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Last Updated: 12/5/2009

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Thursday, December 03, 2009 
..http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=926565983&u=20077629&v=2&key=4e37&url=http://smallaxereggae.googlepages.com/smallaxereggae
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=926565983&u=20077631&v=2&key=4e37&url=http://smallaxereggae.googlepages.com/smallaxereggae
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=926565983&u=20077633&v=2&key=4e37&url=http://smallaxereggae.googlepages.com/smallaxereggae NEW BOOK BY REGGAE AFICIONADO, CHUCK FOSTER - ‘SMALL AXE GUIDE TO ROCK STEADY’ - NOW AVAILABLE
December 2009
Although there have now been many books devoted to reggae, Chuck Foster’s ‘Small Axe Guide To Rock Steady’ is the first book that deals entirely with Jamaican music in the period between Ska and reggae.
 
Artists, producers, musicians and songs are treated and a thorough discography covers period releases and later compilations.
 
Chuck Foster has written the Reggae Update column for Beat Magazine for over two decades and hosts Reggae Central on KPFK in LA. He also writes the Readings and Reasoning column for Reggae Festival Guide.
 
His first book, ‘Roots Rock Reggae: An Oral History of Reggae Music From Ska To Dancehall,’ was published by Billboard Books in 1999. He has written about Jamaican music for over twenty-five years.
 
‘Small Axe Guide To Rock Steady’ is filled with photos and information about the artists, musicians and producers who created the music that laid the foundation for reggae and puts the focus on one of the best-loved periods of Jamaican music.
 
The book is available directly from the publisher at http://smallaxereggae.googlepages.com/smallaxereggae
or contact via email smallaxepeople@tiscali.co.uk
Order Today! Click on images to go to order page
 
Reggae Guide • 3020 Markridge Drive • Reno, NV 89509
8:50 PM 
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009 
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'Timeless Roots Innerviews with Hailemah AmharaSolomon


TIMELESS ROOTS ENGLISHMAN INNERVIEW PT I






TIMELESS ROOTS ENGLISHMAN INNERVIEW PT II




For more info or to reach Hailemah: 240-330-6130 or timelessi@comcast.net
11:26 PM 
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Tuesday, December 01, 2009 

RBA Publishing Inc
775-337-8344
11-23-09
DREAD AND ALIVE, A GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER, THE REGGAE E-GUIDE, RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS WITH FIRST EPISODE
 
RBA Publishing is pleased to announce the first installment of Nicholas Da Silva’s graphic novel series: Dread and Alive, featuring Drew McIntosh, Jamaican Super Hero. One episode will appear each week in the Reggae e-Guide, the weekly electronic newsletter published by Reggae Festival Guide magazine, the world’s oldest and largest reggae magazine.
 
The Reggae e-Guide is sent out each Friday morning and enjoyed by 25,000 reggae fans around the world. The episodes are accompanied by amazing original artwork that can be viewed at http://www.dreadandalive.com
 
The first episode appeared in the e-Guide on November 20 and caught the attention of Jamaican Gleaner reggae aficionado, Howard Campbell as well as various reggae journalists and DJ’s around the globe.
 
THE STORY
 
Andrew “Drew” McIntosh is an anthropologist and adventurer. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in the Cockpit Country, he is a descendant of the Jamaican Maroons. Drew possesses a sacred amulet with untold power. Given to him by Cudjoe, the wise and benevolent village chief of the Maroons. Drew has sworn an oath to guard and protect the amulet from his nemesis, the nefarious ShadowCatcher, a powerful Obeahman mastered in the dark arts of Obeah who just happens to be Cudjoe’s brother.
 
Drew and his girlfriend, Zoologist, Brandy Savage, traverse the planet working to protect the rights of all living things - humans, animals, and the Earth, from the evils of the world.
 
THE AUTHOR
 
Author Nicholas Da Silva was born in 1966 to Philip & Aparecida Taylor. Spending his early years in Brasil with his first language being Portuguese, Nicholas attributes his ambition and drive in writing a multicultural story to his own multicultural upbringing. His father, who was African-American with mixed Indian and Dutch heritage, introduced him to the world and travel through his job with the Corps of Engineers; his mother, a native of Sao Paulo, Brasil.
 
