Make Jamaica Reggae's Mecca

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

Sunday, February 27, 2011

AN important facet of this year's Reggae Month activities has been the launch of the Preserve the Music Campaign. This campaign which will continue past reggae month marks the intensification of JaRIA's efforts to advocate on behalf of the industry tackling issues which affect the full spectrum of our participants.

These issues include the need to: increase music education in schools; amend the Noise Abatement Act; bring back the playlist to radio station operations; enforce the artiste's legal right to attribution on the radio; and eliminate payola practices in all media. Persons have been asked to show their support for the industry's objectives by signing the Preserve the Music petition, as you are able to tonight ... already overwhelming support has been received not just locally but internationally as well.

BRIAN SCHMIDT: "Brand Jamaica", Jamaica is yet to truly make reggae feel at home!"


In addition to the JaRIA organised events, certain endorsed events which have taken place during the month: the JCDC Symposium, Trench Town Festival, Fi Wi Sinting, JAVAA's tribute to the King, Crown Prince and Cool Ruler and tomorrows IRIE FM Tribute to Peter Tosh, to name a few, have ensured that islandwide the celebration of Reggae Month has been a success!!

At this point, I must take a moment to thank those in the public and private sector who have helped to make these celebrations possible: Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, CHASE Fund, Jamaica Tourist Board, JAMPRO, Red Stripe, RJR Group, Irie FM and Culcha Clothing. I must also thank the JaRIA Board, membership, and Jamaican music fraternity because, in spite of the sponsorship received, without their donations of time, talent and equipment this would not have been possible.

Many thanks must also be extended to the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts. The alliance that has been forged by the organisation with the Principal, Staff and Students of this institution which has seen this amphitheatre become the official home of Reggae Month's celebrations in important for a number of reasons. We have been able to provide edutainment at its highest level with the involvement of and to audiences filled with the future of our industry.

Last night is a classic example of the level of continuity and knowledge transfer that occurs throughout the month as a result of this alliance. During the month the next generation of musicians were given an opportunity to perform with and for the living legends of our industry: an experience meant to inspire and encourage the retention and expansion of our cultural legacy.

Indeed, in the three years since JaRIA was granted the honour of organising the nation's official Reggae Month celebrations it has become a true labour of love for the organisation. At once a wholly fulfilling and rewarding task but nevertheless one fraught with challenges. Why? Because, in the words of Brian Schmidt, the guest speaker at the official launch of these month-long celebrations, despite its legacy, despite its contribution to nation building and the national identity "Brand Jamaica", Jamaica is yet to truly make reggae feel at home! It continues to be a struggle to get persons to fully understand and by into the concept and importance of Reggae Month.

Therefore, as I conclude my comments this week, I wish to make one final appeal to all Jamaicans, on the importance of these activities and the need to re-affirm Jamaica as the home of Reggae through the entrenchment of Reggae Month by clearly espousing JaRIA's vision for these celebrations.

We recognise and truly believe the Reggae is Jamaica's gold. Reggae Month is for us and for them; about inviting the world to come. In the month of February let's make Jamaica Reggae's mecca.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Make-Jamaica-Reggae-s-Mecca_8440721#ixzz1FHL1JFYn

Bob Marley — The People's Hero

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

TODAY we are halfway through Reggae Month in Jamaica, and so far, by the sheer will and determination of the Reggae Month Committee (RMC), coupled with significant, voluntary contributions of many of our artistes, musicians, equipment suppliers and other industry professionals, all the activities organised by JaRIA have been quite successful, from an organisational and attendance perspective.

The Dennis Brown Celebration on Sunday, January 30, again proved that Orange Street and its outskirts (downtown Kingston) organically generates a uniquely Jamaican 'artical' vibe which, at its dawn, had a profound impact on our pioneering artistes and entrepreneurs, stimulated and informed the creation of what has become our great musical legacy and, given the right conditions, still permeates any cultural event or project implemented in the area. During the load-in, (other-wised called set-up) period, the residents came out in droves to contribute in skills, time, effort and ideas to make it work, and did the artistes deliver to the 6,000-strong audience which eventually gathered to celebrate the life and works of Dennis Emmanuel Brown.

