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Twelve Haitian artists will create earthquake inspired art during a three-month residency in Jamaica at Roktowa Gallery in downtown Kingston.

The residency, which starts this month will culminate in a local exhibition and international auction of 20 books of art created by the artists. The Roktowa residency is expected to foster art creation and offer a respite from the earthquake in Haiti which killed over 200,000 this January, the organiser said. One artist, Lionel St Eloi even had his multi-storey studio destroyed in the earthquake

“When you go to different place your work absorbs that reality. That is why residency is important not only for professional development but for cultural dialogue,” Melinda Brown, creative director at Roktowa and organiser told the Sunday Observer yesterday. The Roktowa residency is done with the support of the University of the West Indies which provides housing.

The artists are mainly from the Gran Rue and St Eloi Atelier communities in Haiti and the group includes nine sculptors, one flag artist, a novelist and a filmmaker. Many of these artists are respected with previous international exhibitions.

“When I went to Haiti last year and developed relationships with some eminent artists what became obvious was that despite adverse circumstances these artists still have international careers with shows in the UK, Paris, Washington DC etc.,” she explained.

The residency is expected to raise awareness of Haitian art for Jamaica’s artistic community and the public. Brown hinted at a truism that music is to Jamaica what art is to Haiti. Said she: “I am really not sure why visual art in Jamaica has not expanded more.”

The residency will include talks at high schools, the Edna Manley College and the University of the West Indies (UWI), which also will provide board. The residency is the first step in the cross-dialogue between Jamaican artists and those in the rest of the Caribbean, stated a release from Endz of the Earth which represents Roktowa.

Proceeds of the sale of the 20 books entitled From the Trembling Heart, will go towards the establishment of an art residency exchange programme between Haiti and Jamaica. It is envisioned that this first edition of From the Trembling Heart will be the incubator for subsequent editions which will be produced on other Caribbean islands helping to ground, centre and develop the Caribbean’s artistic identity, said Roktowa.

“The book will be a work of art, some pages will be made of wood and some of metal,” explained Brown adding that its very cover will be a sculpture.

The artists invited are diverse yet have a complementary range of skills. Sculptors from St Eloi Atelier include Lionel St Eloi, WabbaUpKing, and Nathalie Fanfan. Sculptors of the Gran Rue include Celeur Jean Herard, Chebby, Eugene Andre, and Guyodo. Non-aligned artists include Tirzo Martha, Tirzo, Myrlande Constant, Zaka Lalwa and Jean Euphele Milce.

The Roktowa is an art studio and gallery located at the corner of West and Tower Streets in downtown Kingston.

JOHANNESBURG, April 1, 2010 (AFP) – South Africa’s culture minister said Thursday she would like to see more African artists in the World Cup kick-off concert, two days after meeting with local musicians upset over the line-up.

South Africa will kick off the June 11-July 11 tournament with a massive concert at Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium scheduled to include Alicia Keys, Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas, among others.

Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana met with World Cup organisers and local artists’ representatives Thursday to discuss making more space for homegrown talent in the June 10 programme.

“We’re not saying we don’t want people from other parts of the world,” Xingwana told SABC television after the meeting.

“We’re simply saying we’d like to see more African and South African participation.”

Xingwana heard complaints Tuesday from a group of South African musicians who voiced their frustration over the concert’s line-up, which currently features nine international acts and three local ones.

Thursday’s closed-door meeting included Danny Jordaan, CEO of the World Cup organising committee, and local artists’ representatives, including the president and secretary-general of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa.

The culture ministry said in a press release that Jordaan would meet with FIFA officials in two weeks’ time to address the artists’ concerns.

SABC reported that South African officials have asked FIFA to delay announcing further additions to the line-up to allow time to give the concert a more South African vibe.

Reggae Legend, Ernie Smith in celebrating 42 years in reggae music has re-launched his website featuring significant changes to further promote his career.

The site is designed to enhance Ernie’s visibility on the World Wide Web. Producers, Performers, Promoters, Radio DJs and Sound System Operators are encouraged to visit Ernie’s website for information as well as to listen, and/ or download samples of his songs – old and new – for study/cover/collaboration.

