Jamaican Music Artists

Protoje & The Indiggnation – Jamaica’s Contemporary Reggae Revival

Many Jamaicans I spoke to in Jamaica recently reminisced to me about the good ole days of conscious roots reggae music. They also complained about the new generation of dancehall.  I think those Jamaicans would approve of Protoje and his band The Indiggnation.

Protoje-The Indiggnation-www.beaveronthebeats.com

Protoje’s 2013 album The 8 Year Affair, turned out to be the best contemporary reggae album I bought home with me from Jamaica.  This is the music I went to Jamaica looking for.

The 8 Year Affair (2013)

To my ears it is simply sweet, tasty reggae music – infused with some subtle elements of dub, hip hoppop, and even a violin on one track.

Protoje’s lyrics are of the conscious kind that those Jamaicans (and I) are looking for. One of the tracks is Reggae Revival – an ode to reggae music from those ‘good ole days’ featuring another great contemporary Jamaican artist Romain Virgo.

Protoje & Romain Virgo - Reggae Revival - www.beaveronthebeats.com

 

 

In these past weeks post Jamaica and Colombia, The 8 Year Affair has had the most listens out of my entire bag of new CDs. I love it to bits – and Protoje has gone on to my list of ‘must have live music experiences’.  You’ll probably feel the same if you’re into reggae.

Protoje - Kingston Be Wise - www.beaveronthebeats.com

Who Dem a Program - Protoje

Reggae fans in Europe in October and November can check out Protoje & The Indiggnation live on their Fall Tour.

Protoje - Music From My Heart Tour Poster - www.beaveronthebeats.com

If not in Europe, find Protoje & The Indiggnation live where you can – I will be.  In the meantime get hold of The 8 Year Affair and the previous Protoje album The 7 Year Itch.

Legend Remixed – Bob Marley & The Wailers Fusion Style

An interlude from fusion music, I thought. It’s Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Bob Marley

But the album is Legend Remixed – Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Bob Marley and the Wailers Legend Remixed - album cover

It’s produced by Ziggy MarleyStephen Marley and Jason Bentley. They, and other world class DJs and producers have tastefully messed with the original Bob Marley & The Wailer Legend songs, to create totally new and great ones.  Songs made up of roots reggae (Bob & co.) with lots of fresh and tasty electronic beats & dub. Bob Marley & The Wailers fusion style.

Legend Remixed is a really cool album. The more I listen, the more I hear and appreciate the different artistry in each song and the better it gets.

Check out the remix artists:

1. Waiting In Vain (Jim James Remix)

2. Stir It Up (Ziggy Marley Remix)

3. Three Little Birds (Stephen Marley and Jason Bentley Remix)

4. Could You Be Loved (RAC Remix)

5. No Woman, No Cry (Stephen Marley Remix)

6. Get Up, Stand Up (Thievery Corporation Remix)

7. Satisfy My Soul (Beats Antique Remix)

8. I Shot The Sheriff (Roni Size Remix)

9. Exodus (Pretty Lights Remix)

10. Easy Skanking (Stephen Marley Remix)

11. One Love People Get Ready (Photek Remix)

12. Redemption Song (Ziggy Marley Remix)

13. Is This Love (Jason Bentley Remix)

14. Jamming (Nickodemus and Zeb Remix)

15. Punky Reggae Party (Z-Trip Remix featuring Lee “Scratch” Perry)

16. Buffalo Soldier (Stephen Marley Remix)

Have a listen. Buy the CD if you want all the extra sounds you’re missing here with MP3. This one will be easy to find.

Bob Marley and the Wailers Legend Remixed - album cover

Could You Be Loved (RAC Remix)

Punky Reggae Party (Z-Trip Remix Featuring Lee Scratch Perry)

Buffalo Soldier (Stephen Marley Remix)

The original Bob Marley & The Wailers Legend songs, well, they will stand in greatness always yes? I think the Legend Remixed songs deserve to stand in greatness in their own right.  They are just another very different, but equally great batch of the originals.

Legend and Legend Remixed – 2 bags of musical goodies instead of just 1. Don’t you think so?

