Entertainment: "Inspirator" Re-Ignites

Roots Dub Poetry Reggae Revival for Schools across Jamaica..

Spearheaded by Charlie Bobus, the Dub poets are seeking your listening ears to travel across Jamaica to spread the positive message to the youths through Dub Poetry in Schools. To make this possible Charlie Bobus is staging a Dub poetry school tour fundraiser at Red Bones Blues Cafe titled Roots Dub Poetry Reggae Revival on April 7, 2017 at 9pm.

Charlie Bobus is a motivational dub poet that was based in Toronto Canada. He was facilitating a Youth Leadership program for the Hariett Tubman Community organization and Art Starts for youths in high risk communities and doing workshops and performances at festivals across Canada.

"Due to the frustration and distress the schoolers across Jamaica are facing they crave motivation through positive messages of hope and inspiration," Bobus points out. "One aim of the school tour is identifying youth leaders to create their visions and influence their peers positively. The tour will identify talented poetic youths for Inspirator Upcoming Youth islandwide Dub Poetry Slam."


Born and raised in the often volatile community of Grants Pen in Kingston where he lived through and struggled with many of the issues facing youths across Jamaica today. He started Inspirator International in 2005 with a mission of "Empowering minds and uplifting youths".

He is particularly concerned about the gang banging in schools. Especially also about the state of mind many school children are left in. Worst now after the wave of bombardment of tragic incidents and serious safety concerns. Poetry can release mental stress plus anxiety
and allow positive thoughts to permeate their minds.

Already confirmed for the school tour are Dub poets Charlie Bobus, Ras Takura, Cherry Natural, Mojiba Ase, Sage and Akuna Matata.

Bobus says school officials are excited about it and anxious to see this tour in their schools. "The response has been overwhelming so please contact if you want your school included".


The Fundraiser will take place at Red Bones Blues Cafe on April 7 and International recording artist Chelsea Stewart and Saxophonist Isax Ins Jah from Canada are fully on board in helping the youths here in Jamaica and are concerned about their state of mind.

The show will also feature Veteran Reggae artists Tinga Stewart who has a new hit single with Fantom Mojah promoting and Reggie Steppa know for his monster hits Little Miss and Modeling and Anju Kat out of the Sly & Robbie Gang. The Dub poets will be representing through Ras Takura organizer of Disword wordz & Agro Fest, Sage, Mojiba Ase and two other Grantspen Dub Poets Akuna Matata and Ras Shaddi. Backed by the Legend Bands. Admission is only $1000.

"The Dub Poet Charlie Bobus set up fundraiser for school tour, Good spirit haffi rise, Care share and Help" said Asher Selecta one of the sponsors from Raspect Wear out of Switzerland. The event is also powered by Island Stage, Rebel Vibes, Cru Clothing, Noble Works, ATAP Production and Carib Newsroom.

Contact: Inspirator International Events Graphics & Publishing
Nicardo "Charlie Bobus" Murray
18764516572 {watsapp}
Email: charliebobus@gmail.com
Facebook.com/charliebobus

Media/Live Music: 52 Tuesdays Live.... with Michael "Mikey T" Thompson

Michael "Mikey T" Thompson

Think of him as a "radio postman" for lie music.

Since inaugurating his 'Live Tuesdays on-air performance slot On KOOL 97 FM some 52 weeks ago, veteran Michael "Mikey T" Thompson has not missed a single outing.

That amounts, in Thompson's humbly imprecise calculations, to "over 140 acts - solo and group, through the period." It also means well over a hundred hours of live music programming for the year at a time when radio offerings are sorely lacking in diversity and  - coincidentally? - live music is enjoying something of an underground resurgence, with several Kingston venues, new and old, offering a variety of live acts almost every night of the week.

But beyond the sheer numbers, Thompson, who was part of KOOL97 since the stations inception some 14 years ago (KOOLFM Anniversary celebrations are now close at hand), points out that the series offers musicians of various stripes "to  be heard solely on the basis of quality". That measure is, of course Thompson's to determine, but he makes it clear that he accepts no fees or other considerations from artistes in exchange for their appearance, only their time and energy.

