Bugle Maintaining the Focus for 2010

Musical interests both locally and internationally found 2009 to be a turbulent year for the industry; feuds, lackluster production and writing efforts aided in an even greater decrease in album sales.  The flip side is that this tight squeeze around the neck of the entertainment industry allowed persons to dig deeper inside their creative engines to bring good quality music to float above all the undesirables, much to the delight of the fans. One artiste who was able to bring forth really good, quality filled tracks was DASECA’s first artiste – Bugle.

Bugle has found himself blessed with a writing/lyrical skill that allows him to bring forth songs that connect with people on a personal level; things that basically any and every one can relate to. In 2009 he stayed true to that form and worked with some of the industries talented producers to bring those songs to the ears of the fans. With the help of visionaries like Julia Braham (1456 Productions) and Jay Will (Jay Will Films) he was able to bring some of these stories to life. One of his last projects for 2009 was the song ‘Pearly Gates’ produced by TJ White (Tj Records) for the Alter Ego Riddim. The concept for the video was coordinated by the team of Jay Will Films and it became one of the most memorable videos of the year. “I like working with Julia and Jay Will because of the creativity that they bring to the table”, commented Bugle, he went on to say that “some of our directors are becoming monotonous”, something that critics have repeatedly been saying, so it is a breath of fresh air that people like Jay Will can inject that creativity in their work and as Bugle looks towards working with other directors for the coming year he encourages them to tap into that creative energy that will help Jamaican Artistes get there messages/music across to the masses.

Good music truly knows no bounds; this was proved time and time again when promoters across the globe requested Bugle to headline tours, concerts and be present at events across the Caribbean, Canada, United Kingdom, Belize and Bermuda. Locally, though he was not in Jamaica to perform at Sting, he was privileged to have delivered an outstanding set at Reggae Sumfest, one that had the patrons hungry for more and set the basis for his intent to deliver an even bigger and better performance for the 2010 staging of the event.

For an industry that brings thousands of tourists to Jamaica on a yearly basis, industry affiliates and entertainers alike find it hard to understand why dancehall is still being hampered by our society. The Noise abatement act which developed some new muscle in 2009 is having a domino effect on the industry. “What will the jerk man do when him cah mek him money at the gate any more? How will the artistes feed their children, how will the promoters send their children to school?” Bugle questions. He proposes that the government simply look into providing some greater means of support for all the people that will be affected, instead of imposing a law that does more harm for one of Jamaica’s greatest assets.

Bugle says that “Negativity cannot benefit dancehall”, that’s not a new sentiment, however he feels that the ‘uptown/downtown’ segregation and feuding between artistes are the driving forces that limited the growth of Dancehall on the world stage in previous years. It is a hope that


Keeping his Ears and Eyes Open

2010 may see Bugle releasing an album, with exclusive tracks that have already been recorded and never released. With his lyrical prowess and production from some of the industry’s finest this album will definitely be a collector’s item. Fans will have to wait until mid-year though after Bugle executes an extensive tour of Europe, a market he plans to take his music to a lot this year.

With his eyes firmly set on maintaining his momentum through 2010, Bugle keeps his ears open for good productions from established and upcoming producers alike; he continues to keep his eyes open for creative directors to work with and talented entertainers with an earnest love for the music to do collaborations with.

With Bugle and other artistes in this frame of mind our music culture seems destined for greatness.

DIGICEL AND SHAGGY’S ‘RISE AGAIN’ HAITI RELIEF SONG AVAILABLE ON iTUNES NOW

International acclaimed Caribbean artists Shaggy, Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and many more feature and internationally renowned director Jay Will shoots video

Digicel today announced that ‘Rise Again’ - the song written by international reggae sensation and Grammy Award-winning artist, Shaggy, to support the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on 12th January - is available on iTunes for download and purchase for 99 cents (US) now with the artists and label donating their proceeds to the Digicel Haiti relief fund.