International Night 2 Closes The Reggae Sumfest 2013 Marathon in Style

Saturday was the last leg of the Reggae Sumfest 2013 music and dance marathon in Montego Bay, Jamaica…International Night 2.  Another sunrise finishing affair, and another awesome one.

I’ve said it before and I’ll just have to keep saying it…Jamaican parties are fun. The party at International Night 2 was no exception.

Same festival as on Dancehall Night and International Night 1 – but with different artists, drawing a different crowd and creating a different vibe (still friendly and chilled ones).

Chronixx

Chronixx

Like on Dancehall Night and International Night 1, every one of the musicians in the bands was absolutely top quality and super cool to watch and listen to.  Same for the back-up singers.

International Night 2 - Reggae Sumfest 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

Again on International Night 2 the main stage sound, lighting, visuals and band changeovers could not be faulted.

International Night 2 Music

I got to International Night 2 in time to catch Romain Virgo ChronixxMiguel Damian Marley and Chalice.

All music and all performances, mostly of the roots reggae kind like at International Night 1, were stellar.  All except one that is.

Miguel

Oh Miguel, I can happily (now) admit to never having heard any of your songs before Reggae Sumfest. I heard you were a bit famous, somewhere in the pop/r&b genre, and I was willing to give you a chance. But man you were disappointing – musically (the songs themselves – pop that sounded ever so boring to me) – and the performance (I had hoped for some mind blowing soulful voice, but I didn’t get it, at all).

Chronixx

Chronixx, a young and very popular artist in Jamaican reggae right now, was good. The music was sweet sounding, but most of it was too cheesy for my taste.

Chronixx

Chronixx

Chronixx @ Reggae Sumfest 2013 - International Night 2 - Beaver on the BeatsChronixx @ Reggae Sumfest 2013 - International Night 2 - Beaver on the Beats

Damian Marley

The highlight act – the phenomenal act of International Night 2 – was Damian Marley.

Damian Marley

Damian Marley

One Kingston taxi driver told me Jamaicans in Jamaica don’t listen much to Damian Marley’s music. I’m not sure I believe him – there was a big crowd for him at Reggae Sumfest.

Damian Marley’s albums are listened to a lot in my world. I love listening and dancing to his music – a high quality and unique sounding fusion of reggae, dancehall and hip hop.  To my ears, it sounds different to all other reggae music, past or present.  With conscious lyrics.

Reggae Sumfest was the 2nd time I’ve been blessed to catch Damian Marley  live.

The first time was in 2006 at the Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia. That show is in my top 5 best live music experiences ever.  It was a spiritual experience – as live shows should be. I couldn’t now give you any details about that gig. All I remember, in my mind and in my body, is the blissful and uplifting feeling it gave me.

Damian Marley

The Reggae Sumfest set moved me a little less than the Australian show, but that wasn’t necessarily anything to do with Damian Marley or his band.   The show was amazing – and made me feel happy.

Damian Marley @ Reggae Sumfest - International Night 2 - Beaver on the Beats

Damian Marley’s band was awesome. All of them put on a stellar performance. I especially love the guy who runs around the stage the whole show with the Ethiopian flag – he makes me feel even happier.

Damian Marley @ Reggae Sumfest - International Night 2 - Beaver on the Beats

I feel blessed for another special live Damian Marley experience – and will take as many more of them as I can find in the future.

End of the Reggae Sumfest Marathon

Veteran roots reggae group Chalice closed International Night 2 at sunrise – and the Reggae Sumest 2013 music and dance marathon was finished.

The marathon was physically exhausting, but a culturally and spiritually reviving one.  It was also a super, super fun one.

I hated the feeling of the Reggae Sumfest finish – the same as I do at the end of every great festival I’ve been a part of.

Reggae Sumfest was an especially hard festival to leave behind because it was such an incredible week of quality music and dance. Also because Jamaica and Reggae Sumfest are a long way from Australia!

Romain Virgo

Romain Virgo

International Night 1 of Reggae Sumfest 2013 – Awesome Music & Friendly Roots Vibes

International Night 1 of Reggae Sumfest 2013

Day 2 of the 3-day live reggae and dancehall music marathon in Montego Bay, Jamaica. My favourite of the 3 concert nights at Reggae Sumfest.