Fans, Family and friends are also encouraged to submit photos of themselves and Ernie for review and possibly, periodic inclusion on the site.

All in all 2010 is gearing up to be fun-filled.

Ernie Smith is promoting his album “Country Mile” and will be visiting some Caribbean Islands, East Coast of the United States and Central America from late March to August 2010.

The Reggae Ballardeer recently told us “I am heartened by the responses I have been receiving from the album. I know now that my evergreen fans are enjoying it and lo and behold, I have a new crop of fans. I am blessed. It is my hope that Music Lovers everywhere will be satisfied after listening. I did try to touch on some key issues of social forms”.

Ernie is slated to perform on the 8th Annual Talent Search and Award Show at Giggles Comedy & Entertainment Centre, Long Island, on the 27th of March.

BURBANK – The magic of Disney meets the magical isle of Jamaica, as Walt Disney Records readies an album of classic Disney songs newly recorded by a cross-section of top reggae musicians.

The Disney Reggae Club features songs from immortal Disney animated films – from “The Little Mermaid” to “Jungle Book” – recorded by such esteemed artists as Grammy winning reggae legend Toots (of Toots & the Maytals fame), five time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley, reggae’s most prolific and long lasting production team Sly & Robbie, multiple Grammy winner Cedella Marley, Grammy winner Burning Spear, legendary British band UB40 and Hasidic rapper Matisyahu.

The album is set to arrive in stores and at online retailers June 8.

Artists and tracks included on the album are:

1. “Circle of Life” (from “The Lion King”) Performed by Matisyahu
2. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (from “The Lion King”) Performed by Cedella Marley
3. “The Bare Necessities” (from “The Jungle Book”) Performed by Steel Pulse
4. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (Desmond Dekker’s reggae classic also featured in “The Lion King”) Performed by Morgan Heritage
5. “What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong classic) Performed by Ziggy Marley
6. “True to Your Heart” (from “Mulan”) Performed by The Wailing Souls
7. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (from “Toy Story) Performed by Sly & Robbie
8. “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” (from “Song of the South”) Performed by Toots
9. “I Wan’na Be Like You” (from “The Jungle Book”) Performed by UB40
10. “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat” (from “The Aristocats”) Performed by Michael G & the Easy Star All-Stars
11. “Kiss The Girl” (from “The Little Mermaid”) Performed by Burning Spear
12. “Under The Sea” (from “The Little Mermaid”) Performed by Gregory Isaacs
13. “Find Yourself” (from “Cars”) Performed by Yellowman

“The genius of Disney songs is that they are timeless and adaptable to every musical genre,” said executive producer Brian Malouf. “Reggae is so joyous and spirited, we knew these songs would lend themselves perfectly. I’m happy to say the artists, many of them true legends of reggae, all jumped at the chance to participate.”

AVENTURA – Singer/songwriter K’Jon will be making a special appearance performing his hit single “On The Ocean” and signing autographs for customers at Macy’s Fashion Store at Aventura, First Floor 19535 Biscayne Boulevard on Friday, March 19, at 7pm, as an official Jazz In The Gardens pre-festival event.

The first 200 customers to make a purchase of $50 or more at Macy’s Fashion Store at Aventura Mall on the day of the event will receive a copy of K’Jon’s CD, and poster, which he’ll autograph.

Three lucky couples will be chosen on-site to participate in a Chicago Style Steppin’ contest. They’ll compete for a chance to win a pair of Jazz in the Gardens tickets and a Macy’s gift card.

K’Jon, knows how to set the scene! He has recently released his first full-length major label debut, I Get Around, a superb collection with nods to both his contemporaries, including KEM and Robin Thicke, and his predecessors, like fellow Detroiter, Marvin Gaye. According to Billboard, the Detroit native’s hit 2009 single, “On The Ocean”, has spent a record 72 weeks on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, surpassing Usher’s record.

