Morgan Heritage honoured to close Jazz Festival on Friday night

Kingston, JAMAICA:- Producer of the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Walter Elmore, has

endorsed sensational roots reggae band, Morgan Heritage, as “a class act … who has maintained great appeal throughout their career”. Describing their onstage performance as “exceptional” Mr. Elmore hinted that this is the factor which has given the sibling group the edge to close the festival’s Friday night, the same night on which multi Grammy award winning singer, Mariah Carey, is scheduled to perform.

It was in 2006 that the Royal Family of Reggae last appeared at the Jazz & Blues Festival, and their return nine years later is certainly something to smile about. In fact, it is quite a significant stride in Morgan Heritage’s journey as they reclaim their rightful place on the musical landscape, doing it on local soil, but in an international way. Hailing the organisers for adding them to the line-up as the show closer on January 30, Gramps Morgan agreed with Walter Elmore that having the group on the event was indeed “tremendous”.

"Our first Jazz & Blues performance was at Cinnamon Hill and it was awesome. We are definitely looking forward to making our debut at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium even more memorable, especially knowing that we are performing on the same night that Mariah Carey makes her Caribbean debut. It is really a tremendous feeling and an honour to be closing a show of this caliber,” Gramps said.

In the last year and a half, the five-member group, which comprises Mojo, Lukes, Una, Peter and Gramps, has been kept busy working the international circuit, but has still managed to stay close to fans at home with a series of up close and personal concerts and new music blazing the airwaves. In between shows, Morgan Heritage has been making time to go into the studio for the production of the follow-up album to Here Come The Kings, the successful 2013 offering which announced the group’s musical re-entry as a unit. Entitled

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Strictly Roots, the upcoming album will – for the first time –  be released on the group’s own CTBC (Cool To Be Conscious) Music label, rather than VP Records, with whom Morgan Heritage has enjoyed a long and mutually satisfying relationship.

Known for hits such as Don’t Haffi Dread, Tell Me How Come, Down by the River, She's Still Loving Me, Your Best Friend, Nothing to Smile Bout and Perfect Love Song, Morgan Heritage promises fans a night filled with classic roots reggae and love songs, along with a taste of the new and exciting tracks from their soon-to-be-released album.

The 2015 staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, The Art of Music takes place from January 29 -31 at the Trelawny Stadium and features Mariah Carey, The Pointer Sisters, Magic, Peter Cetera, Charlie Wilson, Soja, Arturo Tappin, Josey Wales, Johnny Clarke, George Nooks, Oscar B, Richie Stephens and others.

Kalado wants to thank fans ‘Personally’

Kingston, JAMAICA: - Having secured all of three nominations in the prestigious Youth

View Awards (YVA’s), 2014 dancehall sensation, Kalado, says he wants to thank all his fans ‘Personally’.

It comes as no surprise to those with their fingers on the pulse of the music that the deejay – whose song ‘Personally’ made serious inroads last year in the psyche of the massives – has been shortlisted in three categories for the chart-topping single. Kalado’s name pops up beside Personally in the following slots for the awards show which caters to the "young, hot and hype": Favourite Local Video, Hottest Summer Song and Favourite Local Chart Topping Song.

Produced by DrDre for his DreDay Productions, the song was “marked for success”, Kalado insists, adding however, that even he was a bit bowled over by three nominations. “Honestly, I sort of expected some form of recognition….maybe one nomination. When I was told that we got three, I couldn’t speak. It is a humbling and an inspiring experience all at once. Big respect to P Square, all Kalado fans everywhere in the world and of course, the production team,” he said.

According to Kalado, “From I listened to the riddim, I knew which song would be a perfect fit with the right dancehall mix, so we went full speed ahead,” the deejay recalled of the song which went on to become one of the biggest summer anthems for 2014. Personally is listed in the Hottest Summer Song category alongside Miami Vice (Kartel); Holiday Again (Alkaline); Everything Nice (JCapri); Syvah (Ding Dong); So Mi Like It (Spice) and Reserve It (Popcaan).  

A great summer song needs an equally great dancing video, one which captures the imagination. Kalado and his team worked this angle with gusto and produced a slick music video which helped to propel the single’s success. Personally is vying for the best video alongside So Mi Like It (Spice); Everything Nice (Popcaan); Syvah (Ding Dong) and Who Knows (Protoje featuring Chronixx).

In the category, Favourite Local Chart Topping Song, Kalado is up against Vybz Kartel with two nominations, Kranium and Popcaan.

