JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM
JANUARY 30, 2009
TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 3 20 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (1wk@#1) U-2
02 2 23 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records NM
03 1 11 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (3wks@#1 D-2
04 10 6 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship U-6
05 11 6 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship U-6
06 8 17 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II U-2
07 4 15 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-3
08 14 4 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice U-6
09 9 19 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music NM
10 7 13 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records(pp#7) D-3
11 13 7 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx U-2
12 6 18 No Games-Serani- TJ Records (pp#2) D-6
13 16 4 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-3
14 17 6 No Chorus (Real Killer)-Mavado-Big Ship U-3
15 12 26 I'm So Special-Mavado-TJ Records (4wks@#1) D-3
16 - New Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel -
17 15 29 More Money-Harry Toddler-Downsound Records(3wks@#1) D-2
18 - New Ben Ova - RDX-
19 18 27 Trailer Load of Money-Vybz Kartel- Adidjaheim Records/ Chimney Records (2wks@#1) D-1
20 - New This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion
TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 2 19 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(1wk@#1) U-1
02 1 23 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Uplifting Music Int’l Camp (2wks@#1) D-1
03 4 13 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l U-1
04 5 13 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records U-1
05 6 10 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball U-1
06 7 13 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records U-1
07 3 19 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp (4wks@#1) D-4
08 10 7 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-2
09 8 22 Stronger-D’Angel-Sons of Spoon (3wks@#1) D-1
10 11 8 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records U-1
11 13 6 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-2
12 14 6 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-2
13 9 15 I Feel Good – Beres Hammond – Penthouse (pp#2) D-4
14 12 18 Barak Obama-Cocoa Tea-Roaring Lion (2wks@1) D-2
15 17 3 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music U-2
16 18 3 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse U-2
17 - New Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music
18 19 2 Music – Konshens – Tads Int’l U-1
19 20 2 Street Life – Richie Spice –Sons of Spoon U-1
20 - New Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx
TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL
01 3 8 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads International (1wk@#1)U-2
02 2 13 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon NM
03 1 14 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l (2wks@#1) D-2
04 5 10 Greatest Reggae One Drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves U-1
05 7 3 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Record Int’l U-2
06 4 11 A Moment In Time -Beres Hammond -VP Records (4wks@#1) D-2
07 6 15 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) D-1
08 9 3 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves U-1
09 - New Waiting – Cecile - Dangerzone
10 8 21 The Diamond Series - Blue-George Nooks-Tads International (3wks@#1) D-2
NOTES_____________________________________
Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.
Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover
TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position
Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play
ALL SOUND SYSTEMS, SELECTORS, RECORD SHOPS, NIGHT CLUBS & RADIO DJS WHO WISH TO ASSIST US AS WE COMPILE OUR WEEKLY CHARTS, PLEASE FURNISH US WITH ONLY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS. CALL: 968-5817 NOW!!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
SP's next thing is...well, The Next Thing
Its been a couple of years since his last release The Trinity, though Sean paul has kept fairly busy with single releases in the interim.
From the e-blast of publicist Rhona Fox, (rhonafox.com) comes word that the next CD from the "Dutty Rocker" will bear the title The Next Thing.
No word yet on even a possible release date, even as the collabo with Setelle, "Come On Over" continues to gather steam. The two performed recently at NYC's CLub Element, and of course, visitors tothe Jamaica Jazz & Blues fest, would have seen and heard her deliver the number - sans Sean - among others during her Tursday night stint in Montego Bay.
From the e-blast of publicist Rhona Fox, (rhonafox.com) comes word that the next CD from the "Dutty Rocker" will bear the title The Next Thing.
No word yet on even a possible release date, even as the collabo with Setelle, "Come On Over" continues to gather steam. The two performed recently at NYC's CLub Element, and of course, visitors tothe Jamaica Jazz & Blues fest, would have seen and heard her deliver the number - sans Sean - among others during her Tursday night stint in Montego Bay.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Final Nite Falls short, But E-Park comes up strong
Jamaica Jazz & Blues: Nite 3
"Everybody has their own favourite song, but some favourites mean more than others."
