This Is Jamaica (&caribbean)

Explosive Caribbean Infused Creole Jazz

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TJNELSON reviews Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul (Culture Shock Music, 2013) for WorldMusicCentral.org.

Trumpeter Etienne Charles’s Creole Soul isn’t World Music Central’s usual fare, but because our readers are clever, worldly and there’s probably a good number of jazz fans amongst the lot of you I’m going to make an exception. While the world music threads on the latest by this Trinidad-born musician and composer are a bit tenuous, there is a Caribbean flavor woven throughout the fabric of Creole Soul.

With previous recordings that include Folklore, Kaiso and Culture Shock, Mr. Charles, a professor at Michigan State University, leaves nothing out of the mix on Creole Soul in his continuing musical exploration and incorporating his own Caribbean roots, along with French, Spanish, Calypso, R & B, Reggae and blues influences, to create a savagely bold jazz sound that is captivating.

Joined by Jacques Schwartz-Bart on tenor saxophone, Brian Hogans on alto saxophone, Alex Wintz on guitar, Obed Calvaire on drums, D’Achee and Daniel Sadownick on percussion, Kris Bowers on piano on Fender Rhodes and Ben Williams on bass, Mr. Charles reigns supreme on trumpet and fugelhorn and offers up percussion as well. Opening with Haitian chant by Erol Josue on “Creole,” before slipping into some delicious percussion on the extension of “Creole,” Mr. Charles and company heat up this high-energy jazzy track that thrums with a yummy underlying funk before more goodness from Mr. Josue.

Possessed of a subterranean smoothness, Creole Soul moves slickly into “The Folks,” before slipping into the clipped hipness of “You Don’t Love Me,” punctuated by some dishy bass lines provided by Mr. Williams and piano by Kris Bowers. Throughout Mr. Charles’s neat, sharply worked trumpet playing will have fans sitting up and begging for more. There is plenty to laud on Creole Soul, tracks like the Caribbean rhythms that saturate “Roots” or the mellow turns of “Memories” or the silky smoothness of Thelonious Monk’s “Green Chimneys.”

Fans also get a version of Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low.” Equally good is the lovely “Midnight,” the dreamy “Close Your Eyes” and closing track “Doin’ The Thing.”

While I would put Mr. Charles squarely in the jazz genre, there is plenty of an international flavor on Creole Soul. The heady explosive potency of Mr. Charles on the trumpet is reason enough to check out this recording. Fans should also note that Mr. Charles is headed out on a world tour, so fans should be sure to check out the schedule for a chance to hear Mr. Charles in person.

Vybz Kartel Conspiracy Trial Postponed AGAIN, Gaza Slim Sound Off

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Vybz Kartel conspiracy trial was again delayed and Gaza Slim is furious.

The case against the self proclaim Worl’Boss and his co-accused Gaza Slim, real name Vanessa Saddler, and Andre “Pim Pim” Henry was mentioned in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrates Court yesterday.

However, the trial failed to get underway and was subsequently postponed until July.

Speaking with Irie FM, Gaza Slim says the constant delays is getting frustrating.

“Them just constantly putting it off and putting it off,” Gaza Slim said. “But its god we put our trust in and not mankind so what is to be must be.”

Gaza Slim also said she is channeling her focus on her musical career and is hoping Vybz Kartel would be released sometime soon.

Vybz Kartel oft-delayed murder trial is scheduled for May 27, however, fans are keeping their fingers cross that there will be no more delays.

Damian Marley

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Connor Casner and Willow Delgado wrote this formy.hsj.org—it is an example of secondary school students’ interest in writing about the Caribbean.

Damian was two years old when his father, Bob Marley, died; he is the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. Damian’s nickname Junior Gong is derived from his father’s nickname of Tuff Gong. Marley has been performing since the age of 13.Marley has described his music as “dancehall and reggae. I’ve noticed…people trying to separate the two of them,” he continues. “It’s Jamaican culture in general. I don’t …..[Full article HERE]

LOVE THIS SHOT OF POPCAAN!!! 

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Lyris “Real Badman,” Produce By Jam2 Productions.

Real bad man love si dead body
Drive pon dem Benz wid the red cabby
Shot bun dem skin like beef patty
And no bwoy pon di road cyaa dis poppy

Jam 2 dem love si dead body
Step pon dem endz wid the big maggy
Shot spin dem head like dis jockey
And no bwoy pon di road cyaa dis poppy…

Snoop Lion, former Snoop Dogg, is one of the latest celebrities to be hit with a tax lien by the IRS.

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However, the West Coast rap legend, turn reggae star, will not be going to prison.

Snoop Lion was hit with a $546,000 tax lien earlier this year after failing to pay taxes between 2009 and 2011,

Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, has settled his tax debt with the IRS and the lien was released.

Snoop Lion recent drop his reggae debut album Reincarnated and an accompanying documentary of the same name chronicling his spiritual transformation into Rastafarian.

Anthony Joseph and the Spasm Band

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Mirissa Neff reviews Trinidadian poet and singer Anthony Joseph and his Spasm Band. She underlines the Caribbean influence in his musical choices and his eternal identification as a Trinidadian, in spite of his being “properly settled” into his London life.

Anthony Joseph grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. He began writing poetry at the age of 10, and describes his childhood on the outskirts of Port of Spain as being free-spirited and full of music. When Joseph was young his grandparents introduced him to the music of Trinidad’s calypso greats like Lord Kitchener and Mighty Sparrow. As he got a bit older, his musical tastes…..[Full article HERE]

UK CONCERTS

BERES HAMMOND, MORGAN HERITAGE & MARCIA GRIFFITHS (flyer attached)

July 17^th :          London @ IndigO2 Greenwich
July 18^th :          Bristol @ O2 Academy
July 19^th :          Birmingham @ Bingley Hall
July 20^th :          Huddersfield @ Cathedral
July 21^st :          London @ Academy