AVAILABLE NOW - MAXI PRIEST NEW CHRISTMAS ALBUM "Time Of The Year"

Maxi Priest’s ‘Time of the Year’ Christmas album is a unique album of Xmas songs produced by Livingstone Brown and Maxi Priest. This Deluxe digipack CD features 12 brand new songs including ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Favourite Things’ and ’12 Days of Christmas’.  The Deluxe CD also includes 4 Maxi Priest Christmas cards

 

Track listing: Let Them In • I As a King • What a Wonderful World • My Favourite Things • Merry Christmas Baby • Time of the Year • We Wish You a Rasta Christmas • Jingle Bells • 12 Days of Christmas • Do You Hear What I Hear? • Happy Xmas (War is Over) • Silent Night

 

Glen Washington Masterpiece

Now a then I hear a reggae artist that makes me smile. Glen Washington happens be one of those artists. DJ Michael Ealey told me to check him out. I’m so glad he turned me on to this talented, amazing artist. Glen Washington is a spiritual singer that has a message in his music. Glen Washington’s vocals are husky and raspy, that has that soulful old school quality. Born in the parish of Clarendon Jamaica, Glen Washington has been in the reggae music scene since the early 1970s. I can see why, his music is awesome! Glen Washington made his first hit record “Rockers Not Crackers” in 1978. It took him 20 years to release another hit single “Kindness For Weakness”. While writing this blog, I’m listening to his past albums as well as his newest album. I can say I have not heard a song I don’t like. I can’t believe I have never heard of Glen Washington. With Glen Washington’s “Masterpiece” album you can’t go wrong. He delivers a strong album that is amazing, wonderful and spiritual. If you like Reggae artists that are easy to understand and has a message in their music, then Glen Washington is an artist you should check out. I’m putting him on the top of my play list. The Masterpiece album gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. You can listen to “Masterpiece” on Streetwise Radio’s Big Splif’s 420 Reggae. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on Athena365, MyGen365, ITunes and Live365. Also available on Pandora.

LM

http://www.glenwashington.net/home.html

Calendar Listing:

Saturday, October 20

24^th Annual Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration Concert featuring Tosh 1,

Sister I-Live, Nyabinghi Drummers and more

Doors: 7pm

Film: 8pm

Music: 9pm

$20 tickets ($17 for students)

All ages

Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley CA

510-525-5054, 917/834-0330

24^th ANNUAL PETER TOSH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FEATURING TOSH 1, SISTER I-LIVE, AND MORE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 AT THE ASHKENAZ IN BERKELEY

Out of Many One Productions is proud to present the 24^th annual Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration commemorating the late, great reggae legend, icon Winston Hubert McIntosh, aka ‘Peter Tosh’ on Saturday, October 20 at the Ashkenaz in Berkeley. Performers include Peter Tosh’s son, Tosh 1, Peter Tosh’s cousin Sister-I-Live, Nyabinghi drummers, plus special guests to be announced.

Tickets are $20 (student tickets are $17) and can be purchased in advance at the Ashkenaz. Doors are at 7pm; an original documentary about Peter Tosh including interviews, history and music is at 8pm,and the music starts at 9pm. This is an all ages venue.

In August of this year, the late reggae star Peter Tosh was appointed a member of the Order of Merit (OM), receiving the country's third highest national honor and joining Wailers band mate and reggae icon Bob Marley as a recipient.
Twenty-five years after his murder, Tosh, who had no national honor previously, headed a list of 119 Jamaicans national recognized for outstanding contributions to the country on JA Independence Day.

The concert will feature Tosh 1, aka Jawara McIntosh, the youngest son of the reggae icon, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1980. He moved to Boston in 1985 where he was raised by his mother. Tosh 1 has performed all over the world and he does especially well on the festival circuit.  This October / November, 2012 Tosh 1 is doing a Western US / Canada tour.