‘Rise Again’ is a Caribbean song, which was written and performed by Caribbean artists for the people of Haiti. And with the New York Times hailing the song as “fast becoming a post-quake anthem”, ‘Rise Again’ has had a fantastic reception and is already getting heavy rotation radio airplay and news coverage across the globe.

In addition, from mid-next week, the video to accompany ‘Rise Again’ will also be available on iTunes.

Directed by internationally renowned film and video director, Jay Will, and filmed around Port Royal in Jamaica, the video’s central theme is of people from across the Caribbean coming together to rebuild Haiti and help the people of Haiti to rise again.

From red, white and blue balloons mirroring the colours of the Haitian flag being released to aid arriving on boats and planes and a mother being gently handed her new born baby by a nurse - the images portrayed are of hope for the future – and are interspersed with actual footage of the aftermath of the earthquake.

A veteran of some 50 music-related films and videos and with roles at MTV, CBS, ESPN and NBC under his belt, Jay Will has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Kanye West, Bob Sinclar, Elephant Man, Lee Scratch Perry and Vybz Kartel.

Commenting on the video, director Jay Will said; “The devastation in Haiti and the heartbreak is immeasurable. The aim of this video is to offer hope and a chance for change and recovery. The simple message is: throughout all things, one thing will remain true – that despite the tragedy, despite the struggle, despite the hardships, Haiti will rise again.”

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, comments; “‘Rise Again’ succeeds in being both moving and uplifting and we are delighted with the reception that it has had across the globe to date. We would like to thank everyone for their support and encourage people to log on to iTunes and purchase the song so that we can keep giving to the people of Haiti in their time of need.”

Artists featured on ‘Rise Again’ include Shaggy; Sean Paul; Sean Kingston; Barbadian Artists, Alison Hinds, Shontelle Layne and Edwin Yearwood; Trinidadian Soca Artists, Destra Garcia, David Rudder and Kes Dieffenthaller; Jamaican reggae artists, Tessanne Chin and Etana; and Haitian artiste, Belo. The track was produced by Christopher Birch.

As the single largest investor in Haiti with a total investment of over U$300 million since its launch in 2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and over US$600,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of its two million customers in Haiti US$5 in free credit – totaling US$10 million.

In addition, over 60 video messages of support have been recorded by well known people such as the Fastest Man in the World, Usain Bolt; President Martinelli of Panama; West Indies legend, Sir Garfield Sobers; and many more. All videos are available to view on www.facebook.com/helphaiti.

Source - Digicel Group

ROCKSTEADY PIONEER LYNN TAITT DEAD AT 75

Groundbreaking rocksteady guitarist Lynn Taitt -- who played on influential records by the Skatalites, Derrick Morgan and Desmond Dekker passed away last Wednesday, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. Taitt, who was 75 and a Montreal resident, succumbed to cancer.


Born Nerlyn Taitt in San Fernando, Trinidad, he picked up guitar in the early 1960s -- when he was well into his 20s -- first heading to Jamaica in August 1963 to perform at a gig arranged by the legendary Byron Lee and designed to celebrate the country's first year of Independence from England. Taitt stayed in Jamaica, where he played with the aforementioned ska pioneers, plus the Sheiks, Comets and the Cavaliers.

By 1966, Taitt's band, the Jets, helped launch the rocksteady movement by crafting the bassline for 'Take It Easy' by Hopeton Lewis, which many cite as genre's first song. Establishing the Federal Studios sound, Taitt went on to help craft Alton Ellis' staple 'Girl I've Got a Date.'

Taitt worked often with Leslie Kong -- the Chinese-Jamaican producer who first recorded Bob Marley -- lending his memorable riffs to Dekker's '007 (Shantytown).' In 1968, Taitt moved to Canada, living in Toronto in the 1970s before ultimately settling in Montreal. There he wrote for local reggae, jazz and calypso groups and played and recorded with the Kingpins, a local ska outfit.