Beres Hammond @ International Night 1

Beres Hammond at International Night 1

International Night 1 Vibes

International Night 1 had a very different feel to the previous Dancehall NightThe vibes were friendlier, earthier and much more chilled.   There were also less people than on Dancehall Night (Jamaican Macky was right). That made it more comfortable and easier to find space and move around  the festival site.

Reggae Sumfest 2013 - International Night 1 - Beaver on the Beats

International Night 1 Music

The music on International Night 1 was mostly of the roots rock reggae kind – with conscious lyrics.

Almost every artist on the program gave an absolutely top quality performance…

Barrington Levy + Tarrus Riley Iba Mahr Beres Hammond Jah Cure Nature.

Beres Hammond and his lovers rock reggae music was smooth and simply lovely.

Beres Hammond-Reggae Sumfest-International Night1-2-www.beaveronthebeats.comBeres HammondBeres Hammond may just have the coolest, funkiest band on this earth.

Beres Hammond - Reggae Sumfest - www.beaveronthebeats.com

Flo Rida from the States was the only exception to the above. The music was tedious – and out of step with the flow of the rest on the program.

Every musician in the accompanying bands was incredible. The rhythm sections were some of the greatest players I’ve heard. I also loved hearing some horns in Jamaican music again after so much hornless dancehall.

The back-up singers were awesome to watch and hear – and sexy in a wholesome kind of way (compared to sexy in a raunchy dancehall way).

Beres Hammond

Beres Hammond

The absolute stand out acts of International Night 1 were Barrington Levy and Tarrus Riley.  Their concerts at Reggae Sumfest have gone into my lifetime stand-out-gig list.  

Barrington Levy

Barrington Levy is absolutely awesome. He was actually one of the earliest of the dancehall artists. A tasty, stylish form of dancehall. He had some amusing and interesting things to say and sing about contemporary dancehall music and culture at his Reggae Sumfest show:

“We don’t need no dancers or smoke up here on the stage. Just the music.”

I’d say Barrington Levy’s music is now a mix of reggae, dancehall, jazz, rock n roll (yes), r&b & funk.   He even has a song called ‘Dancehall Rock’.  It is grooving, funking dancehall fusion. Interestingly, Barrington Levy has spent a lot of time outside of Jamaica – even sings about it in the song videoed below.

Barrington Levy-International Night 1

Barrington Levy

I loved Barrington Levy’s music, and the amazing performance by he and his band.

Check out all of this video of Barrington Levy at Reggae Sumfest to hear the mix of musical flavours…

Tarrus Riley

Tarrus Riley is a kind of contemporary reggae I wanted to find in Jamaica.

The music sounded fresh, and unique. Tarrus Riley’s sweet voice did too.

That sound is influenced by his always musical life as the son of world travelling, veteran Jamaican roots singer Jimmy Riley. He was also exposed to more music from being raised outside of Jamaica and deejaying before turning to song writing.

Tarrus Riley might be my best new musical find in Jamaica so far.

Tarrus Riley

 2 short videos of Tarrus Riley live at Reggae Sumfest here…

On International Night 1, just like on Dancehall Night, Reggae Sumfest’s main stage was run professionally and efficiently – with flawless sound, lighting, visuals and band changeovers.

Jah Cure

Jah Cure was a cruisy reggae close to International Night 1 in the morning light.

Jah-Cure-Reggae-Sumfest-2013-2-www.beaveronthebeats.com

Jah Cure

It was the 2nd Reggae Sumfest morning in the open air, where daylight was suddenly there – without warning that a whole long festival night of quality live music was over, already. This time the sunrise music was of the roots reggae kind rather than the dancehall.

International Night 1 was my favourite of the three Reggae Sumfest concert nights – for its friendly vibes and its musical style.  I loved all of it and recommend it to all reggae music lovers.

Dancehall Night @ Reggae Sumfest – A Hot, Fun Festival Party

Reggae Sumfest 2013 – a week long music/dance festival marathon in Montego Bay, Jamaica – done!