Tosh 1 is now set to release his highly anticipated album “Death to the Shitstem.” This album is slated to drop on October 19th, his father's birthday. The album features songs like “Get up Stand Up” his up-to-the time rendition of The Wailers classic,  “Babylon Burnin,” “Man Up”, just to name a few. This new album is a revolutionary embodiment of Tosh 1's signature hip-hop meets reggae brand of music, the best of both worlds!

In Boston, Tosh 1 was introduced to rap and hip-hop, the flow and flavor of LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ice Cube and Run DMC. "That was when music was real," says Tosh 1, who started mixing the sounds of reggae with loops and samples of hip-hop in high school. Tosh has a love-hate relationship with the hip-hop genre, and believes many of its artists have gone astray, seduced by major record deals, fast cars and expensive clothes. "The same revolutionary spirit that once inspired me has been transformed into everything it once detested," says Tosh 1.

In 2000, Tosh 1 decided to record a couple of tracks in the studio, creating a hybrid sound that blended urban sounds, but still stayed true to the tenets of reggae and its messages of social change, activism and spirituality. "It was like second nature, like magic," says Tosh 1. "People just fell in love with it."

Tosh 1 is a revolutionary artist with an impetus to right wrongs. "I give people food for thought," explains Tosh 1. "It's about waking people up. I am going to expose the system for what it is. We have to be more conscious of our life here on earth and stop complaining."

Also appearing on the bill is Bay Area favorite dancehall queen, Sister I-Live. Born and raised in the Parish of Westmoreland Jamaica, West Indies, her singing career began in her local parish church choir and school choirs and youth clubs. This exposure inspired her to start writing her own songs. She and her friends would frequently go to the beach side with guitars and drums chanting music for hours.

From an early age she was interested in seeking a spiritual way of life. At fourteen-years-old, she began visiting and reasoning with local Rasta bredren and sistren and attending the Nyahingi groundations where Rastas would chant together with drums. In 1973, she began to grow her dreadlocks and further her commitment to Rastafari.

After moving to California in 1984 where she started singing as DJ, toasting and singing over the local sound systems, she then began singing on stage shows, backing up local reggae performers. In 1987, she began singing with a band called the Chosen Few, comprised of some of the toughest reggae musicians in the Bay Area.

Sister I- Live is a lively performer whose dancing infectiously moves her audiences. She is called a Dance-Hall Diva because of her compelling live performances. A cousin to the legendary Peter Tosh, Sister-I- Live has ability to pull the fire out of the audience with her every sound. Each song brings a healing message surely to touch the hearts of many. Her musical repertoire is varied with original cultural lyrics as well as, classic reggae cover tunes.

The Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration concert is slated to be a special treat for all those Peter Tosh fans that have been waiting for Peter's next release, and for the younger generations who never got to see Peter Tosh perform live in the flesh. Peter's youngest son, Tosh 1 has now taken the torch and moved ahead with youthful strength and vigor to carry on the work of his father.

For more information contact Out Of Many One Productions, 917-834-0330 or for tickets go to http://www.ashkenaz.com/. The box office is open every night when there is an event for presale tickets.