In his early teens, Nicholas was an avid reader of science fiction books. He soon became disappointed in the lack of positive multicultural superheroes and fictional characters in American literature.  Coming from a diverse background, he made a promise to  change all that by mixing cultural fact with fiction. The result was the publication of DREAD & ALIVE®: In the Beginning in 1997. This original short-story series featured an immigrant hero from Jamaica and effectively utilized  folklore and folk symbols while promoting pride in Jamaican culture.
 
Overwhelmed by the positive response, he followed up the successful pilot edition with the sequel, a full-length novel entitled DREAD & ALIVE®:  Night of the Animals.
 
Today, Nicholas operates ZOOLOOK, his design studio/new media agency where he develops entertainment properties that promote a multicultural experience. Nicholas Da Silva also volunteers his time by visitings schools to speak with kids. He feels that by sharing his knowledge and experiences, he can inspire the next generation of adults to have a positive outlook on life. When he's not in the studio, you can find Nicholas Da Silva, an avid snowboarder, traveling around the world, looking for the perfect snow. He also enjoys sampling cuisine from around the world and traveling abroad.
 
ABOUT RBA PUBLISHING
RBA Publishing Inc, is entering its 16th year with the world’s foremost reggae publications.
 
Launched in the summer of 2009 was the newest addition to RBA’s media platforms: the new iPhone application called Reggae Guide. It is the world’s first reggae-specific application. Dread and Alive will also appear on the iphone app each week in the news section. Reggae Guide for iPhone currently reaches 11,000 subscribers.
 
For more information on RBA Publishing's reggae media products,  or to subscribe to the free e-Guide visit www.reggaefestivalguide.com or call 775/337-8344.
5:00 AM 
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Monday, November 16, 2009 

Category: Music
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091115/ent/ent2.html

Reggae album sales plummett

Published: Sunday | November 15, 2009


Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Sean Paul (left) and Jah Cure (right)
IT has not been a good year for Jamaican pop music... Sales tracker, SoundScan, reports that music buyers in the United States showed little interest in what Jamaican artistes had to offer in 2009.

SoundScan has released sales figures to the end of October. It said, collectively, reggae/dancehall music sold just 502,171 units for the first 10 months of the year.

Leading the way was Sean Paul's Imperial Blaze album with sales of 70,917.

That is a massive drop from sales of The Trinity, his previous album, which sold over three million copies.

The Trinity spawned the hit singles Temperature and We Be Burnin'. It was a strong follow-up to 2002's Dutty Rock which sold more than five million units.

sales data
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SoundScan is an electronic network that collects sales data from over 17,000 record stores in the United States. Its data is widely used by publications, such as Billboard magazine.
Another disappointing album was Light, from Jewish dancehall rapper Matisyahu whose previous effort, Youth, was a platinum (over one million units) seller. It sold a mere 58,698 copies three months after it hit record stores.

B Is For Bob, a children's album of remastered Bob Marley songs, fared well for that market with 35,760 copies. Ziggy Marley, the man behind that project, saw his Family Time set clocking 36,152 copies.

Brother Julian Marley's Awake, which was recently released, has not done well. It has sold almost 9,000 copies.

VP Records' annual Reggae Gold compilation, continued its consistent performance with 18,949 copies.

In contrast, some of the acts VP banked on this year, folded. Chief among them was singer Tarrus Riley and deejay Mavado whose Contagious and Mr Brooks: A Better Tomorrow had dismal returns at 4,736 and 14,000, respectively.

Queen Ifrica's highly-touted Montego Bay, released in the summer by VP, has so far sold a mere 2,726 copies. One Moment In Time by Beres Hammond, another project from the Queens, New York label, barely passed the 11,000 mark.

Jah Cure's Universal Cure also held great expectations, but flopped with sales of 5,319 copies. Rasta Got Soul by Buju Banton fared slightly better with sales of over 8,000.

less hyped projects

Interestingly, less hyped projects did well. Bright Side by Californian band Rebelution sold 20,311 copies; Above The Bones from Bermudan/Canadian singer Mishka sold 14,091 and Vibes by Jamaica-born rapper.. Heavy D, just got over the 10,000 figure.

