CANADIAN REGGAE WORLD
  • Home
  • RFL ~ Artists ~ Events
  • Blog

NEWSLETTER  Volume 10 ~ Feel Reggae Edition ~November 2018

10/31/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Feel Reggae

This path is a true blessing

We sit around and talk about the history of Jamaican music, leading into reggae music and the truth is in the music

Nuh guy can come tell wi what reggae is... unless you feel it

And we can tell if you do or you don’t.  We can see and smell the culture vulture a mile off and there are many of those

They use the music in commercials to make their products more pleasing and acceptable.  Actually, they are seeking the “cool”

Popular artists on major record labels throw in a reggae track or get a reggae toaster on their tunes so that they can gain their street cred

Put Jamaica, reggae or the word “jerk” into something white and suddenly it is cool

CBC, The CRTC, Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone or any other colonizer organizations can’t tell me shit about reggae.  Combined they have less information about the music and the culture than aliens from outer space

“You can’t fake the funk”

Reggae is a truth serum

Don’t put it in your mouth and don’t expect repercussions...positive or negative

Reggae’s path is a truth saying, along with world class beats and riddims, creating a spiritual frequency that can only be felt.  It isn’t always an intellectual ideology that solves the deeply spiritual genre of music.  The intelligence of the spirit is far beyond intellectual.  There are no language words for reggae

You feel it or you don’t

It is inclusive to all sentient beings and a detriment to the vampire in all of its forms

So I mostly focus on the positive

Reggae Music

So very grateful for this reggae path and the ability to speak about it and encourage performances as well dialogue on all aspects to continue my own learning of this genre
 
 
 
Feel Reggae

A program where we take the musical history of Jamaican music from mento, ska, rocksteady to reggae and have discussions around the music and its creation / creativity

Dr. John Jason Wilson is a professor at Guelph University and also a protege of the late, great, Jackie Mittoo, sitting at Jackie's knee since he was about 15 - 16 years old


Jackie taught him well

Jason combines his Celtic background of folk tunes to jazz, to rock, R&B, to ska, rocksteady and reggae all within the same song at times

In this blog, I invite you to a performance on your time, at your convenience.  The goal is always to build an energy, where events of this caliber are well attended enough to pay the artists for their talent and work

All over Europe this commerce ensues daily yet here in colonizer Canada we seem to have an issue paying artists of any genre except for what “they” deem important

~
$7.5 MILLION dollars for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for ONE celebration, Canada 150 yet $0.00 for reggae music EVER!

​Zero!

~

It is appropriate that I rant at the end of this performance, Warrior, a tune Jason co-wrote with the late Jackie Mitto and also fused with another reggae gorgon, Willi Williams, Armageddon Time, speaking of the dread times in which we reside, a Jamaican cultural icon Willi still is today
Authentic reggae history, present and future continues in Canada


Bless Jason Wilson for being one of the flag bearers and soldiers
​As the convo and performances continued, Jason played us “Matty Groves”.  When he sent me the album “Perennials “a decade ago and he asked me what I favorite track was, Matty Groves was it.  A Celtic folk story of pomp and pageantry, adultery and murder with jazz riffs, reggae bubbling and bass-line and a cool story
​This was the encore at the Feel Reggae Seminar ~ Confucius by The Skatalites

It is an old-time reggae / ska standard that many have played yet Jason plays it well.  Sunray’s drum solo was tight and on point
​
I was blessed to be there
​Feel Reggae is a path of reggae edutainment that I feel compelled to do based on the negative stigma the colonizer Canada seems to portray as it pertains to the negativity of some of the music, attitudes, psyche, defiance, knowledge that is a truth to the people who play it, dance to it, listen to it... feel it