Diana King

Diana King is a reggae fusion singer-songwriter, who performs a mixture of R&B, reggae and dancehall. Diana was born on November 8, 1970 in Spanish Town, Jamaica to an Indo-Jamaican father and an Afro Jamaican mother. Diana’s career began after she made an appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 song "Respect," from his album Ready to Die. Diana signed a recording contract with Sony Music. Her first single "Shy Guy", came off her debut album “Tougher Than Love” released in 1995. It was a hit, reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the RIAA in the U.S. It also hit #2 on the UK Singles Chart and it reached #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart. The single went on to sell nearly five million singles worldwide. The “Shy Guy” song made the soundtrack to the 1995 film, Bad Boys. Diana King not only sings her reggae and dancehall music that sounds awesome, she also does cover versions of two of my favorite singers. She did a cover version of the song "I Say a Little Prayer" (originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1967) and did a fantastic job. Diana also did a cover version of the Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody”, which was on her second album “Think Like a Girl” released in 1997. Diana released her third album “Respect” on July 24, 2002, in Japan. Eventually it was released in other markets, such as the UK on April 17, 2006 and released digitally in the United States on April 29, 2008. "Summer Breezin” the lead single off this album was played on BET, VH1 video and received some urban radio play. Warrior Girl was Diana’s fourth album, but it was released in the United States (under the title Agirlnameking) on November 8, 2011. Out of all her songs on all four albums, my favorites are “Summer Breezin”, “Shy Guy”, “L L Lies”, “Yu dun Kno”, "Closer", "When We Were Kings" (with Brian McKnight), "Love Triangle" and “Love Me Thru The Night”. Diana King is one of those artists that can sing. I can’t believe I have never heard of her, this lady is a real talent!! Her voice is unbelievable. In her personal life Diana came out as a lesbian. Good for you Diana King. I look at life like this. You have to be happy with yourself and do you! Streetwise Radio is playing songs from Diana King. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on MyGen365, live365, Athena365 and I-Tunes.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_King

Stephen Marley

Stephen Robert Nesta "Raggamuffin" Marley was born on April 20, 1972, to reggae legend Bob Marley and Rita Marley in Wilmington, Delaware. Stephen was raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Stephen grew up in a very artistic and talented family. At the age of 8 he took lead vocals on "Sugar Pie", which he also performed live at the 1982 Jamaica World Music Festival in Montego Bay. Stephen was featured on the single "Jah Is The Healing" in 1985. Stephen and Damian Marley got together and put out an album called “Educated Fools”, they called their group the Marley Boyz that was in 2003. Stephen is artist and producer, in 2005 he produce his little brother Damien’s album “Welcome to Jamrock”. In 2007 Stephen released his debut album “Mind Control”. In 2009 he went on tour with Snoop Dogg and Slightly Stoopid as part of the Blazed and Confused 2009 Tour. I liked several songs from “Mind Control” album "Woman I Love You", "Someone to Love", "The Traffic Jam", "Hey Baby" (featuring Mos Def), "Chase Dem", "Iron Bars" and "Lonely Avenue". Stephen released a single “Jah Army" in 2010, featuring his brother Damian "Junior Gong" Marley. In 2012 Stephen Marley won a Grammy for Best Reggae album "Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life." The songs that I like off this album are "Made In Africa", "Pale Moonlight (How Many Times)", "Break Us Apart (featuring Capleton)”, "Jah Army (featuring Damian Marley & Buju Banton)” "No Cigarette Smoking (featuring Melanie Fiona)” and "False Friends" Stephen Marley has performed on a number of songs of other artist like, The Fugees "No Woman No Cry", Michael Franti "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)", Krayzie Bone "Revolution", Erykah Badu "In Love With You", Buju Banton "Poor Old Man", Eve "No No No", Mr. Cheeks "Mama Say" and "Till We Meet Again", Inner Circle "Smoke in My Eyes", Capleton "Sunshine Girl", Iqulah "Who Am I", Heath Hunter "Revolution In Paradise (Jamaica Version - Alex White Remix)", Nelly "River Don't Runnn", Camile Velasco "Guava Jelly", Damian Marley "The Mission", Damian Marley and Nas "Leaders" and "In His Own Words".

DJ Michael Ealey told me that years ago he saw the Marley’s in concert and Stephen would always be in the back ground. He would come out front to play the guitar and that was it. I’m so glad he came out to the front. Stephen Marley is so talented. I think he is so such like his father with his deep lyrics. Out of all the Marley brothers, he is my favorite. You can listen to Stephen Marley on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise radio on iTunes, live365, Athena365, MyGen365.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Marley_(musician)