With that paraphrase of Orwell ("All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others"), I sadly pronounce an overall negative judgement on Saturday's closing night of the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Montego Bay
It started out quite the opposite. In fact, in the persons of pianist Kamla Hamilton, and the personel of the E-Park abnd which immediately followed her, the audience got arguably its most sustained sequence of authentic musical improvisation (Reunion Quartet and Alto Reed Entourage notwithstanding) for the entire weekend. Not enough, mind you, to justify retaining the title, but a delightful passage nonetheless.
Hamilton & Co went htrough some modern fusion tracks (Watermelon Man and others) with a cool confidence - solos were garnished with just the right touches, but never extravagant.
Featuring the vocal talents of Michael Sean Harris and Karen Smith, as well as a six-man horn line, bass and lead guitar, drummer Desi Jones and a dual keyboard line of Othneil Lewis and music director Peter Ashbourne, the E-Park (named for Kingston's Emancipation Park, for whom they were first commissioned) Band romped through several indigenous and external pop classics, including snippets of the Studio One catalog, Ashbourne's whimsicla yet biting Half Way Tree (from his album, Blind Man Swimming). Harris belted out Paul Simon's Latin-tinged hopper "Late in the Evening" and Smith gave voice to COle Porter's "De-Lovely" The two then combined on "Because You Knew Me" from the Broadway production, "Wicked"
Thereafter, Atlantic Starr -a new fornt vocal line in place - never quite got to the intensity of their "Secret Lovers-Masterpeice" heyday (although both those tunes were delivered. The key really was the absence of star female vocalist Barbara Weathers, the definitive voice, along withthe founding Lewis brothers, behind many of those hits. "Message In A Bottle" and "Always" prompted cheek-to-cheek dancing i nthe open night air and the group would have left feeling somewhat satisfied, but I just din't get there.
The Ojays hit the ground running, with "BackStabbers", "Love Train" and
"Let Me Make Love To You" coming in quick succession. All throughout the nattily dressed trio (white jackets and trousers emblazoned with floral applique) twirled and sidestepped and sang their way into the crowd's hearts...... and then - two critical missteps. First, a cover of NewBirth's classic "Wild FLower" was dragged on longer than it should have been, and then the big faux pas - no "Brandy" arguably the song that more Jmaaicans associate withte OJays than any other. They just lewftthe stage and ignored the calls for encore. Methinks something was amiss but I'll have to get confirmation.
Chicago came out with lots of enthusiasm, but baffling sound set up meant that the vocals were sacrificed for the horn section. Things improved gradually, and the crowd warmed to material such as "You're The Inspiration" and "Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry" but, unfortunately, the damage tothe crowd's psyche had been done. It wasn't anywhere last year's debacle with Mizzz Ross (some might substitute an "a") but the show did not end on a high.
TOmoroow, I'll havea special wrap and some thoughts o nthe "real" festival the Talent stage (what's populalry known as the small stage).
"Everybody has their own favourite song, but some favourites mean more than others."
With that paraphrase of Orwell ("All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others"), I sadly pronounce an overall negative judgement on Saturday's closing night of the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Montego Bay
It started out quite the opposite. In fact, in the persons of pianist Kamla Hamilton, and the personel of the E-Park abnd which immediately followed her, the audience got arguably its most sustained sequence of authentic musical improvisation (Reunion Quartet and Alto Reed Entourage notwithstanding) for the entire weekend. Not enough, mind you, to justify retaining the title, but a delightful passage nonetheless.
Hamilton & Co went htrough some modern fusion tracks (Watermelon Man and others) with a cool confidence - solos were garnished with just the right touches, but never extravagant.