I am compelled to tell a story that the colonizer can’t tell

Because they can’t feel it

Grateful for the reggae heads globally who feel what I feel
​
Another awesome session was with poet, song writer, Michael St. George, featured here with Peter Holung, founder of IBADAN, who have worked together many times in the past and this is the flavor of what the creativity brings, which is more along the lines of R&B yet still based in dub
​An artist that tackles many emotions within his poetry and finds the vibe to bring an uplifting energy to the masses, Michael is another of these gems.  He has many like that and this one, Fight your Fears is one of his latest
Another boss moment at the Fell Reggae genre was the first week when Belinda Brady came to perform.  Belinda a veteran performer in Canada, Jamaica as well as globally for over 30 years is the daughter of Carl Brady, a cofounder and member of Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires, this apple did not fall far from the tree

At the first Feel Reggae Session she joined up with Peter Holung to do an improve of “Wishing You were Here” with the ‘waiting in vain’ bass-line
This is a live performance from 2010 at a benefit for “Reggae For Life ~ Haiti” with a cameo from the very amazing Errol Blackwood
​
​I could not do this without introducing some of you to Mojah

Mojah is one of the founding members of Truths & Rights, a reggae band in the 1970s which included the late Garry Lowe on bass

A RasTafari band, globally respected

Many apologies for the film quality but our camera broke and we had to use cell phone technology and grateful that we got the performance
Thank you Fergus Hambleton for saying yes and performing at Feel Reggae

Fergus, another pioneer of the Canadian reggae scene, a cofounder of the Sattalites along with Jojo Bennett is one of my friends, mentors and a true lover of music

This one isn’t a reggae track yet so worth the listening time and effort

"Fade to Black" featured with Peter Holung on that trusty bass
Peter Tosh ~ Feel Reggae

Spirituality is the basis of reggae music

That spiritual frequency of the truth
​
“If reggae is not accepted universally, around the world, what is the use of the music” ~ Peter Tosh
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 9 ~ October 2018

10/25/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Feel Reggae Seminar

Can’t teach reggae as it can only be felt

Peter Tosh said words like this nearly 50 years ago and today seem so prophetic

We carry on in that tradition hosting these Seminars with guests included so far, Peter Holung {IBADAN}, Belinda Brady, Jeremy Rempel of Fugititve Minds, Mojah {Truth & Rights, Big Sugar}, David Kingston of old 88.1FM fame

Our path is to discuss reggae music as well as to play it for an appreciative audience

This week we have the honor of Jason Wilson hosting the event
Picture
Reggae Lane

Reggae Lane isn't right yet

It can be but it isn't right just yet

Big business came in and gentrified what was affectionately called Little Jamaica, getting its fame from the little strip directly east of Oakwood, where Toronto had a real, authentic reggae culture, where worldwide practitioners of reggae congregated, making hte area even more famous

Many of the business owners and family left the area with a bitter taste in their mouths on how they were treated.  They had businesses there for decades

They don't give a shit about Reggae Lane

There is a sentiment by many artists, performers and musicians who have resided here for 40 - 50 years who detest the hooker,  crack head with the walking zombies laneway, as a gross disrespect to Jamaican culture and to reggae music

I of course see this differently yet I am empathetic to some of those sentiments

I'd like to someday properly honor those who held up Little Jamaica for the past 50 years.  What that compensation may look like, I have no clue yet I see some respect needs to be paid by those early day soldiers

Rumor has it that the Laneway my disappear in the continued gentrification of the area 

If so, Reggae Lane will continue as a concept

History shows, the first lane way named after reggae music happened right here in Toronto,  Ontario, Canada, at Eglinton and Oakwood

Reggae Lane

...was born

I goal, differently than the city councillors, government organizers, is to earn from our reggae culture and contributions in Canada and to build on my / our own

There is currently only one Reggae Lane on the planet

Reggae will make its own path

If you have any regard for I n I path, share the information and wear this brand proudly

Reggae is love and truth
​

That’s what we bring

Click on the photos to enlarge

Where to purchase CRW reggae brands
{Click on tee to view page}

Picture
Picture
Lion of Judah Towing Services

We are currently an army of one

Mally Bless

Our goal is to grow his company to a fleet

Lion of Judah tows, offer compassion, honesty and integrity to our clients who wish our services.  All with towing needs, please contact  us at [email protected]
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 8 ~ October 2018

