The Don does dub

Internationally acclaimed Jamaican producer Donovan 'Don Corleon' Bennett unleashed his highly anticipated dub album, Dub In HD, on his very own label, Don Corleon Records. Bennett is internationally known and critically acclaimed for his work with pop stars such as Sean Paul, Rihanna and Keyshia Cole on Billboard charting singles, as well as the who's who in reggae and dancehall today.

Bennett's efforts at keeping reggae on the musical forefront brings him full circle to dub, a subgenre of reggae that emerged in the '60s, and primarily consists of instrumental remixes of existing recordings. "I'm in love with music and the dub genre especially," revealed Bennett. "People like the Mad Professor, King Tubby, Scientist and King Jammy really influenced me."

Bennett yearned to learn from his dub heroes but was unable to do so and found himself watching them work in the studio via YouTube videos. After diligently studying their methods from the footage, Bennett was able to teach himself how to create dub, straight from the masters, themselves. "This project is a real tribute to the forefathers of dub music and it is my way of keeping their music alive," he said.

The album consists of 10 tracks, which are all original Don Corleon productions, including monster riddims Seasons and Changes, but are done dub style. It also includes tracks featuring artistes who appeared on the original riddims, thus Dub In HD sees appearances from Buju Banton, Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure, Protoje, Natural Black and Jah9. Dub in HD is distributed worldwide by all major digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon, and is also available on vinyl.

Nikki Z takes radio award

Media personality as well as president and CEO of DNZ Productions Nicole Duhaney, better known as Nikki Z, received a Broadcast Communications Award at the Young, Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, held in New York recently.

Nikki Z stated, "it was an honour to be nominated amongst so many accomplished individuals. To take home the broadcaster award showed me that I am on the right path. Being a young girl who came from the projects to being one of the top Caribbean radio personalities, is something I dreamed of and I don't take it lightly. I want to share with all races and cultures the music I was raised on, the music I saw make all my family functions lively, exciting and fun."

"Reggae and dancehall, to me, is more then a job. It's a way of life. When the music hits, you feel no pain. Those words have guided me throughout my career. I want to help take away the pain, one listener at a time," she said.

Nikki Z's contribution to radio began many years ago in the US, but rose to fame in Jamaica where her soul resides. She has brought the essence back to the States and, besides hosting her syndicated radio show, 'World Caribbean Countdown', airing on three stations in Africa and across the Caribbean and USA, as well as being the top female DJ on Hot 93.7, she also is an entertainment reporter on BBC 1xtra.

STETHS celebrates half-century

St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in the bread basket parish of St Elizabeth, affectionately called St Bess, is celebrating it's 50th birthday this year. In light of this, the STETHS Community, friends, well-wishers and the entire Jamaica will commemorate this Golden Anniversary milestone with a series of activities which started yesterday with a Careers' Day Fair at STETHS in Santa Cruz

There will be a stage show today, featuring past students Ini Kamoze, Yasus Afari, Richie Innocent and Singing Vernon, among others, and the STETHS Banquet will be tomorrow.

The Pomedy Show is now designated an annual event and will be staged as the signature event for STETHS' 50th Anniversary Celebrations and beyond. This year's much-anticipated staging will be in the STETHS Quadrangle on Sunday, starting at at 6 p.m.. Gates will open at 3 p.m. to facilitate the reunion vibes and festivities.

The high-flying comedy duo, Ity and Fancy Cat, will headline the interesting cast of Pomedians featuring Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Oral Tracey, Dr Michael Abrahams, YasusAfari, Dufton Shepherd, Steppa, Cherry Natural, Ras Takura and Richie Innocent.

Ryno, Notnice do 'Sick' track

Garrison Records CEO and recording artiste Ryno reunited with ex-Gaza producer Notnice last week to record a new single slated for release in the weeks ahead. The reunion comes in the wake of the current exodus being experienced from Ryno's former camp, the Portmore Empire, and last week's truce with businessman Corey Todd.

The very witty composition, entitled Sick, is one of several songs on a soon-to-be-released compilation also featuring former Gaza member Jah Vinci. According to Ryno, "right now is just music and unity me a deal with so despite what happened in the past, sometimes we have to put that aside and look to the future".

Ryno has left the island for the three-day St Kitts Music Festival from June 23-25, where he is expected to share the stage with a number of local and international acts including The Commodores, Fantasia Barrino, Bunny Wailer, Yellow Man, Maxi Priest, Cocoa Tea, Gyptian, Jah Cure and Konshens.

Yann Selo, Ce'Cile do 'Call Me'

French-born world-music singer, Yann Selo, is seeking to break into the Jamaican music market through his latest collaboration with Ce'Cile. The song, Call Me, was produced at Big Yard in Jamaica, with the video shot in France.