To close the show, Beres Hammond and Freddy McGregor on stage together, totally captivated the assembled throng, doing song for song, and each other's too. Before that, and to the amply expressed appreciation of the patrons, Dillinger, Trinity, Tinga Stewart, George Nooks, Ken Boothe, The Mighty Diamonds, Skully, Jimmy Riley and Horace Andy all gave us performances, specially dedicated to Dennis. The electrifying performances of the inimitable Leroy Smart and Bob Andy, the



prolific songwriter/singer (foundation member of the Paragons), received the loudest, most sustained applause from the audience. These were all friends of Dennis, and along with him, the above artistes have taken our music 'from di root, to di world'. They have each played a big part in keeping 'The Fire Burning' throughout the decades.

The two weekly concerts, held at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, have also lived up to expectation, in terms of attendance and audience response. On Wednesday, February 2, it was a sight for sore eyes, to see the young people present, singing along and dancing to the Mento songs of the Jolly Boys as they 'tore down the house', as the phrase goes in show business. On Wednesday last, Akwaaba Drummers launched another night filled with some brilliant performances by Carlene Davis and Grace Thrillers in the Gospel genre, followed by Nambo Robinson and the Idren Workshop playing some Ska standards and Chinna Smith and the Inna Di Yaad Crew playing some classic rocksteady songs, with two delightful guest appearances by Pam Hall and the Abyssinians.

I wish, however, to focus the rest of my comments this week on two very topical, current issues. Today is the day of the Grammy Awards, and there is a growing sentiment within the local Music Industry that as time passes, these awards less and less reflect what is happening in the broader world of reggae, either from a production or market perspective, and therefore is gradually becoming irrelevant. Of course, the reggae industry must take some of the blame for this, because we remain largely disengaged from the academy.

We need a two-pronged strategy to correct this dilemma. Firstly, we need to start a campaign of getting many more of our members on the Academy in order to influence the vote from a more informed position. In this regard also, Don McDowell (musician and former Academy member) has a brilliant idea, of establishing Caribbean-wide awards incorporating all the countries and musical genre originally created by us; similar to the Latin Grammys, and demanding the respect and attention of the Academy.

The other topic on everyone's lips is the question of whether Bob Marley should be made a national hero. For 50-odd years, Bob's words have been prophetic; his music and philosophy have penetrated the hearts and minds of people all over the world, especially the oppressed and downtrodden. His lyrics and songs have been used as inspiration in every great international movement, from the peace movement, to the anti-apartheid struggle, from breaking down the Berlin Wall which divided East from West Germany, to the Maoris struggle for indigenous rights in New Zealand.

This has made him the most famous son of Jamaica and to a great extent the worldwide popularity of Reggae and Rastafari has been due to Bob's universal appeal and impact. One Love his adaptation of Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready was designated the song of the century by Time magazine, in a recent world survey and he rated second, only to Michael Jackson, as the most influential artiste of the 20th century.

Sadly, I think it's because of persisting prejudices against Dreadlocked Rastafari in Jamaica why there is even a debate on such a deserved honour, and yet with one stroke we could change the mindset of future generations, leading to a more harmonious relationship within our classes, less alienation amongst the youth of our land, and a greater feeling of inclusiveness by our working people living in the ghettos.

One Love

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Bob-Marley-The-People-s-Hero_8359614#ixzz1DxEnKPOD

Reggae Month 2011

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

TODAY, the official Reggae Month activities commence with the Dennis Brown Celebrations at 'Big Yard', his birth-place on Orange Street. While Dennis' birthday (February 1st) actually falls on Tuesday, the organisations staging the event — The Dennis Brown Trust, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Leggo Records and Sounds & Pressure — thought it more appropriate to implement this free mass stage-show and party on the weekend, to allow for an earlier start of, and maximum attendance at the festivities in his honour.

