San Jose’s Freedom Train Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

“Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts. Negroes of the United States, following the people of India, have demonstrated that nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force, which makes for social transformation. Sooner or later, all the peoples of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”  Read more... (378 words + 4 images)

The Rastarenes on the Rise

Not many adjectives do justice to the female vocal trio, the Rastarenes, but young, talented, confident, beautiful, spiritual and open-minded give you a rough idea. The R.A.S.T.A.R.E.N.E.S. (Rasta, Always Spreading Truth And Rights Everywhere Naturalizing and Ensuring Spirituality) are a breath of fresh air in the male dominated reggae industry.  Read more... (520 words + 3 images)

Burning Spear in Concert

September 2001

“Wicked!” I exclaimed to everyone around me, none of whom I knew. My smile was so wide I thought my teeth were going to burst out of my mouth. We were in the middle of Burning Spear’s masterpiece, “Tumble Down,” when Spear completed a vocal line. By the sound of the drum break, a long dub sequence was imminent-anticipation for the bass line-boom! Ah, that’s the sound. Wicked!  Read more... (609 words + 5 images)

Gregory Isaacs at Santa Cruz’s Palookaville

Santa Cruz, CA-Quick! Name your top five favorite Jamaican love ballad singer-songwriters. Chances are Gregory Isaacs would be somewhere on that list. With a voice that you can recognize blindfolded, Gregory was born in 1951 and has written over 500 songs and released over 70 albums.  Read more... (628 words + 3 images)

CD Review: Cutty Ranks, Back with a Vengeance

By Matty Tice

Cutty Ranks

[Artists Only!]

Ring the alarm! Cutty Ranks is “Back With a Vengeance” on his Artists Only! Records 2001 release. Produced by the legendary King Jammy and featuring several cameos by top artists, Cutty’s latest release is his best to date and is sure to be a number one.  Read more... (557 words + 1 image)