Alaine

New Jersey born  Alaine Laughton Laughton moved to Jamaica when she was three year old. Alaine was the little girl who was in the movie Clara’s Heart with one of my favorite actresses Whoopi Goldberg, this was in 1988. In the 1990s through 2000s Aliane was living in the United States. Aliane was singing background vocals for Rocefella, Cam’ron, Freeway and she was also writing songs. Aliane moved back to Jamaica in 2004 to work on her solo career. It was a good move for her to come from behind the scene to the front. Aliane can sing. She needed to come out front to do her own thing. Her music makes me feel like I’m in the Caribbean, sitting on the beach sipping on a “Bahama Mamma”. While I was writing this I downloaded some songs of Aliane’s to my playlist. The song I put on my playlist are "Sacrifice", "Without you", "No Ordinary Love", "Forever More" (featuring Tarrus Riley), “Deeper”, "Color Blind", “Speak Love”, "Luv a Dub" (featuring Buju Banton) and "Lovers Prayer". Aliane is another underrated singer that needs to be played more. I’m so glad that internet radio is out there, where you can listen to singers that On-Air DJ’s are not playing. Aliane is a singer that I know I will be keeping up with. Listen to her songs on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on live365, iTunes, MyGen365 and Athena365,

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaine_Laughton

Sisters Tami Chynn & Tessanne Chin

DJ Michael Ealey wanted me to update the Streetwise Radio Big Splif’s 4:20 blog page with a Reggae artist. I had no idea who to write about, so he started suggesting artists that I would like. Michael knows I don’t like the kind of Reggae, which is hard to understand. He suggested Tami Chynn, while I was reading about her I found out she had a sister who also sang Tessanne Chin. Yes they spell their last names different, but they are sisters. I decided to write about both sisters because I think they both are talented. Born in Kingston, Jamaica Tami Chynn is the oldest she was born June 14, 1984 and Tessanne Chin was born September 23, 1985. Their father is Chinese and Cherokee and the mother is Black-Jamaican and British. Tami and Tessanne were exposed to music at a young age; both their parents were in a band called The Carnations. Tami moved to Leamington Spa, UK when she was 14 to study the performing arts. Before Tami became a singer she was a backup dancer for Shaggy. Tessanne on the other hand was performing at the age of 6 with Cathy Levy's "Little People and Teen Players club" one of the top performing arts schools in Jamaica. Tessanne at the age of 12 moved to England and she got her first taste of cultural diversity and she coped with it by writing songs. Tami signed her first record deal in early 2005 with Universal Motown Records she was 24. Tami released her debut album in 2006 called “Out of Many...One”, I really like this album it show how talented she is. Tessanne released her debut album "In Between Words" on December 6, 2010. These girls have performed alongside and collaborated with of some great artist. Tami has performed with international Reggae stars: Beenie Man, Lady Saw and on Sean Paul’s album The Trinity on the track "All on Me". Tami has also performed with Akon and alongside Verne Troyer, T-Pain, Shaggy, Lady GaGa, Natasha Bedingfield and Colby O'Donis. As for Tessanne she also collaborated with Shaggy on "Never Let Go", Trinidadian Soca band Kes on ("Loving You") and was featured on a track with the Legendary Jamaican band Third World on the song "By My Side". Tami and Tessanne have to different styles and voices. Tami is Pop/Reggae and Tessanne’s is more R an B/Reggae, I really like both of them. Tessanne singing style in influenced some of my favorite singers Aretha Franklin, Skunk, Pat Benatar, Diana King, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Bob Marley and late great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Here are some songs I really like of Tami’s, “Hyperventilating”, “Frozen ft. Akon”, “Over and Over Again”, “Tell Mi Seh (Styled by Fifi Bell).flv”, “Neva Know” and “Forever Your Girl”. As for Tessanne’s songs they are “Hideaway”, “Black Books”, “Messanger”, “Broken Melody”, “Loving You w/ Kes”, “Are Yuh Gonna” and “Control (Are You Gonna)”. These two sisters can sing, they both have voices that could rival some of these superstars, they are so underrated. Listen to some of their songs on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on iTunes, live365, MyGen365, Athena365.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tami_Chynn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessanne_Chin

Taddy P.