In my view, there could not be a more appropriate way to launch Reggae Month activities. Without a doubt, during his lifetime, this dynamic, charismatic artiste with the moniker 'the crown prince of Reggae' was unequalled as Jamaica's favourite and most prolific hitmaker, singer and performer; even reggae king Bob Marley always declared so. He was the best closing act that Jamaica has so far produced and his performances were of a consistently high quality, energy and entertainment value. Dennis was one of a trio of singers around which Sunsplash Singers Night was built annually, significantly assisting to develop that massive audience (28,000 at its peak in 1992) and awesome reputation that it gained internationally. The other two were Gregory Isaacs, 'The Cool Ruler', and Barrington 'The Canary' Levy.


The line-up for his celebrations includes such Reggae luminaries as Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Tony Rebel, Big Youth, Julian and Damian Marley, George Nooks, Horace Andy and Uprising Roots with Fredlocks.

Back by popular demand, is the weekly series of free concerts being produced by JaRIA, each Wednesday during February, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. This programme was first successfully instituted last year, to highlight the main genres of music created and/or performed by Jamaican musicians since the dawn of our nation, in an edutainment format. They chronicle the evolution, development, diversity and versatility of our musical art forms, history and practice.

The first in the series, branded 'Heritage', on February 2, will focus on Folk, Mento, Jazz, Classical, and Drumming, featuring Nexxus, Jolly Boys, Dennis Rushton, Ashes (Peter Ashbourne Ensemble) and Calvin the master drummer of NDTC and Pantomime fame.

On the second week, February 9 has been labelled Classical Rhythms — Ska, Rocksteady, Gospel and Dancing, will be highlighted by The Nambo Robinson workshop, Chinna Smith and Inna Di Yaad, Horsemouth and crew, Grace Thrillers, Carlene Davis, Edna Manley Dancers and Edna Manley Band.

Reggae Gone Global aptly describes the musical offerings of February 16, with its emphasis on dub, dub poetry and Rockers. This promises to be a truly splendid night, epitomising the best of Jamaican musical fare, with Sly Dunbar & Lloyd Parkes leading a band, Junior Reid, Big Youth, Cocoa Tea, Fab Five Band, Dub Tonic Crew, Uprising Roots, Pentateuch, and Blueprint, already confirmed.

The final in this year's series of concerts called Fusion, will take place on February 23, and will feature dancehall and alternative music, headlined by Tony Rebel and the irrepressible Queen Ifrica.

Two other very important events that are being organised by JaRIA are the sacred Praise and Worship thanksgiving church service at Swallowfield Chapel on Sunday February 6th, and a repeat of the Trench Town tour on February 20th.

The Marley family is co-ordinating the 19th staging of the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash on February 5 and 6, while Bob's foundation organises their customary Bob Marley Day at the Museum. The Rita Marley Foundation will also hold a Youth Symposium on the 7th of February

Each Tuesday, during the month, the Negril music cluster stages their One Love Reggae Concert series.

The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates have added the Cool Ruler to their annual tribute to the King and Crown Prince, and their venue this year is the Police Officers Club, because the event has now outgrown the previous one. Yet they still can't get adequate corporate sponsorship.

As usual, the authentic, exclusive — by invitation only — eagerly anticipated JaRIA Honour Awards will be staged on February 26, culminating the events produced by that umbrella organisation, during the current edition of Reggae Month. This year, three new categories have been added, to give credit where it's due. These are: Duo/Group (vocals); Band; and Outstanding contribution to Industry (Media or Promoter); bringing the categories up to eleven, with seventeen Honourees in total.

The artiste fraternity and members of JaRIA must be congratulated for giving their talent, time, skills, services and networks to the JaRIA events, free of charge, in salute to our heroes, our music and the Jamaican nation at large, as we continue to build the Reggae Month brand.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Reggae-Month-2011_8323309#ixzz1CpA6BBAp