MAGAZINE #9 - June 2011 Sizzla INTERVIEW Kemar Flava McGregor Alborosie Gappy Ranks Beth Lesser Reality Chant Reggae Film Mo'Kalamity Festival 2011 Best of the Best - Miami Reggae Festival - Upper Park Reggae Festival Reggae 4 Japan - UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival - Portraits of Rural Jamaica United Reggae Magazine #9 - June 2011 Want to read United Reggae as a paper magazine? Now you can... In addition to the latest United Reggae news, views and videos online each month you can now enjoy a free pdf version packed with most of United Reggae content from the last month. SUMMARY 1/ NEWS 2/ INTERVIEWS • Beth Lesser 20 • Gabriel Calcott from Reality Chant 22 • Gappy Ranks 26 • Mo’Kalamity 30 • Sizzla 33 • Alborosie 38 • Kemar Flava McGregor 41 3/ REVIEWS • The Fittest by Earl Sixteen 46 • Thanks and Praise by Gappy Ranks 47 • Chino’s Debut Album 48 • Frankie Paul’s Most Wanted 49 • Luciano - Rub-A-Dub Market 50 • The Return of Sound System Scracth 51 • Sizzla - The Scriptures 52 • Mista Savona Presents Warn The Nation 54 • Ziggi Recado 55 4/ ARTICLES • Al Campbell, Tony Roots and Christine Miller in London 56 • Best of the Best 2011 58 • Reggae 4 Japan 60 • UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival 2011 62 • Upper Park Reggae Festival 64 • Reggae Film Festival 66 5/ PHOTOS • Black Roots, Jah Mason, Mo’Kalamity and Informative Historyman in Paris 71 • Miami Reggae Festival 2011 72 • Portraits of Rural Jamaica 74 • Protoje, Raging Fyah and Rootz Underground Mash it up in Kingston 77 All the articles in this magazine were previously published online on http://unitedreggae.com. This magazine is free for download at http://unitedreggae.com/magazine/. Not for resale. United Reggae. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Dub Store Sound Dub Store Records: LP/CD503) efforts from the likes of Sizzla leases the quality and atten- Zojak Worldwide has deliv- but never made the final cut. Kalonji, Perfect or Dutch song- tion to detail is excellent and ered the sterling City Streetz Inc Release A stress, Mischu Laikah, will. these two releases just further Riddim from Dynasty Re- Selection Of Ska The fourth single features un- enhance that reputation. cords and Twelve 9 Records Classic known vocal group Monarchs IrieVibrations’ Sweet Baby ----------------- to digital outlets everywhere & Drumbago All Stars with All Riddim Selection is set to and it is currently available. ----------------- Of Me on the A-side and Sneer hit digital stores around The City Streetz Dub Store Sound Inc, the of- Towners singing a previously the world on June 17th. Riddim ----------------- ficial Studio One agency out unreleased version of You Say Sierra Nevada of Japan is releasing a selec- ----------------- Me Say on the flip. Then last Following up on a very impres- World Music tion of 7” vynil reissues on the but by no means least is the Federal Records’ Kentone label sive release of the Alive Rid- Festival 2011, final single featuring the clas- dim earlier in 2011, the flam- that was one of the greatest sic male/female duo Stranger Roots For The Ska production houses in the The Osaka based producer ing Dynasty Records quickly & Patsy with Word Is Wind works as the in-house engi- returns with an arguably just People mid 60’s. This material is taken backed by The Skatalites and a from Ska’s heyday and features neer at Rock A Shacka, plus as bright set, the City Streetz ----------------- very smooth and soulful Dobby he is responsible for all of the Riddim. Despite its title, the rare and previously unreleased Dobson with Cry Another Cry. Two things you should know material. The first of these col- labels artwork, as well as edit- riddim, which was done in con- about Northern California’s lectable 7’s is the double A-sid- ----------------- ing the weekly Pirate’s Choice junction with the very strong Sierra Nevada World Music ed single from Ernest Ranglin The Sweet podcasts. Twelve 9 Records [Wire Waist, Festival: The three-day ticket & Selected Group titled Free Baby Riddim Flare, Spider Wed Riddims] is a fantastic deal and unique Form and Skalvouvia. Both The second release is a lim- isn’t the rough and tough vibed acts make it worth attending songs are bright mid-tempo in- ----------------- ----------------- ited edition 7” vinyl that sees composition that you might all three days. Sierra Nevada strumental tracks with a jazzy Cool things are going on at the Rock A Shacka Norma Fraser’s ‘Every Body’ be expecting, instead, it is (or SNWMF as it’s commonly feel and very strong trumpet well reputed IrieVibrations Re- make an appearance on this one sweetly built piece which known) has evolved into one and alto saxophone