Without a doubt, Taddy P is one of Jamaica’s finest bass player, writer and producer.  With a cool and even-tempered disposition, this native son of Montego Bay is truly blessed with a musical gift.

Taddy P’s early musical influences can be traced to the Church, as he was part of the group choir which he also conducted, and to his former school Herbert Morrison Comprehensive High School.

Taddy P’s first instrument was the trombone, which he played from 7th-9th grade in his High School Band. It was at age 13, that he discovered the bass guitar. His music teachers, Professor Grimes, Snick Glenn and Carl Mathews, persuaded him to try out the bass instrument, right after the bass player from the school band graduated.  Taddy P’s first bass guitar was a piece of board cut to the shape of a guitar, with fish line for strings.

Taddy P practiced tirelessly at home on a piece of board cut to the shape of a guitar, with fish line for strings, made by his father. Within a short space of time Taddy P attained sufficient competence to be the school bands bassist. He P graduated High School in 1989 as an outstanding music student, and continued through with further studies in the Fundamentals of Music Theory at Royal School of Music in London, England and Sam Sharpe Teachers College in Montego Bay. Subsequently, he was a music teacher at Herbert Morrison Comprehensive, where he taught Band Techniques, Music Theory and Conducting.

It is not surprising that Taddy P became such a good bass player because he had excellent schooling. He attributes his success at mastering the instrument to endless hours of practice and sheer hard work, honing a hard-driving, steady, well-rounded and infectious bass style. Taddy P’s inspirations were Aston Barrett, Glenn Browne, Nathan East, Marcus Miller, Verdine White and Stanley Clark.

Taddy P’s experience in Jazz, Popular and Reggae Music earned him a reputation that had several bands, both large and small, inviting him to be a part of their group. He performed in bands from 1991 through to 1996 on the North Coast in Jamaica, in hotels such as Seawind Beach Resort,Hedonism II, Wyndham Rosehall, Sandals Resorts and Swept Away Resort. These performances set the stage, showcasing Taddy P’s talent that soon caught the eyes of various Jamaican Celebrity Entertainers and/Artists.

It was no surprise when Taddy P started to perform for Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Rita Marley, Tanya Stephens, Shabba Ranks, Yellow Man, Sanchez, and Monifah in international arenas in Japan, Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada and various Caribbean Islands.

In 1997, internationally known reggae artist Maxi Priest, intrigued with Taddy P’s style, contracted him as his personal bass player and from there on their partnership continues until present. His current drive to produce music is indicative of his success as a professional bass player. Taddy P began experimenting with harmonies, melodies, rhythmic beats and booming bass lines that have him working feverishly in studios producing new music for Maxi Priest, Big Mountain and Patra.

It is this kind of passion and total commitment to his craft that makes Taddy P stand out from the rest. And to document and share his musical experiences and versatility, he produced and released his first 12 track album “Bass Inna Yu Face”, with the title track written and performed by Crissy Love, and promoted heavily on CD Baby.

Having surprised fans with his fusion of reggae, dancehall, jazz, hip hop and salsa on this album, Taddy P is soon set to release another album which will delight and satisfy the palettes of his adoring fans.  And just what can fans expect of the new album?  He insists that it will be a wicked collaboration of artists and of different genres of music, similar to the magical collaborations found on any Santana’s album.  One of reggae’s finest artist, Tanya Stephens is featured on this new album on the track “Heart of Stone”, and already receiving a lot of airplay.

One thing is for certain, Taddy P is always ahead of the game. Always striving to improve and develop himself not just as an artist, but as a producer and a mentor.  When not on tour or in the studio producing music, he can be found in the classroom of Herbert Morrison Comprehensive High School.  It is here that Taddy P teaches 50-100 children each week how to play instruments, and encourages them to develop their abilities as young, promising musicians, and giving back to the same learning institution that helped shape him into the phenomenal artist, writer and producer that he is today    

.http://taddyp.com/