And the roster that have responded is loaded with substance: Freddie McGregor, George Nooks, No-maddz, Coco T, Carlene Davis, Althea Hewitt, Pam Hall, Duane Stephenson and many more heavyweights. Alongsid ethese are up-and-comers like all-girl outfit Azadeh, Don Giovanni and Exile Di Brave and Lady Genius.

 Even more than the names, 'Live Tuesdays" has lanced the notion that Jamaican music is one-dimensional. The above-named acts and others (including Robert Dubwise, Pon Fyah band and Earth Kry) have laid down everyconceivable stage and sub-genre of Jamaican music, from mento to dancehall and beyond, incoporating, ska, lover's rock, rock, jazz, dub, EDM and other progressive offshoots.

To mark the occasion, Thompson will welcome another veteran outfit, Jamaica's undisputed champion showband, Fab 5 Incorporated, who will a special "....and Friends" edition of Live Tuesdays. Future episodes going into Year 2 will feature the likes of Mr Vegas, Uprising Roots and more.

And far from basking in the success, Thompson is hard at work, conceptualizing and planning some "special additions" to the format that he says he will elaborate on in short order.

So to those under the impression that the "house of Jamaican sound" is condemned and out of date, her comes Mikey T with a special delivery.  

http://www.amway.com/EMXGroup

Music Reviews: Mighty Ginsu and Roberto Magris

You would expect a guy who bills himself on the lines of a legendary blade to be lyrically sharp, and Ginsu is certainly that.

But you might not be expecting the breadth, as in the broad array of subject matter,from the value of perseverance, the importance of peace and change in a relationship, in addition to the anti-Governmental, corporate reed rants that one might find  mandatory on a project like this.

Over the course of 11 tracks (longer than an EP, shorter than a conventional album), Ginsu's resonant bass and quick-fire imagination span the globe (he's also featured on a French compilation, The Blex Experience), presenting his particular set of philosophies over bedrock beats that are largely hip-hop oriented, but carry elements of dub and global rhythms.

In addition to longtime standby "Jamaica Jamaica" with its fierce chorus (not at all a touristy welcome type piece), other standouts are  "Peace in the Streets" 'I'm A Legend" "I Am The Light" "Ghost Who Walks" (the tag given to the Phantom comic character) and "Yu Ready".

If you're not ready, then you ought to be, because this disc is representing the real situation. 


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Roberto Magris: Enigmatix; J-Mood

We've become used to the profligacy of Roberto Magris' recorded output and so when the pianist decided on his latest, the choice of a somewhat more contemporary funk sound may initially strike as an obvious and even vapidly commercial approach.

But this folks, is Roberto Magris, which means that while sound currents may get inverted, they are never perverted, as in pop

There is one track that leaves us somewhat ambivalent. This is the first time in my memory of the artist's extensive catalog that he has included a vocalist. While Monique Danielle is certainly blessed with a fine voice, the overall effect of "No Sadness" the mid-tempo track on which she is featured, are just not that persuasive.

More moving, in several sense s of the word is the preceding track, 'Counterparts" a funk workout peppered with occasional interventions from the leader, but really allowing his band (Drummer Brian Steever, bassist Dominique Sanders and percussionist Pablo Sanhueza) to shine.

Another Magris template is the covers. On this outing, he takes on two well-known pop gems. Stevie Wonder's "Ma Cherie Amour" is up first, but the piano man's take on the Steely Dan classic 'Do It Again" is the clearly superior adaptation, offering some of the most free-wheeling improvisations that Magris has unleashed in some time - and that's saying a lot.

Indeed, the contemporary framework of the tunes on this collection seem to have spurred Magris to even more openness in his pianism, rather than shut him down, and of course, that's great news. There may not be any thing on this record to match "The Storyteller" (from his "Current Views" album) but even after over 26 discs, he is absolutely refusing to coast on by. Bravo!


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