REGGAE LABEL EXECUTIVE RAISES GRAMMY AWARENESS AMONG REGGAE PRODUCERS

Cristy Barber, the VP of marketing and promotions at VP Records, was tired of seeing some of the best acts in reggae continuously overlooked every time Grammy season rolled around. Now, as Billboard reports, she's taken it upon herself to lead a campaign to educate reggae artists and producers about the market-based benefits that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences can offer.


Barber's already organized a January 21-25 conference in Jamaica, where she will meet with industry execs to discuss the Grammy nomination process. Her corporate gaze, though, extends well beyond Jamaica's borders, as she's looking to recruit 100 or more Recording Academy members from the global reggae industry to vote for the 2011 nominations. Currently, Jamaica has only one Recording Academy member, a shockingly low statistic that highlights how much reggae has been under (or mis) represented in recent Grammy nominations. There are some institutional barriers that hinder Jamaican involvement, though, most notably the requirement that all nominations be postmarked 2 weeks before they arrive in Los Angeles, an impossibly short time frame that has discouraged eligible Caribbean voters from joining the Academy.

Barber, who was once nominated for a Grammy herself back in 2005, and who presided over the Marley family's Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths labels, has been lobbying for a rule change for years, and this year, she finally succeeded; in 2011, Jamaican members will be able to vote online via PDF ballots, which should help turnout. Still, though, Barber and others recognize the need to raise awareness from the ground up. She's pretty confident she can be successful, too. As she says, "Winning a reggae Grammy offers a level of recognition that impacts sales, radio play and concert demands, essential elements in establishing a new generation of reggae stars. I wouldn't be doing the genre, the artists or Jamaica justice if I didn't embark on this campaign."

REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON will open February25 at the HILTON KINGSTON Ballroom with a Red Carpet Gala Reception and premiere of the Reggae documentary RUFFN' TUFF – FOUNDERS OF THE IMMORTAL RIDDIM by Japanese film maker Shizuo Ishi, featuring a galaxy of reggae stars including Leroy Sibbles, Bob Andy, Gregory Isaacs and John Holt all of whom are among the VIP reggae celebrities invited as Special Guests. Other films include premieres of 3 new Jamaican feature films and a rare documentary on Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

The HILTON KINGSTON Ballroom will be transformed into a Cinema for nightly screenings, while the Jonkanoo Lounge will host Lunchtime screenings, a Seminar and a special Children's programme. The HILTON KINGSTON offers a Reggae Film Festival accommodation package at reduced rates and will also offer Lunchtime Specials for midday cinema-goers.

Films already entered include features, documentaries and music videos by Jamaican and international directors, including entries from Hawaii, Italy, Japan, UK and Brazil. Awards will be presented by a panel of Judges in 9 categories including Best Film, Best Documentary and Best Music Video, and audiences will be invited to selected their favourites.

Several international film celebrities have been invited to attend, including noted director SPIKE LEE, rapper/actress EVE and ROGER GUENEVERE SMITH, star of Jamaican feature 'Betta Mus' Come' and 8 Spike Lee films, as well as the blockbuster “American Gangster” starring Denzel Washington. The noted actor will present a lecture with film clips as part of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL programme. Jamaican film celebrity guests include former heavyweight champ LENNOX LEWIS, star of 'Johnny Was” and star of two Jamaican feature films currently in production. In addition to Title Sponsor HILTON KINGSTON, sponsors include IRIE-FM, PHASE THREE and STANLEY MOTTA RENTALS.

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON is an activity of the Jamaica Film Academy established in 2008. This year's event is produced by a Planning Committee led by film maker and film festival organizer Barbara Blake Hannah. She said that since the first Reggae Film Festival in 2008, there have been many spinoffs, with festival films being invited to international events and winning awards. Film Festivals and people around the world, including Jamaica, have begun including reggae films in their programmes or presenting look-alike events, but these all have served to achieve the main objective of the Jamaica Film Academy, which is to promote Jamaican film culture and increase the opportunities for Jamaican film makers.