“All I’m asking my peeps to do is vote,” the thrice-nominated Kalado declared.

The Youth View Awards, which has a total of 24 categories covering all areas of entertainment, will be held on February 21, 2015.

Chilando on a roll; shoots video for Life Too Short

Montego Bay, JAMAICA:- The year 2015 has just kicked off, but Show Di Vybz/DJ Frass

recording artiste, Chilando (pronounced Chylando) is already in celebration mode. His Chimney Records single, Life Too Short, has gained so much traction in the streets that a music video became compulsory.

Bouncing on a riddim that aptly describes the mood of the single – the Happy Hour riddim – Life Too Short is a rocking party anthem highlighting all the good things in life and encouraging the listener to live your best life now. The video, which oozes with party vibes, shows Chilando and friends getting their groove on, living out the words of the song and making everyone else wish that they were there. Directed by ​Cash Flow Xtreme Arts, the shoot location is a lavish house in Cherry Gardens, which provides the perfect backdrop for the story-board.

Not surprisingly, a very relaxed Chilando says he enjoyed the video shoot immensely and notes that it was very easy working with the fun-loving team which had been assembled to do the job. “Honestly, it didn’t feel like a video shoot at all …like we were doing something just for the cameras,” he said.

“It felt like my friends and I were really just hanging out and having a great time,” explained the singjay, whose other single, Stay Inna Yuh Lane on the Wul Dem Again riddim is also receiving a lot of attention.

He admitted, however, that he was glad to get that particular music video out of the way as there was a strong demand for it and he was looking forward to seeing and hearing the reaction from his steadily increasing fan base. Additionally, he feels that he can now re-set his total focus on voicing some new singles - perhaps including a collaboration or two –  marketing his brand and working on his stagecraft.

“My management team is in high gear and so am I,” the talented singjay who calls Montego Bay home said.

With his sights set on making 2015 the most memorable year in his career to date, Chilando is in full work mode and assures that he has the discipline and the perseverance  to see this through to a highly successful climax. 

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MUSIC VIDEO; I-Octane - "Call Me Over" | OFFICIAL VIDEO

Sound systems in New York competing for the Octane Cup

Kingston, JAMAICA: - The equipment is dusted off and ready; the selectors are mentally prepared for combat; their music is all queued up and the crowd inside Club Freeze on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn is ready for a steamy, rollicking evening of great entertainment. It’s the inaugural Octane Cup, a competition sponsored by high-riding dancehall singjay, I-Octane, in association with King Fargo Entertainment and Sound clash Fridays.

Since January 2, 2015, sound systems selectors in New York have been enthusiastically pitting their talents against each other as they vie for the first annual Octane Cup. The keenly contested event has steadily gained momentum and fans have been taken on an exciting musical journey through reggae, dancehall and pop music. The format of the competition is that each Friday three sounds have a play-off which is judged by the guidelines set out by the committee in addition to crowd response. It continues every Friday until January 30 at which time the winning sound will receive the trophy, presented by I-Octane himself.

According to King Fargo, “The Octane Cup ‘tun up’! It’s loud. We have been having a wonderful time celebrating the skills of the selectors as they pull out all the stops to make sure that their time at the turntable memorable. We have to commend I-Octane for sponsoring this competition and for showing so much interest in the weekly outcomes.”.

So far, six sounds have played – Trendsetters, King Ramsey and Superforce in the first week and then Generationz, One Don and Brimstone Gold last Friday.

“We have three more weeks and nine more sounds and everybody is on edge,” King Fargo stated.

An upbeat I-Octane said that he was more than happy to sponsor the competition, whose cup is named in his honour. “The sound system is – and has always been – an integral part of the building and shaping of our music, from the days of ska, right up to the present. So this is Team I-Octane’s way of paying tribute to the sound system. We all grew up listening to the sounds blaring in our ears and rinsing out the latest tunes. Every artiste knows the thrill of driving through an area and, just by chance, hearing the sound system playing your own song. So big respect to every selector and sound man and may the best sound win.”

Meanwhile, Team I-Octane is busy in the streets promoting two singles that have already showed great potential, Call Me Over and the Seanizzle-produced Wine And Ride.  The charmingly provocative video for Call Me Over was premiered recently on influential urban website Vibe, (www.On.Vibe.com/CallMeOver) to excellent reviews. Kevin "Killavision" Allen directed the video with Ross Lavine of Rkade Media creating the animated lyrics. Creative Director for the video is The Parris Agency.