“On The Ocean” has become a huge hit within the Chicago Style Steppin’ community. In other parts of the country, the elegant adult style of dance is called “jazz dance”, “The Cakewalk”, “The Ringshout”, “The Jitterbug” and “The Swing”, spawning thousands of avid followers across the United States.

K’Jon has been singing since he was eight years old- but what started out as a hobby has morphed into an incredible career. In 2004, his song, “Miami” was featured on the soundtrack for 2Fast2Furious. He has opened for everyone from Ludacris and Ne-Yo to Raheem DeVaughn.

NEW YORK – Reggae singer-songwriter Julian “ Ju Ju” Marley has been nominated for four International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in the category’s of : Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year, Best Album of the Year, Most Cultural / Educational Entertainer of the Year and Emperor Haile Selassie I Award for Spiritual Service Through Music . The IRAWMA ceremony will host the top names in reggae, soca, and world music, with a scheduled performance by Julian Marley and other nominees.

Marley’s IRAWMA Award nominations comes on the heels of a Grammy Nod for Best Reggae Album that the talented artist received for his third studio album entitled, Awake. Co-produced with his brothers Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley, Awake was released on April 28, 2009 on Ghetto Youths / Universal Records.

“Ju Ju” Marley responds to the nominations, “It is such a great honour to be recognized. I give thanks to the IRAWMA award staff and to all the fans that continue to show their love and support.”

Born in London in 1975, Julian Marley has been blessed both by the great talent and legacy of his father Bob Marley and by the unique perspective that comes with an upbringing in a multicultural community. Having been exposed to music all his life, Julian Marley has become a skillful veteran performer, producer and songwriter with numerous successful international tours and albums under his belt. In 2009, Julian Marley and his band The Uprising spanned the globe in support of Awake. Having just finished a major European leg, Julian has extended his Awake world tour with The Uprising to include performance dates in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States throughout 2010.

The 29th Annual International Reggae & World Music Awards ceremony, produced annually by Martin’s International & Associates, will be held on Sunday, May 2nd at York College Performing Arts Center in Jamaica (Queens), New York. Watched by over 20 million viewers on television, fans may cast ballots online at the office. IRAWMA

Reggae Singer and Songwriter Tarrus Riley ended his 2009-2010 Europe and North America ‘Contagious’ tour on a high note closing with a sensational set at the 17th annual Bob Marley Movements Caribbean Festival in Miami, Florida.

After a successful leg in US and Canada late last year, the artiste resumed his album title tour this January through March making waves in some thirty cities across France, Belgium, London, Sweden, Spain, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Germany as well as completing stints in California and Florida.

His first extended set in Europe, while the cold whistled and howled outside, Riley warmed patrons up with some sweet music on the inside, “With Tarrus Riley you can always expect to hear ‘feel good music’…music with a meaning as well as music that uplifts the spirit and soul and I delivered just that. The set list had a great mix of material – hits from the previous albums including ‘She’s Royal’, ‘Lion Paw’ as well as current material from the Contagious album including ‘Start Anew’, ‘Love’s Contagious’, ‘Human Nature’, ‘Living The Life of A Gun’ among others. The crowd was highly responsive at each venue and you could see that they were visibly tuned in, singing along with us word for word and really enjoying themselves

MIRAMAR – Hundreds of people packed the Miramar Cultural Center recently for Rhythms of Africa, Music Around the World, with Willie Stewart, formerly of the legendary Jamaican reggae band Third World, and a group of 60 children from Miramar Early Childhood program, Aspira, and Little Kids of Miramar.

Stewart, who spent 23 years with Third World, and later pursued music education in England, began weekly lessons with the children in December.

“Most of the kids had never picked up a musical instrument before I met them,” said Stewart. “They were eager to learn and quickly absorbed everything in just 10 one-hour sessions over an eight week period.”

After a brief history lesson on the many uses of the drum, the show, designed to highlight the journey of music from Africa across the continents, got off to a rousing start. Seemingly hesitant at first, the children, some of whom were dwarfed by the larger drums, quickly got into the swing of things, performing a repertoire of music from the Ivory Coast to Morocco.