Featuring the vocal talents of Michael Sean Harris and Karen Smith, as well as a six-man horn line, bass and lead guitar, drummer Desi Jones and a dual keyboard line of Othneil Lewis and music director Peter Ashbourne, the E-Park (named for Kingston's Emancipation Park, for whom they were first commissioned) Band romped through several indigenous and external pop classics, including snippets of the Studio One catalog, Ashbourne's whimsicla yet biting Half Way Tree (from his album, Blind Man Swimming). Harris belted out Paul Simon's Latin-tinged hopper "Late in the Evening" and Smith gave voice to COle Porter's "De-Lovely" The two then combined on "Because You Knew Me" from the Broadway production, "Wicked"
Thereafter, Atlantic Starr -a new fornt vocal line in place - never quite got to the intensity of their "Secret Lovers-Masterpeice" heyday (although both those tunes were delivered. The key really was the absence of star female vocalist Barbara Weathers, the definitive voice, along withthe founding Lewis brothers, behind many of those hits. "Message In A Bottle" and "Always" prompted cheek-to-cheek dancing i nthe open night air and the group would have left feeling somewhat satisfied, but I just din't get there.
The Ojays hit the ground running, with "BackStabbers", "Love Train" and
"Let Me Make Love To You" coming in quick succession. All throughout the nattily dressed trio (white jackets and trousers emblazoned with floral applique) twirled and sidestepped and sang their way into the crowd's hearts...... and then - two critical missteps. First, a cover of NewBirth's classic "Wild FLower" was dragged on longer than it should have been, and then the big faux pas - no "Brandy" arguably the song that more Jmaaicans associate withte OJays than any other. They just lewftthe stage and ignored the calls for encore. Methinks something was amiss but I'll have to get confirmation.
Chicago came out with lots of enthusiasm, but baffling sound set up meant that the vocals were sacrificed for the horn section. Things improved gradually, and the crowd warmed to material such as "You're The Inspiration" and "Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry" but, unfortunately, the damage tothe crowd's psyche had been done. It wasn't anywhere last year's debacle with Mizzz Ross (some might substitute an "a") but the show did not end on a high.
TOmoroow, I'll havea special wrap and some thoughts o nthe "real" festival the Talent stage (what's populalry known as the small stage).
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Lionel does hits right
Jamaica Jazz & Blues Fest Nite 2
I've made no secret of my general disdain for what I term "hits-driven performances" you know, where an act just comes and unloads their catalog and thinks that that is good eough.
Thankfully, Lionel RIchie understands - as he demonstrated on Firday night at the Aqueduct - that live music is supposed to move people, and not just to dance, but to feel more alive and also to feel collectively part of a bigger experience than they would as individuals.
In a set that ran well over a hour and a half, he and his band took the jazz & Blues fest to a party, the large crowd being swept up almost in unison into a massive pulsating sing-along (and dancealong). They went with him not only because they knew the songs, but because he maanged to make it feel as if they were being heard for the first time (no easy feat for a 30-year veteran). The Commodoores stuff like "Lady(You Bring Me Up)" "Easy Like Sunday Morning" and "Sail On" were there as well as the solo ballads like "Penny Lover" and "Hello" and even the cheesy "Dancin' On the Ceiling" were simply devoured by an anudience that could easily have stood for another hour. Fittingly Lionel eneded his conquest with the uptempo "All Night Long" all of which made life tough for former Foreigner front man Lou Gramm who had the grave misfortune of being the closing act (similar to Matisyahu on Thurs night).
Elsewhere on the night, indigenous vocal talent shined bright in the early going. Roslyn, a regal (and Francophone) Diana Rutherford and Ricardo Suave all gave good accounts of themselves, but the temperature didn't really pick up until L.U.S.T. took the stage. Exemplifying casual elegance, and withtheir voices in very good form, the quartet breezed through a compact yet diverse set, including their smash cover of Air Supply's "Just As I Am"
In a return engagement from last year, Canadian Nikki Yanofsky showed maturity and was confident enough to tackle 'big people stuff' like Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need of Love" but unfortunately she spent a little too long on stage and also was upstaged by the Western Jamaica combined Choir (have to check that name), who she invited on as special guests in rendering "A Little Help From My Friends"
Patrons would no doubt have left the venue satisfied i nthe early hours of Saturday morning, and with considerably high expectations of first-timers Chicago and the Mighty OJays, who are among tonight's headliners.