10/18/2018

4 Comments

 
Picture
Welcome back to this newsletter collaboration between Toronto Reggae and Canadian Reggae World

We are having nuff fun producing it

To start off this week I give you a cool vibe and energy by an artist who we haven't heard from in a minute, Kidd RasTa.  This tune is an uplifting energy that I would love to share with reggae fans

​A reminder to always get back up 
Congratulations to Grace Jones  receiving the Order Of Jamaica for style

Jones has been an international icon as a designer, model, recording artist and actress

Proud of this lady

http://www.loopslu.com/content/fashion-icon-grace-jones-receives-order-jamaica-style-2


Picture
Picture
 The Abbott in Parkdale ~ 99 Spencer Avenue

On top of serving boss coffee in this historic Toronto spot, I also found some art... cool illustrations by sister Amita SenGupta
Dr. Jason Wilson brings some keyboard stylings to the Feel Reggae Seminar

The goal of these seminars is to explore the root{s} of reggae music and to display the feel of it through the performance

Joining Jason will be bassie Peter Holung



Picture
Big Sugar, tribute , honor to the life of bassie Garry Lowe
Picture
Condolences to the Hammond family

​RIP Boyo Hammond
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 7 ~ October 2018

10/8/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Buju Banton

A polarizing figure in reggae and within the dancehall is set to be released from a ten year prison sentence this December

The Gargamel {Gorgon / General it has always meant to me} has lit up reggae and the dancehall for several years and speaks / conveys a spiritual energy that resonates with millions of fans worldwide

What will his first single sound like?

What will the first album sound like?

Outside of Damian and Stephen Marley, who else will the Gargamel do collaborations with?  You KNOW that there will be a line up for that opportunity to work with one of the greatest voices of the dancehall

Has going to jail for trafficking cocaine tarnished or diminished Buju’s message to the world?  As for me, I say no as I have found Buju to be one of the most honest voices in reggae music

“Circumstances make me what I am...” tells me of a person aware of his shortcomings, accepting himself, yet not stopping to speak on his own reality, which is what I feel endears him to so many others, like me, who are not perfect yet don’t feel “less”  because we aren’t

Buju is a champion of truth for the ghetto people and for black people and I expect / hope that his next album will explode across the planet with his unique perspective on colonial abuse to Africans globally, which I believe is the real reason that he went to jail

 “They” felt a need to shut his mouth and succeeded for a decade

So we wait in collective, excited anticipation for the works of Buju Banton
​
There are many many, but THIS track tells a real big story for who wah hear


superheavyREGGAE

Friendlyness, Jeremiah and I Sax, was and still is a deadly combination

56 Kensington

Dat session could not miss me

Anousheh used to collect at the door.  Possibly one of the most vertically challenged females (she shawt) I know yet you could not blow by her at the door

She ruled with a firm, loving, respected iron fist

Powerful lady and a beautiful powerful energy

Part of my night was standing at the door with her at times, reasoning about whatever and dancing.  She nevva stop dance

If the person at the door is dancing, everyone else would

One of the last Toronto, downtown vibes where people went to dance to rootical reggae music all night long

Their posters were also little works of reggae art

The vibe was a blessing unto itself

One of the cooler jams around

Rootical music and rootical people gravitated towards the energy

Thankful to my idrens for being a part of the reggae history that I have witnessed

​Check out a few posters and photos...  Most are from their move to Thymeless Reggae Bar
Pebbles In The Pond

Tribute to Johnny Clarke ~ None Shall Escape Judgement In This Time


RasTafari consciousness
 
Once I write those words, I realize that the message can't be brought with force and anger

So the truth is that, morally, I am unable to celebrate a heinous genocide of peaceful, spiritually connected humans, innocent humans

Women

Children

Indian Act, Reservations, rape, highest rate of suicide among teenagers, residential schools

That whole "conqueror" mentality isn't for me possibly because psychologically I am still recovering from I own "conquered" past
 
Yet as a human I wished history was a kinder story but alas it isn't
 
Killjoy?
 