'Best of albums' had 'so-so' performances. The Very Best of Sizzla (10,000) was the best of the Jamaican offerings; only 8,845 persons bought Shaggy's Boombastic Collection while UB40's Greatest Hits sold 26,323.

A big surprise was Tanya Stephens' The Hits Collection with a paltry 864 copies sold.
8:43 PM 
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Friday, November 13, 2009 

Category: Music
THANKS FOR MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC!
 
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Now, let’s get you heard with the:
Winter Warm & Fuzzy Package - $175
 
    Get exposure! Let us market your song/CD to thousands of reggae fans around the world, generate CD sales from it and drive fans directly to your website!
  
WINTER CAMPAIGN called The Warm & Fuzzy Package
This one month campaign is only $175 
 
Your brand and music will appear in four media:
 
    1-month ad in the Reggae e-guide (electronic weekly newsletter with approx. 25,000 readers each week)

    1-month ad on our website (over 1 million hits per month – no kidding ask to see our web stats)

    Plus a 1-month ad in the jukebox section of our website where reggae fans can listen to your music with just a click

    And our newest addition to our media family, Your song will appear for 1-month on our brand new iPhone application called REGGAE GUIDE. (We have 10,000 subscribers with more signing up daily!)
 
That’s right, DON’T BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD – This is a good time to market your music as people are looking for gifts for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas.
 
Now is the time that promoters are starting to shop for bands for their 2010 festivals and DJs are always looking for more music.
 
Your songs need to be heard and we can help you do it.
 
This is a $250 value that we are offering for $175. 
Contact us today!
 
Your Campaign will start when you want anytime before January 15, 2010 and go to our international audience for one month.
 
Your banner ad will be linked to your website or MySpace page!
 
YOU MADE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SONG, NOW LET’S GET IT OUT THERE TO THE REGGAE MASSES.
 
Contact Kaati at 775-337-8344


7:32 PM 
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 

Category: Music
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Friday, November 06, 2009 

Category: Music
THE TOOTS FOUNDATION TEAMS UP WITH THE PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION TO BUILD LEARNING CENTER IN JAMAICA FEATURING TOOTS HIBBERT


NOVEMBER 13TH, 2009 ~ CLUB NOKIA ~ LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA


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Who: Playing For Change and the Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF)

What: Playing For Change and the Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) are
thrilled to present the Playing For Change Band live in concert for one very
special evening of music at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. The evening
will be hosted by Norman Lear and Playing For Change founders Mark Johnson
and Whitney Kroenke Burditt. The goal of this event is to raise awareness
and funds to support the PFCF in its efforts to bring music education
programs to communities in need worldwide.

Tickets are on sale now for $20.00 - $96.50 and will be open to all ages.

In addition to regularly priced tickets, the PFCF is also offering a VIP
Platinum Experience which includes: premier seating in the VIP Balcony or
1st 10 rows of the floor, VIP lounge access, meet & greet reception with the
Playing For Change Band and Special Guests, open bar, catering by Wolfgang
Puck, private event entrance on Figueroa, commemorative show pass, gift bag,
and more.

Proceeds from the VIP Platinum Experience directly support the Playing for
Change Foundation. The PFCF plans to use a portion of proceeds from this
benefit towards the development of a learning center in Jamaica, in
conjunction with the Toots Foundation.

To purchase tickets for the event, go to Ticketmaster.com or call
800-745-3000 or 866-448-7849.

Club Nokia
800 West Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Friday, November 13, 2009

About:The talented musicians that comprise the Playing For Change Band hail
from Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and many stops along the
way! Many of these musicians appear in the Playing For Change films and
perhaps most notably, the "Stand By Me" video which has been viewed over 30
million times (and counting) on YouTube. Bringing this group of ten
musicians together on one stage is what Playing For Change is all about:
uniting the world through music. The Playing For Change Band will be joined
on stage by Toots Hibbert of the legendary reggae group Toots and the
Maytals, along with some very special guests.