I've made no secret of my general disdain for what I term "hits-driven performances" you know, where an act just comes and unloads their catalog and thinks that that is good eough.
Thankfully, Lionel RIchie understands - as he demonstrated on Firday night at the Aqueduct - that live music is supposed to move people, and not just to dance, but to feel more alive and also to feel collectively part of a bigger experience than they would as individuals.
In a set that ran well over a hour and a half, he and his band took the jazz & Blues fest to a party, the large crowd being swept up almost in unison into a massive pulsating sing-along (and dancealong). They went with him not only because they knew the songs, but because he maanged to make it feel as if they were being heard for the first time (no easy feat for a 30-year veteran). The Commodoores stuff like "Lady(You Bring Me Up)" "Easy Like Sunday Morning" and "Sail On" were there as well as the solo ballads like "Penny Lover" and "Hello" and even the cheesy "Dancin' On the Ceiling" were simply devoured by an anudience that could easily have stood for another hour. Fittingly Lionel eneded his conquest with the uptempo "All Night Long" all of which made life tough for former Foreigner front man Lou Gramm who had the grave misfortune of being the closing act (similar to Matisyahu on Thurs night).
Elsewhere on the night, indigenous vocal talent shined bright in the early going. Roslyn, a regal (and Francophone) Diana Rutherford and Ricardo Suave all gave good accounts of themselves, but the temperature didn't really pick up until L.U.S.T. took the stage. Exemplifying casual elegance, and withtheir voices in very good form, the quartet breezed through a compact yet diverse set, including their smash cover of Air Supply's "Just As I Am"
In a return engagement from last year, Canadian Nikki Yanofsky showed maturity and was confident enough to tackle 'big people stuff' like Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need of Love" but unfortunately she spent a little too long on stage and also was upstaged by the Western Jamaica combined Choir (have to check that name), who she invited on as special guests in rendering "A Little Help From My Friends"
Patrons would no doubt have left the venue satisfied i nthe early hours of Saturday morning, and with considerably high expectations of first-timers Chicago and the Mighty OJays, who are among tonight's headliners.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Solid Couple, Thicke, With Hits, Estelle Shines
Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival: Nite 1
Transport delays (memo to self: when not driving and relying on point-to-point transportation, factor in xtra time) meant that my arrival at the Aqueduct on Thursday night was in time to hear the last couple of selections from British import & Jon Legend protege Estelle. Seemd pleasant enough, but als ocame off as if she was trying (a bit) too hard. Definite potential as an artiste however, and i look forward to her growth.
Call me "Mr Mid-life" but Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were the pick of the nite's acts - polished, but not stiff, voices perfectly on point and in key, and total rapport withthe audience - even when Ashford too ksome time after doing a rousing version of "Let's Go Get Stoned" to talk about their breakthrough at motown in the 60s. That preceded a medley of the hits form that era including "Ain't Nothin Like the real Thing (marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrelle) and Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross), all of which flowed from the duo's golden pens.
Simpson, confidently sporting a revealing dress (slit thigh-high) in contrasting shades of green, also did great justice to another composiiton - "I'm Every Woman" (Chaka Khan, then Whitney houston) and they als odid "Any Street Corner" and a few more before exiting - certainly prematurely for this writer.
Robin Thicke came to please and from the get-go, the modern-day blue-eyed soul man had the jazz fest ladies eating out of his hand. I naddiiton to the smash "Lost Without You" and "Complicated" from his breakthrough CD, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" he also laid down the funk in covering D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" and the soul, with Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" Thicke closed with a snippet of his latest hit "Magic" before exiting, bathed in sweat.
Also entertaining - albeit in a more stripped-down, slower mode - was Morgan heritage lead vocal Gramps, earning kudos from the crowd.
headliner Matisyahu seemed genuinely eager to give a good account on his maiden Jamaican outing, but his edgy stew of roots reggae, dub, rock and chants, while sonically engaging, did not connect withthe crowd and the Orthodox singer found himslef singing to a vastly dwindled crowd even before his final selection.