The 3 concert nights kicked off on Thursday with Dancehall Night – basically a really fun, happening and hot all night party on festival grounds.

“Just One Part of Our Culture “

Before Dancehall Night, a Jamaican named Macky (a roots reggae lover) told me this:

That dancehall music you heard last night is only one part of our music culture in Jamaica. Dancehall Night will get the biggest crowd at Reggae Sumfest, but it won’t be the nicer one. 

Was Macky right?

  • Dancehall Night drawing the biggest crowd of the 3 Reggae Sumfest concert nights? Definitely.
  • Dancehall music being only 1 part of Jamaican music culture?  Of course. But it was the biggest crowd because dancehall is a huge part of contemporary mainstream music and culture.
  • Dancehall Night crowd not being “the nicer one”?  Well, Dancehall Night definitely had a certain vibe– a bit more intense than the earthier, more chilled crowd at the 2 International Nights that followed with their roots reggae rock vibes.

The Dancehall Night crowd was fun. They knew how to have a really long, good, fun party –  more than any other festival crowd I’ve been in.

Reggae Sumfest Space

The festival space is a grass field near the centre of Montego Bay (Catherine Hall).

1 main stage at the front of the field.

A VIP area front and side of stage –  filled with tourists, and Jamaicans who can and do pay the extra $ for the VIP ticket. The rest of the field space – the livelier, grittier and generally more fun & happening area of the festival.

Reggae Sumfest 2013 - Dancehall Night - Beaver on the Beats

Around the outside of the field are food stalls, bars and toilets.

There are also lots of structures set up by sponsors. Lots of them have a members box on the top level.  One has dancers and DJs. Two are mini stages hosting short performances between main stage sets.

Reggae Sumfest 2013  - Beaver on the BeatsReggae Sumfest 2013 - Dancehall Night - Beaver on the Beats

Movement around the festival site is easy. Stage visibility is good from everywhere on site – with lots of screens. Quality of sound is good in most places. Stage lighting and visuals are beautiful. Band changeovers are quick and efficient.

Reggae Sumfest 2013 - Dancehall Night - www.beaveronthebeats.com

Dancehall Night Music

All Dancehall Night artists except I Octane were straight up dancehall.

I don’t love dancehall music. Reggaeton music came from dancehall.  I have a healthy loathing for reggaeton. To me most reggaeton music sounds the same – and most dancehall music sounds the same.

There’s also a whole conversation we could have about some dancehall lyrics.  It would kind of go the same as the one about reggaeton lyrics.

No matter what can be said about dancehall music, one thing is for sure: each and every live performance at Dancehall Night was incredibly entertaining and fun.

The performers sang and toasted brilliantly – each with a sexy and energetic stage presence.  Outrageously awesome outfits. Quality musicianship from the bands. Constant dance and movement by both the artist and dancers joining them on stage some times.

Dancehall Night Men

Male artists on the bill included Beenie Man, I Octane, I Wayne, Popcaan, Aidonia, Bounty Killer, Assassin, Kip Rich, Tommy Lee Sparta, RDX & Bugle.

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Check out some videos of I Wayne’s Dancehall Night show…

King of Dancehall

Musically I Octane was my favourite male artist of the night.  I’ve crowned him my Dancehall King – even though his music has more reggae flavours than the other dancehall artists on the program.  Sorry Beenie Man.

IOctane

I Octane

Dancehall Night Women

The female artists at Dancehall Night kicked all the wannabe Dancehall Kings’ butts!

Lady Saw Macka Diamond – Spice – Baby Tash Danielle DI.

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Talented, feisty, hot women powering the stage.

Check out a video here of Spice performing on Dancehall Night…

THE Queen of Dancehall

One of those Dancehall Night ladies is the rightful title holder of Queen of Dancehall. She is Lady Saw.

Her feisty and powerful performance was the most incredible one of the night for me.  When Lady Saw was on stage it felt to me like she was the Queen of every single person and thing at the festival.

I’m told The Queen is switching from dancehall to gospel music. I think Lady Saw will sound divine singing gospel.