Kalado signs off on a great year with Hard Knock Life

Kingston, JAMAICA:- The deejay who has made the biggest strides for 2014, Kalado, is determined to end the year on a musical high, and predictions are that his latest single, the vibrant “Hard Knock Life”, is the ideal way to do so.

Once again, the “Sex Compliment” singer has teamed up with Dre Day Productions for a song that is overflowing with reality and snugly set on a riddim that complements the lyrics and sustains the flow. The backdrop for “Hard Knock Life” is prison and the single details the harsh reality of existence in a place that “no mek fi dog”, as Kalado says, quoting from a Jamaican proverb.

But while the song lyrics are introspective, the riddim is so infectious that it is impossible to listen to it without moving to the beat and recognizing that molecule of hope amid the hopelessness. Kalado says that this song forms part of a special Christmas present to his fans, whose support has been instrumental in him having such an awesome year.

The year 2014 has seen many firsts for the young deejay, who did his first Reggae Sumfest; his first overseas reggae festival – Montreal International Reggae Festival; enjoyed a number one summer single with “Personally”; had his first visit to the Motherland and headlined his first official show in Toronto. Additionally, the “Good Good Bring Life” singer consistently delivered singles which had far-reaching impact on radio  in the clubs and at dances.  Among the singles were “Love The Life You Live”, “Living The Life”, “House Party”, “Rave Till Sunlight”, “Personally”, “Body Nuh Dead”, “Make Me Feel”, “Mi Money Good”, “Paper Trail” “Step Out”, “Sad Streets”, “Pree Money”, “Pay Dem No Mind” and “Take A Ride”.

 “It has been a great year,” a beaming Kalado declared. “Of course, there have been challenges and disappointments … like the cancellation of the European tour at the last minute, but these are some of the things that help to keep us grounded and help to build character. Life is not always smooth sailing. But I have to give thanks for the successes of 2014 and this would not have been possible without my fans and my team. This year, our goal was to build Kalado and set a solid foundation which will enable us to make money next year and in the years to come,” the “Pree Money” artiste explained.

Junior Gong, I-Octane exclusive to Cream of the Crop this holiday season

Ocho Rios, JAMAICA:- With the abundance of parties, concerts and music events that the

I-OCTANE

traditional ‘silly season’ always brings, it is inevitable that many major acts will be billed for at least two shows locally during this period. However, not so for mega dancehall artistes Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley and I-Octane; the only show they will be doing in Jamaica over the Christmas season is Cream of the Crop, the exciting December 27 concert to be staged at Pearly Beach in Ocho Rios, St. Ann

Produced by Purple Skunkz Entertainment, Cream of the Crop is all about delivering quality acts whose entertainment value is unquestioned. Grammy award winning deejay, Junior Gong, will make one of his few annual performances in Jamaica at this event and fans of the "Welcome To Jamrock" artiste are again eager to embrace him, just as they did at Rebel Salute in January.

Junior Gong

The self-proclaimed “youngest veteran”, who is full of style and flava, has been keeping his fans aware of his movements via Facebook. “Ocho Rios get ready the Cream of the Crop is coming!” he posted last week, along with a flyer from the event. He has enjoyed a tremendous year working on projects with his Ghetto Youths International crew, a successful Welcome to Jamrock cruise,  and the upcoming release of the highly anticipated various artiste CD, “Set Up Shop Vol. 2”. It was in February of this year that Junior Gong and dancehall artiste, Cham set the music world ablaze when they performed their hit single, 'Fighter', for UK's top-rated entertainment show, 'BBC 1Xtra', at the Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston.

Digicel and Busta ambassador, I-Octane, aka The Closer, continues his total dominance of the dancehall, both locally and internationally, with a steady stream of hit songs and awesome performances. His appearance on Cream of the Crop closes out a tremendous year which saw him accept and deliver on the challenge to close Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night for the second straight year, after which he headed for the festival circuit in Europe where he stamped his unique class and continued to tour on his critically acclaimed CD, "My Journey".

Now in its second year, Cream of the Crop also features Jah Cure, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, I-Octane, Teflon, Romaine Virgo, Jesse Royal, Loyal Flames, Berri, Ishawna, Hezron, Nature, Hero and Pzed. Set for Saturday December 27 at Pearly Beach in Ocho Rios, the event is sponsored by Guinness, Liquid Nitro, Ghetto Youths International, Global Vision Concepts, Conquer The Globe Productions, Zip FM, Irie FM and Mad Media House.