The uplifting energy of the Playing For Change Band truly embodies the power
of music on the human spirit. The greatest hope of the PFCF is that every
child, no matter where he or she lives, will have the opportunity to
experience this powerful gift. The PFCF has made great strides in 2009,
opening the doors of the first Playing For Change Music School in Gugulethu,
South Africa and breaking ground on two others: one in Tintale Village,
Nepal; the other in Tamale, Ghana. And this is only the beginning! To learn
more about the PFCF, visit PlayingForChange.org.

On October 13, Playing For Change Records/Concord Music Group released
Playing For Change: Songs Around The World ­ Deluxe Edition, featuring the
award-winning, previously unavailable full-length documentary film Peace
Through Music. This special two-disc package includes a 10 track "Songs
Around the World" audio CD plus DVD containing the 84 minute documentary as
well as 2 bonus chapters: "The Filmmakers Journey" (a 15-minute behind the
scenes featurette consisting of interviews with project executive producer
Norman Lear, directors Mark Johnson and Jonathan Walls along with several
other key members of the Playing For Change initiative) and "The Playing For
Change Foundation," focusing on the enlightening and inspiring work of the
project's remarkable non-profit organization.

Most recently, with the Concord Music Group, Playing For Change announced
the launch of a new record label that will support releases from select
artists associated with the global music and multi-media collective Playing
For Change. The first artist signed to Playing For Change Records/Concord
Music Group is legendary New Orleans street performer "Grandpa" Elliott
whose debut album Sugar Sweet will be released on Nov. 3rd.



9:29 PM 
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Friday, November 06, 2009 
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Wednesday, November 04, 2009 

Category: Music
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Wed. Nov. 4 - Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's Alley
Thurs. Nov. 5 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow's Night Club
Fri. Nov. 6 - San Francisco, CA - Rock-It Room
Sat. Nov. 7 - Crystal Bay, NV - Tahoe Biltmore

ALL-NEW INNER CIRCLE CD
STATE OF DA WORLD

IN STORES NOW

Web: www.innercircle-reggae.com
www.myspace.com/BadBoysofReggae 
8:20 PM 
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009 

Category: Music
Matisyahu's Twitter Passion


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If you ever need more proof about how the digital age has changed the artist
/ fan relationship, look no further than Matisyahu.

The Hasidic reggae star, currently touring in support of his latest album,
Light, is represented on every social networking platform, including
MySpace, Facebook and YouTube. Plus, as a 30-year-old artist, he's a member
of a demographic already accustomed to online socializing. But when it comes
to staying in touch with his fans, Twitter is his passion.

"When I was a kid, the whole concept of having interaction with an artist, a
musician, was totally unheard of."

"I'm not paid by Twitter or anything on the side to promote Twitter,"
Matisyahu told Pollstar. "But I found I really connected with that specific
outlet."

So far, 1 million fans have connected with Matisyahu via his tweets, but
that shouldn¹t surprise anybody who has spent some time with the artist. He
comes across as a young man who¹s totally comfortable with being digital.

He spoke to us while walking the streets of Eugene, Ore., only hours before
he headlined a show in the college town. During the conversation he paused a
couple of times ­ once to speak with a fan and another moment to speak with
a stranger asking directions. He was multitasking, taking in the sights and
talking with folks all the while.

"Twitter I have on my phone," Matisyahu said. "I have my camera connected to
it. My video camera connected to it. I can take video, I can take a picture,
I can send it. I¹m taking a walk and I see something interesting, something
beautiful, something strange ­ I take a picture of it, I send it. I read all
the comments, pretty much daily."

One of the reasons Matisyahu was attracted to Twitter over other digital
platforms is the service's brevity. Twitter¹s 140-character limit demands an
economy with words. Successful Twitter users don¹t beat around the bush.
They get to the point, often using as few words as possible. It's a
thriftiness with language Matisyahu not only appreciates, but enjoys.

"People don't like to go through and listen and read every message,"
Matisyahu said. "It's more about reading short things people have to say. I
answer back. I really, actually genuinely connect with people. It's strange,
because with a musician, you figure the whole thing is about connecting.

