It Was a Traffic Nightmare: But I Would Do It Again
The twelve mile drive from my hotel to Green Field Stadium normally takes about 15 to 20 minutes. This night the drive took two and a half hours. The chaotic traffic pile-up on Jamaica’s North Coast Highway (between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios) almost made me miss the best performance by an artist in the 16-year history of the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. Motorists simply abandoned all traffic systems and transformed what is normally a two-lane highway into four and five lanes of traffic at times. The traffic police simply gave up (and I could not blame them). Describing the traffic nightmare, one reporter noted that Celine Dion “literally succeeded in locking down the land of Bob Marley”.
At 11 PM when I finally got to the venue, between 20,000 and 25,000 fans had already taken their seats (or stand) inside the stadium with another 5,000 outside trying to park their cars and between 4,000 and 6,000 still on the highway trying to get there. Once inside, it was really easy to forget what we just went through to get there. Celine made sure that everyone in the venue remained fully focused on the stage.
Her performance was undisputedly, the best in Jamaica since the Stevie Wonder five-hour marathon performance at Reggae Sun Splash at Jarret Park, Montego Bay in the early 1980s. She represented everything that a true professional should be. The level of professionalism displayed both on and off stage tells one that she is a joy to work with. Her style was infectious and clearly evident in each member of her organization – from band members to hair dresser.
The show was simply a remarkable love fest between Dion and the audience of close to 30,000. It was a 90-minute bonding session that seemed more like 9-year marriage between two parties with extreme love and respect for each other. She flawlessly sailed through her list of hit songs from the 1990s to today, throwing in jazz hits such as Ella Fitzgerald’s Mr. Paganni and Shirley Bassy’s Goldfinger. By the time she got around to the mega hit, Beauty and the Beast, the audience were “eating form her hand’.
Celine even add a little home flavor when she brought on stage Jamaican mega R&B/Reggae star Diana King to share a number. By the end of the show, most of the audience in Greenfield stadium had forgotten all about the challenges we all went through to get there. Most of us did not even try to leave after the concert was over. Instead we stood by the car in the parking lot, talked with strangers about the performance and made lots of new friends. After all, we could not go anywhere even if we wanted to.
CELINE DION: Simply Captivating
Jamaica Jazz & Blues confirmed that Reggae Music is in Safe Hands
The 2012 Jazz & Blues Festival ushered in a year-long series of events that will memorialize the contribution of the music industry to Jamaica’s 50 years of independence from colonial rule. Friday night, January 26 (five days ahead of the beginning of Reggae Music Month) was dedicated entirely to Jamaica’s Golden Jubilee of music. While the promoters probably deserve only a grade of B-minus for their effort, this grade was well earned. The performances not only demonstrated how much music has contributed to our country’s cultural renaissance, but also demonstrated for the non-Jamaican visitors how deep music is integrated into the fabric of our souls.
First let me explain the B-minus grade. I sincerely believe that a greater effort could have been made to truly represent 50 years of Jamaican music. Groups like Jolly Boys and the Skatalites that represent two of the more creative period in our music history were available but were not considered. In addition, the real “Dance Hall” period when King Edwards – the Giant, Prince Buster – the Voice of the People, Duke Reid – the Trojan, Dr. Dickey – the Dynamic, Prince Lloyd – the Matador, Super-tone – the Ambassador and many others dominated our culture was not represented. Musical legends such as U-Roy, Big Youth and/or I-Roy could have represented this period very well.
Finally, the Festival’s organizing committee presented awards to some artistes who helped to establish the foundation of Jamaican music. Among those honored were King Yellowman, Lloyd Parks (of We- the People Band), Derrick Morgan, John Holt, Maxi Priest and Marcia Griffiths. Here again, the organizers missed the opportunity to invite two living icons of our music industry, Chris Blackwell and Edward Seaga to participate in the presentations.
I noted earlier that the grade was well earned because the artists who were included in the line-up gave not only outstanding performances, but also provide the best chronological history of our musical development that time would allow. Veterans Derrick Morgan, Marcia Griffith, John Holt, George Nooks and Maxi Priest represented that period when Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, the Paragons and the Wailers carried our flag with pride. Holt seemed to be undergoing a reverse aging process. His energy level was that of a young man half his age. He rolled through his long list of hit songs as if they were still on the charts. His youthful voice made hits such as Stick by Me, Wear You to the Ball and If I were a Carpenter sounded brand new, while the ageless Lloyd Parks took us back to the 1970s and 1980s without skipping a beat.
John Holt
King Yellowman made Brigadier Jerry, Josey Wales and company proud. While Michael Rose, Luciano and Ky-Mani Marley performances honored the tradition of our cultural warriors such as Bob Marley, Joseph Hill, Bunny Wailer, Peter Touch, and the Burning Spear. Roots artist Half Pint and contemporary acts such as Shaggy, Agent Sasco (formerly Assassin) and Christopher Martin were outstanding in their representation of today’s reggae music. However, one artist that clearly stood out among this group was the young, talented, conscious and confident Etana.
Etana Takes the Stage
Much like a veteran twice her age and experience, she strut across the stage with confidence and a visible appreciation for her audience. She appeared to be enjoying her performance as much as the fans and guests in the press area and adjacent VIP sections. She fully demonstrated what I believe the organizers wanted to illustrate for both Jamaicans and visitors to this year’s Jazz & Blues Festival that reggae music’s contribution to our culture has been handed off into safe hands. Her short presentation would have been without a doubt, the best performance of the festival.
However that young lady from Canada showed up on Friday night and left all of us speechless. Many of the artists who performed on Thursday stayed over for Celine Dion’s performance on Friday. I just hope Etana had a front row seat.
Nicki Minaj at Grammy Awards
New York, NY (FOX FUSE) – Famed producer Winston “BlackOut” Thomas is behind Nicki Minaj’s new smash single, “Roman Holiday,”which she premiered in a jaw-dropping performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards on February 12, the world’s biggest stage for music.
Nicki Minaj performs BlackOut-produced single "Roman Holiday" at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12, 2012. © Getty Images
“After producing ‘Blow Your Mind’ for her debut album Pink Friday, which received the Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, I was pleasantly surprised they were using my new track for Nicki to premiere at the Grammy’s,” states an elated BlackOut. “They informed me a month ago about the Grammy performance, so I hosted a Grammy-viewing party in Miami for a few close friends but they didn’t know…everyone went wild when she performed ‘Roman Holiday.’ I am honored to be a producer on both of her albums and to play a part in her creative process and success.”
Minaj’s performance has raised brows worldwide and furor within the Catholic community, as she pulled from religious symbolisms to exploit the exorcism of her favorite alter ego Roman Zolanski, on whom the song is based. Her Hype Williams’ directed Grammy performance saw her using a pope as a prop, wearing a nun’s habit-like outfit, and culminated in spectacular fashion as she levitated above the stage, and over a stunned audience.
“The Grammy’s chose ‘Roman Holiday,’” revealed Minaj, calling in to Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show on Monday to discuss the shocking spectacle. “They heard ‘Roman Holiday’ and I could not play them another record after that.” The single is from Minaj’s sophomore studio effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, due to hit stores on April 2, 2012.
The production house BlackOut Movement is at the helm of more than 20 hit singles, including productions for Flo Rida, Jim Jones, Trina, Jah Rule, Jason Derulo and Aaron Carter, just to name a few, and is best known for the blockbuster “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims, back in 2007. It scoredBlackOut Movement its first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and securedBlackOut’s place in pop music and in its formula for success.
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