Byron Lee & The Dragonaires

7.28.01

On Friday, July 28, 2001, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires made their historic first appearance in the Bay Area. Presented by H.A. Productions, Caribbean Summer Fest 2001 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco turned a hotel ballroom into a Carnival-style party for a full night of entertainment.  Read more... (983 words + 7 images)

Jeremy Marre’s “Rebel Music”: Bob Marley in His Times

Palm Pictures released Jeremy Marre’s groundbreaking documentary of Bob Marley Rebel Music June 26, 2001 on DVD and VHS. The film had previously aired on the Public Broadcasting System’s “American Masters” series in the U.S. on February 6, 2001, and in a shorter version on Channel 4 in London in the summer of 2000. The following interview with Marre explores some of the differences between the two versions, in particular the BBC’s demand for a “British” voice as narrator, as opposed to the Caribbean narrator Marre used in North America.  Read more... (6638 words + 4 images)

CD Review: Various Artists “Jah Love”

by Daniel Frankston, ireggae.com

Various Artists, “Jah Love”

[Strong Foundation]

Reggae music has seen a proliferation of compilation albums in recent years, often featuring numerous artists singing over only on or two riddims. Greensleeves‘ “Rhythm Album” series is one such example, having released more than 16 such albums in the span of less than one year. More times than not, these compilations fall flat with their unremarkable computerized rhythms or artists whose conventional chants and lyrics render one song indistinguishable from the next.  Read more... (375 words + 1 image)