Call Me is the first single from Selo's sophomore album, Melting Pot, which is slated for an October 2011 release. Selo describes the album as a melting pot of reggae, dancehall, zouk and R&B.

The video for Call Me was directed by Arthur Valverde, with choreography by Sisley Loubet.

So far, the French singer has worked with Christopher Birch for Rain on my Window, and he will soon be releasing the second single from the upcoming album, You Got It, done with Elephant Man. That video will be shot in August.

Green 4 Life goes for roots reggae, balance

It is coincidental, but appropriate, that the first Green 4 Life Eco-Music Festival takes place on Saturday, July 2, a day after International Reggae Day 2011.

Green 4 Life will be at Rivfalls, Maggoty, St Elizabeth.

The major concert segment of the festival, which starts at 5 p.m., is strong on roots reggae, with Protoje, Admiral Tibet, Uprising Roots Band, The Jays, Marcus I, Angie Faith, Jack Radics and Bescenta all deeply rooted in the music of pulsing drum and bass, along with meaningful lyrics. Yolande Rattray-Wright of the Wright Agency, which is organising Green 4 Life, along with Earthbound Jamaica, points out that the performers who are not immediately identifiable with roots music - among them Noddy Virtue, Lovindeer, Hezron, Stevie Face and Nesbeth - utilise roots-reggae beats extensively.

"This is the rhythm that the world really loves Jamaica for, more than all the others that we have made, like ska and dancehall," Rattray-Wright said. "This is the music that fits in with the surroundings that Green 4 Life is set in - it moves your soul."

She points out that there are artistes on Green 4 Life who go for more uptempo dancehall style beats, such as Professor Nuts, Stacious, Lady G and D'Angel. However, Rattray-Wright says they are either also very comfortable with roots reggae rhythms or - as is especially the case for the side-splitting Nuts - work mostly with mid-1980s dancehall rhythms which are much more relaxed and allow the lyrics to be heard more clearly.

Also on the line-up for the Green 4 Life stage show are Mozhai, Sunforce Band, Clifton Black, Jcee, Ihatas Dancers and Blu Grass in the Sky.

"It is a balanced line-up," Rattray-Wright said. "Roots reggae is at the core and we have Professor Nuts and Lovindeer with the laughter, plus Stevie Face and Hezron with lovers' rock especially for the ladies. D'Angel, Lady G and Stacious are going to bring it on in their diva style, but all the music will be fine for children to listen to. That is very important for us, because we are a family festival."

Konshens plays Amazura

Although Konshens officially made his name in the dancehall from 2008, his career path has not followed that of the typical dancehall act who makes New York and the Tri-State area their happy hunting ground.

Konshen's NY debut came when his song Winner was at the height of its popularity. His other show there was a cameo appearance in 2010, when he performed the combination single Good Girl Gone Bad alongside Tarrus Riley. While both performances were memorable, Konshens hasn't really yet performed for the New York community.

That opportunity will present itself on July 15 when he will be one of the featured acts at Club Amazura in Queens - and what a night that promises to be.

"I'm excited," Konshens said. "I see this as my first real show in that city and it's a show with great acts - Jadakiss and I-Octane are the headliners - so you know, the adrenaline is pumping. Turbocharged and ready," he said, laughing. "Seriously," he added, "I have come a long way and a huge part of it has been the love shown to be by these same persons who will turn up at Amazura. I intend to do a really great set as my way of showing appreciation to these fans who have listened to my music, bought mix tapes and who have decided to pay their hard-earned dollar to see me perform."

Konshens is currently riding the Hype TV Chart at number four with the single, Represent. Another song, Forward, is listed on the bubblers.

I-Octane's album debut October

I-Octane's releases his debut album, Crying To The Nation, in October. The 14-track album is already completed and will be featuring some new tracks as well as some old favourites such as Lose A Friend, My Life and Study Yuh Friend. Among the new tracks is a combination with Tarrus Riley, produced by DJ Frass. The new tracks will see I-Octane showing his versatility, as he diverts from his usual 'sound' and records to world beat and one-drop rhythms.

"It was a pleasure to work with Robert Livingston. His knowledge and insight, I am sure will boost this product a great deal," said I-Octane about his upcoming project for the producer. Adding their creative input to the album are top-of-the-line producers Jeremy Harding, Dean Fraser, Christopher Birch and Don Corleon.

Crying to the Nation was originally scheduled to be released in August. However, his manager, Ray Alexander, said, "we were late in getting the ads inserted in the international magazines and we wanted to the promotion to coincide with its release."