It's both strange and exciting to find Garland Jeffreys playing in a north London church, for he surely merits the status of an American legend. Now 70, he was born in Brooklyn to African-American and Puerto Rican American parents, and in the 70s and 80s he shook up the New York music scene by mixing rock, reggae, soul, blues and Latin influences with thoughtful lyrics about race and identity. He was admired by Lou Reed, Bob Marley and Bruce Springsteen – with whom he has performed – and he borrowed from them all, as well as Van Morrison. Then he slowed down. There was a 13-year gap before the release of The King of In Between in 2011, and now, following the release of Truth Serum, he is in the UK for his first-ever tour here. It's a low-key affair, without a full band, but he is in remarkable form. He came into the church carrying an acoustic guitar, sporting a glittery black shirt and hat and backed by two musicians, his British co-producer James Maddock on acoustic guitar, and a respectful percussionist. They started out with one of his newer songs, an atmospheric acoustic rocker, Coney Island Winter, before moving to a ballad from the 90s, and the chugging, Velvet Underground-inspired 35 Millimetre Dreams, from 1977. Jeffreys had a powerful soulful voice, and bravely walked out into the crowd, singing without a microphone. He told stories of Marley and Springsteen in New York as he switched between the pained reggae of Colour Line to the Latin-influenced Spanish Town and a new song about race, It's What I Am. The songs were written decades apart, but fitted together perfectly. He was called back for three sets of encores, including a furious 96 Tears, the ? & the Mysterians' garage rocker from the 60s. This man deserves a far bigger British following. . • At the Green Hotel, Kinross, on 7 March and St Bonaventure Social Club, Bristol on 8 March Source The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/05/garland-jeffreys-review-st-pancras-old-church-soul?
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BOOOOM >>> FREE DOWNLOAD >> BLACK TRUMP INTL - MOST WANTED DANCEHALL MIXTAPE VOL 2 MARCH 2K143/5/2014 BIO Dub-o-phonic is a new netlabel from Cyprus, which distributes freely downloadable, Creative Commons licensed music on the internet. We aim to seek and provide you with exclusive releases of quality music, from artists who are dedicated and passionate about their work, whether it’d be electronic or acoustic. We try to retain focus on the art of dub music in its most diverse forms, whether it would be electronic or acoustic/organic, roots or steppers, classic or contemporary. We are especially interested to promote crossover projects, fusing dub music with other genres of music, whether this would be funk, jazz, hip-hop, world music or electronica. SINGJAY Mr Straight is determined to make his mark in the competitive arena of dancehall. To achieve this, the up-and-coming artiste said he keep his songs "real" so that everyone can relate them. Mr Straight recently released his 14-track debut album titled Victory on the Big City Vibration label. Mr Straight (given name Horace Hudson) shared the inspiration behind the set. He said people are facing hard times and it is easy to choose the wrong route. "After seeing too many people doing the wrong things, the materials just came to life," he said. Among the tracks are Shaky, Live Up and the title track Victory. Now in his 30s, Mr Straight was born in Westmoreland. While attending Petersfield High School, he developed an interest in music. He honed his craft by performing at school events as well as on community sound systems. He got his break in 2010 with the self produced track Goodas, which features Black Ice. The following year, he dropped Lowe Mi Nuh. Source Jamaica Observer: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Mr-Straight-seeks-Victory_16157060 THE challenges of urban life has led many Jamaican youth down the wrong path. Not so for deejay Rhyme Minista, whose personal tragedies have inspired him to walk the straight and narrow.
Rhyme Minista (given name Fabian Sawyers) says his songs, which include Searching, are projections of his years growing up in Glendevon, a crime-ridden community in St James. "Because a certain 'tings' wi coulda turn wicked but wi still keep the faith an' express wiself through music," he said. Searching, which Rhyme Minista calls a "reality song", is the 29-year-old entertainer's first release. It was produced by the Good Good label out of Montego Bay. He followed-up with Mad Move for producer DJ Frass and Mad Mad Move, which is produced by the Stashment label. Music has provided a release for Rhyme Minista who lost three brothersto the violence that has scarred gritty neighbourhoods like Glendevon, located on the outskirts of Montego Bay. He has followed the dancehall trail since he was a student at Knockalva Technical High School in Westmoreland. Though Rhyme Minista first recorded in 2000 as a 15-year-old, that song was never released. Given Searching's resilient message, he believes it is appropriate that song got him off the mark. "It's about coming from the ghetto into society, an' searching for a better life," he said. "Dat's what most ghetto people want." Source Jamaica Observer: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Rhyme-Minista-stays-grounded_16186784 Having been on a hiatus from the music industry for quite some time, singer Bascom X is making his return, penning his signature on a contract with Gyptian's label Just 1 Records. Bascom X, who gained popularity with Lonely Girl in 2004, explained that he stopped recording for three years. He said he made a conscious decision to stop recording with some of the local producers years ago. "Mi did stop record for most of the producers. After a time you learn about the business and some producers break your vibe," he said. Last year, however, he said he started touring with long-time friend Gyptian, going to places in Africa, United States, Europe and the Caribbean. "Mi did kinda tek myself out of music. Mi did haffi get my thing together and now I'm settled. Where better fi start than fi start wid family. Him know my weak points and how fi draw mi out," Bascom X told The Gleaner. Now that he is back, Bascom X says he is promoting new songs likeStruggling and Commitment (a Garnett Silk cover). "Mi just go back inna di studio and start record so you have a new vibe and a more mature sound. The vocals get better and mi see things more clearly," he said. Although he is signed to Gyptian's label, Bascom X says he understands that he still has to work very hard to regain his place in the industry. put in the work "I just hope for the best working with Gyptian. I have to bear in mind that he has his career also, so mi haffi put in the work," he said. Bascom X further explained that most of his songs were hits overseas so he intends to do the work in Jamaica. "The people asking for me so all you have to do is do your best. Do the promotion and interviews and be in the public's eyes," he said. But high on his agenda is getting the Jamaican youth to listen to and accept him. "You haffi get back inna di likkle school yute dem brain. From dem love you, you win," Bascom X told The Gleaner. Source The Gleaner: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140305/ent/ent2.html KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Season 5 winner of NBC’s The Voice is among a list of accomplished women to perform at the White House, ONLINE OBSERVER has learnt. As part of their “In Performance at the White House” series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major female artists to the White House for a celebration of the great “foremothers” of American music, with songs expressing the struggles and achievements of women, according to a report. The programme will include performances by Tessanne Chin, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monáe, and Jill Scott, with Greg Phillinganes as music director. “Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House will be broadcast Monday, April 7 at 9:00 PM ET on PBS stations across the US. Source Jamaica Observer: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Tessanne-to-perform-at-the-White-House |