Bonnie Casey comes 'home' for serious work

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

On previous visits to Jamaica, Bonnie Casey came to escape Toronto's chilly weather, soak up some sun and check in with family. The Canadian singer's latest trip, however, is all business.

Casey is in Kingston to record songs with drummer Sly Dunbar, bass player Robbie Shakespeare and saxophonist Dean Fraser for her debut album. In April, she is scheduled to tour Australia, Mexico and the United States alongside Toots and the Maytals, Luciano, Ernie Ranglin and Warrior King.

The assignments are a big jump from Toronto's live reggae scene Casey has worked for the past three years. Nonetheless, she says she is not overwhelmed about working with some of reggae's greats.

"I'm not nervous at all. Actually, I'm real excited and pumped," she said.

After releasing her first song, Again, last year, Casey decided to step up her recording in 2011. Before coming to Jamaica, she cut three songs for the pending album which will be completed by the tracks she is doing with Dunbar, Shakespeare and Fraser.

Her sound

Casey describes her sound as 'smooth, soulful reggae' in the mould of Gregory Isaacs and J.C. Lodge, two of her biggest influences.

For her Kingston sessions, she plans to go back to the basics.

"We'll be doing a lot of the songs live," she said. "I love the original feel of live music because it captures the artiste and gives off a different vibe."

Casey was born in Toronto to Jamaican parents, but spent her formative years living in Montego Bay. At age 11, she returned to Canada, completing her education at York University where she earned a degree in political science.

While she foresees a future in international relations, Casey said establishing herself on the Toronto live-show circuit was one of her immediate goals after graduating from university. That city has an emerging reggae scene, but Casey admits it has some way to go before reaching the heights of established markets like New York City.

"It's (reggae) got quite a following but it's confined to the Toronto area and that's the problem. You have a few designated reggae clubs, but not much outside of the greater Toronto area," she explained.

Much of Casey's sets to date comprise songs by Isaacs, Lodge, Bob Marley and soul greats Marvin Gaye and Al Green. She says her biggest performance was at last year's Jamaica Day concert in Toronto.

The tour featuring Toots and the Maytals, Luciano, Ernie Ranglin, Warrior King and Bonnie Casey starts April 17 in Freemantle, Australia.

Casey's album is scheduled to be released late this year.