Blake-Hannah, who presented Jamaica's first film festival in 1974 and has produced several more since, has been a guest of international film festivals in Venice, Cuba, Iraq and Cannes. She is also producer/director of several films and worked on film productions including “The Harder They Come”, “A High Wind in Jamaica” and “Kla$h”. She and British film archivist Peter Gittins of Reggae Films UK conceptualized the first Reggae Film Festival in 2007 as a special event with private sector support. Mrs. Hannah continued developing the idea while working as Consultant to the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports on various projects including the planning and procedures for the first Reggae Month in 2008, into which the Reggae Film Festival was eventually incorporated with some government support.

The Jamaica Film Academy's aim is to see the Reggae Film Festival become an annual date in Jamaica’s events calendar that will provide Jamaican films with the needed international exposure that they deserve. Four different films have been made as a direct result of its first event in 2008 and two films premiered at the Reggae Film Festival 2009 have won international awards, evidence of just how important this event is.

The Jamaica Film Academy invites members of the Jamaican film industry and local businesses to help the Reggae Film Festival grow bigger and better. Further information on the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON can be had at the official Reggae Film Festival website at www.jamaicafilmacademy.org.

PORTMORE EMPIRE SEEKS TO RECOUP LOSSES FROM GAZA KIM'S DEPARTURE

In light of the announcement that artist Kim Hamilton--formerly known as Gaza Kim, now known as Kym--has chosen to exit the Portmore Empire and Adidjahiem Records, Empire leader and record company CEO Adidja "Vybz Kartel" Palmer issues the following statement:


The Portmore Empire invested a substantial amount of money in the career of singer Kim Hamilton--filming music videos, printing promotional posters and clocking several hours in the studio honing her talent. We're disappointed that she felt the need to issue a press release to the media announcing her departure from the record label, Adidjaheim Records, without first notifying the company. This is particularly disturbing given the fact that she is still under contract and the record company has fulfilled its end of the agreement.

Nevertheless, we understand and respect her decision to leave even if we don't agree. We are prepared to negotiate the terms of her contract, to grant her creative freedom, while minimizing the impact on the company, as is customary in matters of business.

The Portmore Empire will continue to support and seek out young artistes in Dancehall. We believe that Jamaica has a never-ending reservoir of talent and the Empire will continue to develop and market young acts.

-Adidja Palmer-


This latest statement comes on the heels of a week-long firestorm of controversy surrounding an alleged attack on Kym at the hands of four men she claims to be affiliated with the Portmore Empire. Early this week, Vybz Kartel released a statement condemning the alleged attack on the 17-year old singer.

Source - Ms. Raine Inc

::.INTRODUCING CHRISTAR JAZZ-IT-UP.::

Night life in Kingston is on the verge of witnessing a weekly performance show that will stimulate the minds of the sophisticated listener and one that is poised to generate a buzz and inject new life in live performance shows in and around Kingston.


This bolt of energy will be created by Christar Jazz-It-Up. This weekly event is set to transform Wednesday nights starting on February 3, 2010. Some of Jamaica's finest talents in voice, instruments and others will come together week after week to put together an entertainment package that will satisfy the craving for good live performances. With the backdrop being provided by the Hope mountains and the cool atmosphere that is constantly evident in the evenings on Hope Road, Christar Villa's Hotel is an ideal location for an event that can only be deemed as ... 'Too cool for an average venue'.

The first week will see performances by Maurice Gordon, Mark Joseph, Leontre Roberts, Kai Wakeling and Jhamiela Smith. The later a budding Neo/soul artiste whose style her merging Reggae with Jazz into soulful pieces which leave even the unappreciative listener of Reggae music in awe.

Christar Jazz Nights is certainly the ‘coolest’ place to be on Wednesday nights.