Lady Saw - Queen of Dancehall

Lady Saw – Queen of Dancehall

Lady Saw @ Reggae Sumfest 2013 - Dancehall Night - Beaver on the Beats

Must-see video of Lady Saw’s first song on Dancehall Night…

Where’s the Vinyl & CDs?

No music cds or vinyl for sale at Reggae Sumfest – what a shame for the artists with so many tourists at the festival with money in their pockets to spend on Jamaican music.

Dancehall Dance

Dance is an integral part of Dancehall culture – so Dancehall Night was as much a dance fest as a music fest.

Everywhere you looked you saw amazing dancers – on the stages, in cages and in the crowd.

Macka Diamond

Macka Diamond

Reggae Sumfest 2013-Dancehall Night - Beaver on the Beats

Spice

Spice

The amazing dancers were just another reason, maybe even more than the music, why I loved every single hour of Dancehall Night.

Sponsors Supporting Music?

Be prepared.  Being at Reggae Sumfest was like watching a very awesome music and dance show on a commercial tv channel. Between artist sets all those great viewing screens are filled with commercials – for insurance and phone companies, car parts, hair products, beer, energy drinks, and the morning after pill.  There are also those sponsor booths I told you about.  I’m told it’s the norm in Jamaica.

Every poster I see for parties in Jamaica seems to be sponsored by some (generally big) company.  I wonder if those corporate sponsors are a necessary part of keeping the Jamaican music and dance culture alive?

Dancehall Night Vibes

Dancehall Night at Reggae Sumfest = Fun vibes. Party vibes. Hot vibes.  Jamaicans know how to party real, real good.

I loved being part of it. I was entertained from start to finish.

Dancehall Night was just the start of the marathon that is Reggae Sumfest. It was the first of  3 mornings I watched the sun come up with the rest of the crowd  – so tired – but so happy for a night of great music and amazing dance.

Jamaican Dance Crews Ruled MoBay Nite Out & Rule My Jamaican World

Jamaican parties are so much fun, even the tamer ones.  Outdoor parties in open air environments are the best.  And Jamaican dancers now rule my Jamaican world.

Jamaican Dance Crews @ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the BeatsDancers@ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

By the end of Monday’s free ‘MoBay Nite Out’ Party at Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay, the dance crews had my jaw to the ground. Travelling half way across the world to get to Jamaica all felt worth it at that moment.

Jamaican Dance Crews @ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

MoBay Nite Out was a nice Party – good vibes all round. It was in a park by the sea.  It was a full moon. It was free, which meant accessibility for people of all means and a more local flavour than the previous night at the Reggae Sumfest Beach Party.  There were kids there enjoying it, generally always a good sign of a friendly event.

MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the BeatsMoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

The DJ for the night, DJ Shem, did the same thing I hated when he played at the official Sumfest Beach Party – played too much American pop music. I loved watching him up there though, just for his posse of one or two ‘assistants’ always standing there with him in support.

MoBay Nite Out - DJ Shem - Beaver on the Beats

At the start of the night, the boring and predictable tourist games went on again.  I learned this lesson a second time in Montego Bay – do not listen to taxi drivers about when events start here. The good stuff happens late.  Do not arrive until midnight.

MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the BeatsMoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

The singers and toasters who graced the stage during the night were certainly entertaining – some good, some bad.

But it was the dance crews at MoBay Nite Out who absolutely rocked my world – doing their thing on the stage, and in the crowd.

Dancers@ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

Never in my life before, not anywhere in the world I’ve been, have I seen such amazing dancers. I’ve seen incredible dancers across the Caribbean waters in Cuba (and elsewhere in the world), but for me there is something extra special about the way Jamaicans move. Maybe it’s the infusion of freedom in Jamaican music and dance that Cuba doesn’t have?

Whatever it is, it is special, it is hot, and I am totally and utterly hooked on it.

The female  dance crews certainly have their acrobatic tricks and rump shaking down, and were super hot, talented and sexy.

It was the male dance crew members who really did it for me though.  Not because they were also super hot and sexy. Because stylistically they were so much more diverse and varied in their moves than the women.