The synergy between Stewart and the children was highly evident throughout the hour-long segment as they moved effortlessly from one piece to the next.

Also joining Stewart, to round out the musical journey through Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S., were seven-year-old master percussionist Miguel Russell, local violinist Nicole Yarling, Jamaican singers Sabrina Williams and Carl McDonald, singer Melissa Stokes, his daughter Leea Stewart, and backed by musicians Jesse Jones, Jr. and his brother famous jazz trumpeter Melton Mustafa, Steve Lashley, of KC & the Sunshine Band, guitarist Robert Johnston, Jaime Hinckson, and Trinidadian steel pan player George Goddard. Dancer Nicholas Pairman of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica and Florida State University dancers paid special tribute to James Brown and Michael Jackson.

MIRAMAR – Prolific sing-jay Junior Kelly hits the ground running with his upcoming album entitled “Red Pond”, which is scheduled for release on April 6th, 2010. This will be his fourth album for leading reggae distributor, VP Records, and the eighth album for Junior Kelly.

Junior Kelly begins the campaign trail with an extensive five-week tour of Europe, alongside reggae crooner warrior king and backing by the world renowned Firehouse Crew, one of the main producers on the album.

This tour is only the tip of the iceberg, as there are a series of shows and tours currently being organized to highlight this album, which will include stops in the Caribbean, South America, Japan, and the USA along the way.

The album is aptly titled “Red Pond”, from the nickname given to the Spanish Town community in which Junior Kelly spent most of his years growing up, and it covers many life experiences and emotions he felt while living there.

The album takes the listener through many hardships faced in any ghetto, the relentless trials to flee from it and stumbling blocks preventing achievement of goals and a better life, however Kelly shows that the best way to triumph over these adversities is by first “believing in one’s self, getting up, going out there, putting your working shoes on and better will come on one bright day”.

Junior Kelly’s dream is that humanity will realize that there is “nothing wrong with the world, just the people living in it, and if we look critically at ourselves and believe in ourselves, we can make a difference and there is nothing that we cannot achieve!!”

Therefore, the first single released from the album is “Nutten Nuh Wrong With The World”, which was released last October on VP’s “Reggae’s Biggest One Drop Anthems 2009” and is currently picking up steam on airwaves worldwide.

It is also critical to note that Junior Kelly’s strong global appeal stems from the fact that, unlike his fire-burning counterparts, he is one of the few conscious Rastafarian reggae entertainers, whose material has never been deemed offensive or discriminatory to one group or another, and he has not embroiled himself in the anti-gay semantics currently embattling the Jamaican music industry.

The album is a well crafted masterpiece that is in dire need right now to uplift the moral fiber of our society. It is a welcomed breath of fresh air and well worth the wait, so go out and get your copy, not the bootleg, as we need to do all we can to aid the ailing reggae music industry’s sales!!!

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s musical fraternity is lending its support to the recovery efforts of its Caribbean neighbors in Haiti. This has resulted in the creation of “Listen 2 the Call,” a collaborative song which will have its global premiere on Tuesday, February 23 at 4:53 pm EST. Written by Raymond Azan, co-founder of For Jamaica Inc., and produced by Handel Tucker, “Listen 2 the Call” is a special musical gift made possible through the contribution of more than 30 of the island’s top artistes and musicians.

This version of “Listen 2 the Call,” which will premiere on February 23, is a special mix of the song, which runs for four minutes and fifty three seconds to commemorate the time the quake hit the Haitian capital. The lyrics offer encouragement and support for the people of Haiti.

According to the producers, “The goal of this project is to inspire people around the world to “Listen 2 the Call” not only of the poor, the suffering and displaced in Haiti, but rather to listen to their conscience and extend a helping hand.”

“Music is an important part of our culture and it is heartening to see the collaboration of a number of our top entertainers as part of a global effort to help our Haitian neighbors,” says John Lynch, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board. “We hope everyone will “Listen 2 the Call” and act.”

Following the global simulcast premiere on February 23, the full version of the song will be available online for purchase. Proceeds from the sale of this song, including videos will be used to assist Haiti’s recovery and rehabilitation.