Cali P's Kingston calling

 Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

The last two years have been busy for Guadeloupian reggae singer Cali P. He has worked the European festival circuit and contributed to the soundtrack of a high-profile documentary.

Yet, he rates living and recording in Kingston as the most exciting time of that period. He hopes to open a recording studio in the Jamaican capital before year end.

"I feel full of energy when I'm in Jamaica," he said. "I'm a reggae artiste and reggae come from Jamaica so it's an honour for me to be here."

Much of Cali P's recent time in Jamaica was spent recording songs for producer Robert 'Bobby Digital' Dixon, the man behind monster hits by Shabba Ranks, Garnet Silk and Morgan Heritage.

He also recorded several songs with producer Anil 'Phantom' Montaque who produced Like A Lion (Hot Steppa), the title track from a 2010 documentary on American skier Tanner Hall, one of the hottest names in winter sports.

The soundtrack to Like A Lion: The Tanner Hall Story was released by Inspired Media, which is owned by Hall, a big reggae fan who visits Jamaica regularly.

Hall and Cali P met while the latter was performing in Europe three years ago and have been close friends since. He is one of the people behind Inspired Studio where Cali P hopes to record most of his music.

"Right now the studio is 95 per cent ready. It's the place where me and my family will make music for the four corners of the world," he told The Gleaner.

Cali P was born Pierre Nanon in Guadeloupe, son of a Guadeloupan father and Swiss mother. His father, plays percussion in a veteran Guadeloupe band and is big into reggae.

The music of stalwarts Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff has always been big in Guadeloupe. Cali P says he listens to various reggae/dancehall performers, from Luciano to Vybz Kartel.

His eclectic tastes will be heard on two albums to be released this year.

The first, Unstoppable, is a dancehall/hip hop collection, scheduled to be out in Europe in August.

A more rootsy offering called Musi-Cali Speaking, is expected to be released in Jamaica and North America by December.

Michael Marsh takes it easy on new album

After years of recording for some of reggae's top producers, singer Michael Marsh decided to go solo for Take It Easy, his recently released second album.

Formerly known as Cane Juice, Marsh began work on Take It Easy four years ago but completed the 12-track set in late 2010.

"Mi alone do mi thing, there was no one to help so wi jus' tek wi time an' do it little by little," Marsh told The Gleaner from his New York City home.

Babymother, on which Marsh pleads for patience from a frustrated spouse, is the lead song from Take It Easy which is the follow-up to Twelve Joints of Cane, another self-produced album that was released in 2001.

Both albums are strong on the roots message Marsh has been favoured for much of his 26-year career. He cut his first song, Ghetto Tenement Yard, for producer Harry 'Harry J' Johnson in 1985 while he was still a student at Jamaica College.

Marsh spent most of the next 15 years performing on the north coast hotel scene and recording for producers like Lloyd 'King Jammy's' James, Phillip Smart and Clement 'Coxson' Dodd.

His work with Smart and Dodd took place in New York City where he had immigrated nearly 10 years ago.

Marsh says the most satisfying aspect of Take It Easy, is that all the songs are originals.

"There was a time when people used to say reggae artiste jus' sing over song an' it looked like we lacked creativity," he said. "So wi have to prove dem wrong."