"But the truth of the matter is you're kind of isolated going from show to
venue to soundcheck, all of these different things. You don¹t really have
time to make connections with people.

"Last night, for example, I sent out the message, "I'm in Vancouver. We have
a show. I'm writing the set list. Any songs you want me to play? Anyone
coming to the show want me to play some songs?" The first five songs people
responded with were the first five in the set list."

Saying he establishes a "genuine connection" with fans through Twitter,
Matisyahu isn't only referring to an artist / fan relationship, but that of
just one person talking with another. While on tour it's not uncommon for
the artist to send tweets asking about local sights, restaurants and
attractions. And fans are more than happy to help him out.

"On the last tour I would say something like,"I have a day off. I'm in El
Paso, Texas, at the Holiday Inn. Come see whassup."

"I didn't realize there were like five Holiday Inns in El Paso. But there
were around 10 or 15 kids driving around to every Holiday Inn. They found
me. I had my barbecue set up. We hung out. I gave them tickets to the next
night. They came to the show and one of them brought me this beautiful
picture of a sunset in El Paso. I shouted out at them at the show.

"But the truth of the matter is you're kind of isolated going from show to
venue to soundcheck, all of these different things."

"Part of this whole thing I think is cool is that artists and musicians are
people. We tend to get idolized, almost as if we¹re not real. Just little
things, like talking to each other and being real with each other, breaks
that whole sort of facade."

Matisyahu describes his experiences with Twitter as "organic," saying that
there wasn't any one feature that attracted him to the platform, but the
overall service was something that fit very well into his life.

"A lot of it has to do with the simplicity of it all," Matisyahu said.
"That's part of the reason Apple and iPhone work so well. It all kind of
works. It makes sense. It works with my personality."

One thing that isn¹t lost on Matisyahu is the newness of social networking
services and how they help nurture the artist / fan relationship. Up until
only a few years ago, the only contact performers would have with fans might
be during backstage meet-and-greets arranged by local radio stations, or
people hanging around outside the stage door hoping for autographs.

But could you imagine an Eric Clapton or Bob Dylan sending tweets back in
the day? Matisyahu is well aware that the Twitters, Facebooks and MySpaces
of the world represent new frontiers for performers.

"When I was a kid, the whole concept of having interaction with an artist, a
musician, was totally unheard of," Matisyahu said, remarking that many fans
often waited hours to meet their idols after performances.

For Matisyahu, it¹s all about relating to fans and creating new experiences.
Although he only spends about 30 minutes a day using Twitter, it¹s become an
important part of his professional life. Plus, while touring, it helps
lessen the drudgery of the road that so many artists have complained about
over the years, the never-ending show, hotel, travel cycle.

But Matisyahu is doing more than making connections through Twitter. He's
making new fans and re-establishing relationships with old ones. He's having
fun and working at the same time. Although, from his perspective, it's more
fun than work.

Like when his tour stopped in Aspen and he had a yen for motorcycling. He
sent out a tweet asking for the loan of a bike.

"And some dude showed up with a bike for me, gave me the keys, and let me
take off for the afternoon on his motorcycle. I went up into the mountains,
came back down, gave him tickets to the show."

"You see the city. You see the people. You get on stage and it's just lights
in your eyes and there¹s a lot of people out there. But you don¹t have that
connection. We strive for that. That¹s what we go for. This way you feel
like you're actually making connections."

Although Matisyahu might sound as if he lives for Twitter, he's very aware
of how people might be sucked into social platforms and end up spending all
their waking moments sending tweets or updating their Facebook pages.
Twitter helps him run his life, but it doesn't rule it.
"Part of this whole thing I think is cool is that artists and musicians are
people."

"I try to not to overdo it," Matisyahu said. "You can get carried away.
That's the thing with all this social networking and all this technology is
that you kind of have to keep it in its place. Use it for the right ways,
but you could become totally obsessed and feel you need to report everything
you're doing. Or you could feel you need to be checking messages all the
time, seeing what people think about you, reading people's praises and stuff
like that.

"It's definitely good to keep it in check. I try to kind of limit myself to
a certain amount of messages per day."


Matisyahu's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/matisyahu


1:27 AM 
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