Jamaican Dance Crews @ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the Beats

Jamaican Dance Crews @ MoBay Nite Out - July 2013 - Beaver on the BeatsThat was at the official MoBay Nite Out PartyThose dancers continued battling on in the street into the wee hours of the morning . Crowds of people, the dancers amongst them, lined each side of the street facing one another.  The dancers battled one another from their respective side of the road as the cars passed through on the road between them.  It rocked my world again like no dance ever has before.

 Check out these dodgy videos of the tamer stuff here…

My Jamaican mission was always music, but the dance is such an amazing part of this culture too. I must find more.

What You’ll Find @ Tuff Gong International Kingston

Tuff Gong International – Kingston, Jamaica.  Founded in 1965 by Mr Bob Marley himself.

Tuff Gong’s Kingston headquarters is a place Jamaican and international music artists can and do use as a complete one-stop shop for the recording and distribution of their music – CD’s and Vinyl. The Tuff Gong compound has a recording studio, mastering room, stamper room, pressing plant and rehearsal space.

Tuff Gong also has a record store.  I went there today to find current Jamaican music to buy.

After fruitless and disappointing searches at a few other record stores in Kingston this week, and knowing those same record stores go to Tuff Gong to buy, I thought my chances there would be good.

What I found at the Tuff Gong compound was this:

My mind boggling and my heart pumping fast at the thought of the incredible artistry that has graced the Tuff Gong compound, and how much music has been created there that I have loved my whole life.

Awesome, awesome, awesome antique and retro machines, furniture, instruments and other bits & bobs – my favourite part of the visit.

Lots of unique memorabilia.

Tuff Gong International - Kingston - Beaver on the Beats

Really friendly, helpful people and a whole lot of interesting characters – a visiting Jamaican bassist living in New York, involved with Tuff Gong from the start, with a lot to say about the disappointing lack of contemporary roots reggae to be found in Jamaica; and yes, even one of the Marley family.

A very sweet and knowledgeable guide named Ricky who innocently thought he needed  to explain to me it was James Brown in a photo.Tuff Gong International-Kingston-Beaver on the Beats

Character seeping from every wall, floor and roof space, and from each object within.

The coolest vintage recording studio ever.  No photos allowed inside – but trust me on this.

Tuff Gong International - Kingston - Beaver on the Beats

 What I found at the Tuff Gong Record Shop was this:

A whole lot of Bob Marley, Damian Marley, Julian Marley, Kymani Marley, Cedella Marley, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley and Rita Marley CDs. Of course, and great – I found and bought 2 Cds I didn’t have.

A whole lot of CDs by different North American music artists (Tuff Gong is the Caribbean distributor for 3 major labels there).

And, disappointingly…

JUST ONE CD from a current Jamaican artist.

The 8 Year Affair (2013)

The 8 Year Affair (2013)

 

Protoje

I had wanted to find so much more Jamaican music in the Tuff Gong Record Store.  That old school bass player I met there understood, and shared my disappointment.

Beenie Man – The King of Dancehall?

The taxi driver home from the Beenie Man gig at Tracks & Records in Kingston last night, thinks Beenie Man is THE King of Dancehall.  Another Kingston taxi driver told me that the “Jamaican music industry” crowned Beenie Man as the King, and I have read that he crowned himself as such.

So then, is Beenie Man the King of Dancehall?

Beenie Man He is certainly talented, yes. Entertaining, yes. Successful in Jamaica and overseas, yes. Beenie Man has a long list of albums with high sales figures, yes. He is multi award winning, yes. Apparently the ladies love ‘dem sugah’ that is Beenie Man, yes.

For me, an artist’s popularity, album sales, entertainment value or awards doesn’t necessarily make him or her the best artist in a genre, or even a good one.  Nor in my eyes do they necessarily make Beenie Man the King of Dancehall.

He definitely put on a good show last night, and the band was great (although they did seem to me to look a bit bored at times during the show).  But I don’t really think that the music is my thing.

 

I am reserving judgment about Beenie Man being THE King of Dancehall or otherwise, at least until after Dancehall Night at Reggae Sumfest next week in Montego Bay – where he will perform, as will many other talented Jamaican dancehall artists on the bill.

Check out the video and see what you think.  Is Beenie Man the King of Dancehall?