Jazzy Jamaican trio mines metals 'n' Beijing

While Jamaica exports scrap metals to China, a jazzy Jamaican trio (Kerron Stewart- silver, Shelly -ann Frazer - gold, Sherone Simpson - silver) mines priceless metals in Beijing.

Jamaican music without the dreadlocks

JamaicaMusic Offbeat , for a brief moment, diverts from its core functioning of promoting improvised music in the Jamaican context to draw attention to an interesting story on reggae published in the Aspen Times newspaper. The well written piece is highlighted by the caption UB40: Jamaican music without the dreadlocks. See link below.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080809/ASPENWEEKLY/805434076/1060/rss

Over 500 artists for Monterey Jazz Festival

Three days of celebration of the best in jazz, with over 500 artists appearing on 9 stages spread throughout the Festival's 20 acres of magnificent grounds.

Cassandra Wilson Nancy Wilson Herbie Hancock
Jamie Cullum Wayne Shorter Quintet Christian McBride


The 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey Fairground, California.

SS Live Music Nation set sail at Christopher's

photos by Diallo Dixon

True Democrats (L-R) Carl Gibson (bass) Wendel Lawrence (drums), Seretse Small (guitar) and O'zune (piano)

Ship Ahoy, Griot Music/Seretse Small's Live Music Nation (LMN) set sail Tuesday night , 5th August, at New Kingston live music hub Christopher's Jazz Cafe before a lively standing room crowd. And, bottles did pop in the true democratic spirit of the launch as chaser for Seretse's imbibing guitar riffs and runs.

Seretse Small & the True Democrats was in great improvising form blending like good cocktails served to both the regulars and new patrons who drank to their fullest imbibe of musical aperitif.

The SS Live Music Nation stays anchored tonight Thursday (August 7) at Christopher's for a rocking session with the highly regarded Gas Money.

Anchor aweigh to the Village Blues Bar for Friday nights (August 8) set with trumpeter Ian Hurd before sailing to the enchanting Heathers Garden Restaurant on Saturday (August 9) for a lovely evening with the lovely jazz pianist Dr. Kathy Brown.

Griot Music launches live music campaign

Guitarist Seretse Small, CEO of Griot Music Publishing, will continue his dream when on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 he launches his Live Music Nation (LMN) campaign, an effort to provide live music in Kingston, the Jamaica capital, 7 nights a week at different locations.

According to Small, a veritable jazz and reggae guitarist, Griot Music launching of LMN will bring 7 days a week of high quality performers in Kingston. " This will lead to the development of strong artists who can effectively tour the world with the newest sounds out of Jamaica".

"This is just the beginning of a much needed change in the Jamaican music industry for these artists will move on to record albums, promoting their albums though touring and Griot Music will grow a valuable and diverse catalogue", says Small via the Griot Music website http://griotpublishing.com/

The Kingston venues contracted so far are the intimate Heathers Garden Restaurant, Christopher's Jazz Cafe in New Kingston and the Village Jazz & Blues Cafe in Liguanea.

The musicians/performers to make the rounds are aspiring vocalists, Bijean Gayle, Bridgez, Janine Cunningham, Luke Dixon, Mario Evans, Nina Karle, and Ricardo Suave, reggae bands, Chalice and Gas Money, jazz pianists Dennis Rushton, Dr. Kathy Brown,

Ozou'ne, and Kamila Hamilton, and trumpeter Ian Hurd

LMN kicks off Tuesday, 5th August with Seretse Small in command performance at Christopher's Jazz Cafe begining at 7 pm.

Nexus delights Choir Olympics in Austria

YolanDa Brown: Britain’s hottest new sax symbol

Having played at the recent Ocho Rios Jazz Festival events in Kingston and Ocho Rios, sax rising star YolanDa Brown spoke to Dionne Grant about sharing the stage with role model, Courtney Pine in The Voice, the Gleaner sister newspaper.

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=13929