solos over cords in 2011 and they’ve just Presents... format for the first time. Norma features a healthy mix of so- of California -- if not America’s Ernie’s industrious lead guitar. gotten a bit sweeter. Besides ----------------- first made a name for herself in cial commentaries, spirtiual – most unique and anticipat- a big forthcoming project from Japanese label Rock A Shacka 1961 when she duetted on the sets and even Lover’s Rock. ed reggae and international Next up are vocal group the Reggae legend, Luciano, in the have recently brought out two Jamaican chart topper ‘We’ll Be music showcases. The now Sharks (also spelled Sheiks) form of the ‘Rub A Dub Mar- new releases for your listening Lovers’ with Lord Creator. She Taking top honours on these 17-year old festival features with a previously unreleased ket’ album, as well as reported pleasure. First up is a 12” vi- later signed for Coxsone Dodd streetz is definitely Sizzla camping accommodations early acoustic cut You Made Me pieces from both Anthony B nyl featuring Carlton Manning, where she recorded a num- Kalonji with Nah Go Work in addition to two live music Warm on the A-side while the and Konshens, the Austrian probably best known as Carl- ber of singles through into the and also providing stellar stages and a sound system DJ B-side is occupied by the more based imprint is also pushing ton from Carlton & the Shoes, Rock Steady and Early Reggae tunes are the likes of Lutan area. Surrounded by the lush up-beat original cut. an album for their Sweet Baby but who was also the mentor of eras. Fyah, Sophia Squire, Delly green Mendocino foothills and Riddim. This laid back, pre- the popular vocal harmony trio Ranx, Warrior King, Liquid close to a killer craft brew- Eric “Monty” Morris sings suf- dominately Roots set proves the Abyssinians. The flip of this single is by one [big big tune] and others. ery, SNWMF combines local ferers’ protest song, Blackman to be quietly infectious and of Jamaica’s best known bands charm with exceptional music. Ska, which for the time was should find a very fine audi- Here he applies his sweet haunt- The Skatalites with ‘Freedom rather unusual in that it broke ence amongst Reggae fans, ing voice to the contemporary, Sound’ possibly one of the The organizers put a premium away from the usual songs both initiated and new alike. soulful, R&B tinged lovers rock strongest ska instrumentals on appealing to a variety of about love, but he’s back in number ‘Crazy Moment’ on the ever despite it’s lack of trom- fans – from college kids to ded- that theme on the B-side for A Certainly tapping names such A-side, while dub Poet Patrick bone melody which suggests icated roots aficionados -- with Spot In My Heart For You. Both as the aforementioned Lu- Davis brings a deep spiritual- that this may have been record- acts this year like Rebelution, of these tracks have never been ciano, Anthony B and Konshens ity to the same riddim for the ed during one of Don Drum- I-Octane and Pablo Moses. Al- previously released and were [alongside Delus] to voice the Jah proclamation ‘Hail H.I.M’. mond’s stints at Bellevue men- though, not quite as old or well- reportedly recorded for the composition will only help mat- Rounding things off on the B- tal asylum. known as its Nor Cal contem- 1965 various artist album ‘Ja- ters and if that does quite get side is a dub from multifaceted porary Reggae On The River, maican Skarama’ (reissued by your attention, then perhaps Ruv Bytes (Takuto Kuratani). As with all Rock A Shacka re- SNWMF has carved out it’s own the Anderson Valley Brewing Due for release on 16th of June, John Coltrane to Chernobyl and instrumentals – built on eight legacy with previous years’ ap- Company, one of America’s via Soul Jazz records, is a vari- tells the tale of what digital riddims from BDF (Basque Dub pearances by Johnny Clarke, Jah best microbrewers. Three-day ous 2CD / vinyl album compi- music will be in the future, fea- Foundation). Most riddims are Shaka, Alton Ellis, Big Youth, advance-purchase tickets are lation titled ‘Invasion Of The turing King Tubby, Steely and relicks of classics such as Der- Misty In Roots, The Ethiopi- only $150 while single-day tick- Mysteron Killer Sounds’. The Clevie, Jammy, Jazzbo, along rick Harriott’s pulsating To- ans and other heavyweights. ets are between $60-70. Camp- album, though not entirely a with Alien Sound Lord Abduc- night, Glen Brown’s haunting The 2011 line-up is equally as ing is only available to 3-day true reggae album it does fea- tors, Aural Freedom Fighters Slaving and Studio One’s Far appealing with Collie Buddz, ticket holders for an additional ture music from some of the and Digi-Dub Voyagers.