MAGAZINE #18 - April 2012 Busy Signal Clinton Fearon Chantelle Ernandez Truckback Records Fashion Records Pablo Moses Kayla Bliss Sugar Minott Jah Sun Reggae Month Man Free Tarrus Riley “I have to surprise you. The minute I stop surprising you we have a problem” 1/ NEWS 102 EDITORIAL by Erik Magni 2/ INTERVIEWS • Chantelle Ernandez 16 Michael Rose in Portland • Clinton Fearon 22 • Fashion Records 30 104 • Pablo Moses 36 • Truckback Records 42 • Busy Signal 48 • Kayla Bliss 54 Sizzla in Hasparren SUMMARY • Jah Sun 58 • Tarrus Riley 62 106 3/ REVIEWS • Ital Horns Meets Bush Chemists - History, Mystery, Destiny... 68 • Clinton Fearon - Heart and Soul 69 Ras Daniel Ray, Tu Shung • 149 Records #1 70 Peng and Friends in Paris • Sizzla In Gambia 70 Is unplugged the next big thing in reggae? 108 • The Bristol Reggae Explosion 3: The 80s Part 2 71 • Man Free 72 In 1989 MTV aired the first episode of the series MTV Unplugged, a TV show • Tetrack - Unfinished Business 73 where popular artists made new versions of their own more familiar electron- • Jah Golden Throne 74 Anthony Joseph, Horace ic material using only acoustic instrumentation. It became a huge success • Ras Daniel Ray and Tu Shung Peng - Ray Of Light 75 Andy and Raggasonic at and artists and groups such as Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Nirvana per- • Peter Spence - I’ll Fly Away 76 Chorus Festival 2012 formed on the show, and about 30 unplugged albums were also released. • Busy Signal - Reggae Music Again 77 • Rod Taylor, Bob Wasa and Positive Roots Band - Original Roots 78 • Cos I’m Black Riddim 79 110 Doing acoustic versions of already recorded electronic material has also been • Tarrus Riley - Mecoustic 80 popular in reggae music. One of my all time favorites is Joe Higgs’ heartbreak- • Joshua To Jashwha: 30 Years In The Wilderness 81 ing unplugged version of his own There’s a Reward. In recent years Jamaican veteran guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith’s acoustic project Inna de Yard has re- 4/ REPORTS ceived well-deserved attention and has attracted both old and new talents. • Stephen Marley in Pinecrest 82 And acoustic reggae might be more popular than ever right now. The two • JARIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #4 - Singers and DJs 84 • Earl 16 in Leeds 86 newest acoustic albums are the acclaimed sets Mecoustic and Heart and • JARIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #5 - Dancehall and Alternative 87 Sugar Minott United Reggae offers an Soul from Tarrus Riley and Clinton Fearon respectively. Both albums are solid • Junior Toots’ Album Party 88 excerpt from Beth Less- as rocks, and hopefully these two artists have launched a trend. Be sure to • 9 Mile Festival 2012 90 er’s book about Sugar • JARIA Honour Awards 2012 96 check out Angus Taylor’s interviews with both artists in this 18th issue. Minott and Youth Pro- • Marley Movie Premier in Miami 98 motion. Cover photo by Franck Blanquin • Cecil Reuben’s Birthday at Brixton Hootananny 99 • Jamaica Round Up: March 2012 100 United Reggae Magazine #18 - April 2012 Want to read United Reggae as a paper magazine? Now you can... All the articles in this magazine were previously published online on http://unitedreggae.com. In addition to the latest United Reggae news, views and videos online each month you can now enjoy a This magazine is free for download at http://unitedreggae.com/magazine/. Not for resale. free pdf version packed with most of United Reggae content from the last month. United Reggae. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Out Of Many: 50 Miles’. It continues his recent trend for Bertram Brown, Mikey Dread, Linval extended set at the One Love Peace Bennett’s Breakfast in Bed – and the leading proponents of ska & reggae, working with producers in the USA. Thompson, Henry Lawes and Prince Festival where he will be joined by Fyakin combination Sincerely. The Delirians who have been forging a Years of Reggae Mu- Where previous set ‘Back For the First Hammer. More recently he has worked special guests from the label. Fans of sound that is firmly rooted in the past, sic Time’ was voiced with Californian col- with Jah Warrior and Roy Cousins. roots reggae will be treated to perfor- yet is still distinctly their own. They lective Lustre Kings, here production ‘Original Roots’ collects 14 tracks and mances on the Heritage Stage which have also backed and performed with by Erik Magni is helmed by MG and Dan of Seattle’s hits the streets tomorrow. will be headlined by one of the genres legends such as Derrick Morgan, The Dynasty Records. Recorded in Jamaica forefathers and former Bob Marley co- Melodians, Derrick Harriot, Stranger Reggae powerhouse VP Records is set and Seattle, its press