Overall, a good night's entertainment. Let's see what Lionel & Co. can come with tonite
- Michael A Edwards
www.jazzofonik1.blogspot.com
www.100greatestrecords.blogspot.com
Transport delays (memo to self: when not driving and relying on point-to-point transportation, factor in xtra time) meant that my arrival at the Aqueduct on Thursday night was in time to hear the last couple of selections from British import & Jon Legend protege Estelle. Seemd pleasant enough, but als ocame off as if she was trying (a bit) too hard. Definite potential as an artiste however, and i look forward to her growth.
Call me "Mr Mid-life" but Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were the pick of the nite's acts - polished, but not stiff, voices perfectly on point and in key, and total rapport withthe audience - even when Ashford too ksome time after doing a rousing version of "Let's Go Get Stoned" to talk about their breakthrough at motown in the 60s. That preceded a medley of the hits form that era including "Ain't Nothin Like the real Thing (marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrelle) and Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross), all of which flowed from the duo's golden pens.
Simpson, confidently sporting a revealing dress (slit thigh-high) in contrasting shades of green, also did great justice to another composiiton - "I'm Every Woman" (Chaka Khan, then Whitney houston) and they als odid "Any Street Corner" and a few more before exiting - certainly prematurely for this writer.
Robin Thicke came to please and from the get-go, the modern-day blue-eyed soul man had the jazz fest ladies eating out of his hand. I naddiiton to the smash "Lost Without You" and "Complicated" from his breakthrough CD, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" he also laid down the funk in covering D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" and the soul, with Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" Thicke closed with a snippet of his latest hit "Magic" before exiting, bathed in sweat.
Also entertaining - albeit in a more stripped-down, slower mode - was Morgan heritage lead vocal Gramps, earning kudos from the crowd.
headliner Matisyahu seemed genuinely eager to give a good account on his maiden Jamaican outing, but his edgy stew of roots reggae, dub, rock and chants, while sonically engaging, did not connect withthe crowd and the Orthodox singer found himslef singing to a vastly dwindled crowd even before his final selection.
Overall, a good night's entertainment. Let's see what Lionel & Co. can come with tonite
- Michael A Edwards
www.jazzofonik1.blogspot.com
www.100greatestrecords.blogspot.com
Monday, January 19, 2009
EMEs TO AID RIO GRANDE TRUCK CRASH VICTIMS
The dependents and survivors of the accident on the Rio Grande Valley road which claimed 14 lives in December will receive addiitonal support through an initiative of the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards.
Come awards night, February 5, attendnees to the event, at the Gargens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston are being asked to take a donation to be added to the special account established on behalf of the victims’ families. A donation will also be made directly from the EMEs.
Chairman and Founder of the EMEs, Richard "Richie B" Burgess stated that he felt compelled to support the cause, not only as a concerned Jamaican and a public figure, but as a native of the parish of Portland. "We in the EME family feel very strongly about giving back, and this cause in particular really merits the effort, as no doubt the families are facing some very difficult circumstances in addition to the burden of grief at their loss."
Minister of State, Project Implementation and Service Delivery and Member of Parliament, Daryl Vaz, commended Burgess and the EME team for using his platform in the media and entertainment fileds to achieve a greater good. The Minister will also be a special guest at the awards show.
“It is very generous of you to use the Awards function to raise funds for the dependents of the victims of the Rio Grande Valley tragedy. This is the kind of initiative that we encourage and we hope that others, inspired by your action, will respond in a similar manner."
Persons wishing to addd their support can send donations to :
A Helping Hand for the Children of Portland's Rio Grande Valley
National Commercial Bank Account No.: 351 077 328
The EME Awards grew out of an in-studio presentation on Richie B's popular Hot Mix afternoon radio show to become a staple on the entertainment calendar. The top names in Jamaican entertainment will vie for and present awards.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Rebel Review coming
My review, as well as pics from Saturday Night's (into Sunday morning's) 16th Rebel Salute at the Kaiser Sports field in St Elizabeth - coming tomorrow.
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