stage at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny
Thursday 28 January
Babyface, The Whispers, Joss Stone, Monty Alexander, Joe Roy Jackson
Friday 29 January
Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Machel Montano, Robin Banks, Queens Project featuring Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox 
Saturday 30 January
Gladys Knight, Third World, Hall & Oates, Jon Secada, Marion Hall

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dre Blunt, one beat at a time

From having a 'sick' state of mind with his lyrics to speaking bluntly, upcoming dancehall artiste Dre Blunt formerly known as Norshous continues to prove that he has lyrical wit and aptitude, assets which are needed to stand out in the music business.


The 24-year-old father to one, Andre Lee who hails from Rockfort in Kingston Jamaica said the decision to change his popular stage name Norshous to Dre Blunt was based on marketing reasons.

Marketing reasons

"I felt like each time I introduced myself I always had to justify the rationale behind the name, so for marketing reasons and what we are pursuing musically for this year and beyond, myself and my team decided to change the name," he said.

With his song Mi Nuh Have It which propelled him to success and has earned him heavy rotation on the radio, Dre Blunt is seeking to elevate his musical skills for this year and make an even bigger impact that is needed to survive in one of Jamaica's most competitive industries.

In order to appreciate real success, "there has to be great disappointment and I know what that feels like, as my efforts to make a huge impact in the music business is marred by limited resources and trying to find that hit song that will really stick in the minds of everyone," he confessed.

He however contends that the saturation of the dancehall industry has somewhat impacted on his ability to break through. "A mean, most of the artiste who a get a buss nowadays, if you notice are ringtone-type of artiste without any real lyrical content, so with that I hope to use my lyrical wit to cement my position in dancehall," he added.

Nevertheless, he remains confident in his production team and his ability to execute his musical content for the public to enjoy. In the year of great possibilities as he described, the artiste, formerly referred to as Norshous, is intent on letting the public know who he is and what he can do.

Some of his upcoming projects include a mix tape called Billboard Music and a single on the Long Range rhythm, out of Gorilla Records.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Miss Teen Alabama loves Ja


Captivated by the warm personality of the people and the delicious food, the Alongi family has become an unofficial tourism ambassador for Jamaica within their home state of Alabama as the family continues to visit even after 18 years.


“This is home!” Mrs. Alongi remarked “My husband and I honeymooned here and we’ve been coming ever since.  We have been coming here so often that even persons back are convinced that we have family here. Whenever my husband wants to feel calm and relaxed he thinks of coming to Jamaica to do so” she confessed. 


In an interview at the luxurious Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay with mother Sandy Alongi and 17 year-old the recently crowned Miss Alabama Teen USA Ashlyn Alongi, they disclosed that the secret jewels of Jamaica that keeps them interested and fascinated by the small island of over 2.7 million citizens.

One secret that they revealed is their unwavering crave for local fruits especially mangos. The obvious burst of excitement on their voices as the issue was discussed spoke of the desire for the fruit which seemed to have ignited their taste buds to explore all the variety

Ashlyn concurred with her mother’s passion and love for the island stating “there is nowhere like here, when we vacation it does not seems like we have left home. We enjoy rice and peas with jerk chicken, we eat that every single day. We just love it. My mom even prepared it sometime ago at home, that’s how much we love it” she smiled.

When asked as to whether or not she would consider coming to the island with her friends instead of her family the 4.0 GPA cheerleader who loves playing the piano responds “while teens her age may find it odd to vacation with family, she finds it an enriching experience to be with family all the time”.

Mother Sandy added that the family is enthralled by the idea of philanthropy while vacationing as “I have went to schools in Negril with my daughter and read to children and just the look of gratitude on their faces for something as simple really touch our hearts. We always come to Jamaica and bring gifts for the less fortunate. We believe that whatever we can share to those in need is what really matters at the end of the day”.

“Jamaica is not as bad as what most people believe, we have been here time and time again, we have interacted with the people within the communities, we even take the local taxi service and it just a beautiful experience, one that cannot only be captured in words. You have to come here and see for yourselves” Mrs. Alongi concludes.