material prom- hort Bunny Wailer. Other acts include Cole and more. The tour will also be to release a 3CD boxset celebrating ises a record of great variety, claim- reggae heavyweights Barrington Levy. used to help promote The Alpha Boys Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence, ing “such a diverse collection of his Capleton AKA ‘The Fireman’ and ‘The School Project by collecting donations writes Jamaica Observer. It’s titled talent and versatility had never been Messenger’ Luciano, rising reggae of unused musical instruments to ship ‘Out Of Many: 50 Years of Reggae Mu- featured on one work until the release star I-Octane and the MOBO nominat- back to Jamaica to help those at the sic’, and is scheduled for release in late of Journey of 1000 Miles”. The nattily ed Khago will be joined by one of the school who do not have one them- July. ‘Out Of Many: 50 Years of Reggae attired, critically-acclaimed St Ann’s UK’s leading dancehall artists, Stylo selves! There are also plans to bring Music’ includes Trinidadian singer Lord raised vocalist is known for his em- G. Event organiser Dexter Ricketts musicians to the school as guest teach- Creator’s Independent Jamaica, a song bracing of international reggae and for said: “We are honoured to be staging ers including King Django of Stubborn released in 1962 to mark Jamaica’s his uncompromising roots messages. One Love Peace Fes- another One Love Peace Festival with Records/ Version City fame who plans Independence from Britain in August ‘Journey of 1000 Miles’ is scheduled what is our most eclectic and exciting to teach Trombone. Anyone attending that year, and 49 other songs, one for tival 2012 Line Up for release in May 2012. line-up to date. For us the event is all a show on the tour can bring in any in- each year. The compilation will also Announced about raising multi-cultural awareness strument on our list (and some not on include immortal classics such as Ho- by Karl Pearson and tolerance through the powerful the list) in exchange for a CD. peton Lewis’ early rocksteady hit Take medium of music. We hope that the It Easy, Dave & Ansell Collins’ funky After the success of last years One One Love Peace Festival continues to Instruments Being Requested: Double Barrel and Culture’s apocalyp- The Echoes of King- Love Peace Festival at Wembley organ- inspire change and promote social har- 2 French Horns, 2 Bariton, 1 Upright tic Two Sevens Clash as well as newer isers have announced that this years mony within the British community.” ston: The Skatalites base, 1 Xylophone, 1 Vibraphone, gems such as Sean Paul and Gyptian’s urban music event will take place at Other features on the day will include Flutes, Saxaphones, Clarinets more recent smash hits Get Busy and on Tour East London’s Mabley Green on Sun- guest DJs, comedy corners, fairground Hold You. by Karl Pearson day 15th July. The biggest name on the rides and an international food village Also any other brass or woodwind in- bill has to that of Rap/Hip-Hop global offering cuisines from each corner of The current line-up of the Skatalites struments are gratefully accepted. If superstar Diddy, who will headline on the globe. Tickets are available from Band are back on the road to help you don’t have an instrument to do- The Contemporary Stage performing ticketmaster.co.uk and Ticket Mania celebrate this years 50th anniversary nate but would like to contribute in hits from an illustrious career in mu- with prices starting at £45. For more of Jamaican independence, their own some way they are also taking money sic that has spanned two decades and information please visit www.orig- 48th birthday plus the anniversary and other useful items as well. garnered four Grammy Awards. This inalonelove.com. of the creation of Ska music with a year also marks the 15th anniversary tour that will take them all over the Original Roots by of Notorious B.I.G’s untimely passing, Dancing Shoes by world and feature a collection of new Rod Taylor, Bob and would have seen the first star of and original tunes combined with all renowned rap label Bad Boy celebrate Malijah the classics. The first leg of this tour, Wasa and Positive his 40th birthday. Diddy, who was his by Erik Magni called The Echoes of Kingston tour, Roots Band friend and mentor, will pay special started on Friday March 30th in Hou- tribute to the late star as part of an Jamaican singer Malijah has teamed up ton, Texas before heading north to by Erik Magni extended set at the One Love Peace with Reggaeland for his debut album New Mexico and Colorado, then west Festival where he will be joined by ‘Dancing Shoes’, released on March to Arizona, Mexico, California, Seat- Jamaican legendary vocalist Rod Taylor special guests from the label.