Ok
 
I still love many of you today, yesterday and tomorrow and thankful for you

I give thanks for your love to me

I give thanks that I have you to love



This is a song that I wanted to post for a couple of days... it is possible that this song, listening to it some nearly 50 years later, can invoke this response
 
Spread love, even when you have to speak a truth
Health & Fitness
 
For those who like this livity, I am one of those
 
When I learn something I pass it on
 
This product from Herbally Healing has gained my interest and if you wish a bottle for coughs and colds, email us at [email protected] and we will pass it on... for delivery or for pick up
 
Elderberry ~ Herbally Healing

Elderberry is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world

Traditionally, Native Americans used it to treat infections, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their complexions and heal burns. It’s still gathered and used in folk medicine across many parts of Europe


Today, elderberry is most often taken as a supplement to treat cold and flu symptoms

However, the raw berries, bark and leaves of the plant are also known to be poisonous and cause stomach problems

This article takes a closer look at elderberry, the evidence supporting its health claims and the dangers associated with eating it
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

NEWSLETTER Volume 6 ~ October 2018

10/4/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Feel Reggae

Peter Tosh

Talk to de people

"Yu cyaa teach reggae, yu haffe feel it" ~ Peter Tosh

"A RasTaman speaks the truth"

Blessings I sistrin, this is a part of the inspiration for this Feel Reggae movement in this time. The information has always been thus

I am grateful to the artists and the fans who ovastand this energy and come to support the vibes

Real Reggae ~ Feel Reggae
Jason Wilson

Next Feel Reggae Seminar in October
 
Jason Wilson is one of those rare proteges of the late, great, Jackie Mittoo, who was and probably is considered as the most creative mind in reggae history
 
Jason himself has such a creative mind as he incorporates reggae with jazz with Scottish vibes as it is his background
 
Jason has traveled the world playing all kinds of styles of music and played with folks like Ernest Ranglin, UB-40, Michael St George as well as a member of several bands
 
One of the bands he worked with for years at The Bamboo was Jason Wilson and Tabarruk for those who remember the Boo days
 
Dr. Wilson, will join us on the 27th to lead this Feel Reggae Seminar
 
David Kingston will be by to spin some conscious tunes as well
Picture
Ras Penco

A blessing to touch base with this RasTafari idrin

I first heard / noticed him as I was hosting a radio show and heard his track "First Child".  That tune made me a fan and I have remained so ever since

​Support gifted talent
Picture
“Pebble in the Pond”


Getting dumped

Take your dumping like a man / woman

I have suffered this a few times in my life as well as I have asked folks to move along

Any devious behavior after the fact like stalking, trolling, revenge tactics, long winded texts about seeking closure is needy and demeaning to yourself

Stop it!

Walk away

Whatever you think that the other person felt, or said to you that you think was so genuine isn’t them being devious, it is you not taking responsibility for your spiritual self and not feeling the truth

Living spiritually creates greater clarity with love and truth

If you are not with the person that you think / thought that you loved so much is you missing the spiritually truth

THEY WERE NOT MEANT FOR YOU

All other explanations that you give yourself about how devious they are, is you not taking responsibility for you spiritual truth

I've been dumped a couple of times too

You tell yourself all kinds of shit but when I think about the folks that I have ended relationships with, I just wished that they would stop asking "why?" all the time and go away.  Not out of anger but you honestly don’t feel the way that they do and trying to explain why, is an impossible task as it is a spiritual disconnection and not always easily explained
 
So I remember that and move on
 
Move on
 
The “problem” isn’t them, it is you not accepting the spiritual truth


​
Tenor Saw – Laying him to rest

The phenom

A true candidate for the title King of The Dancehall with the numbers of hits that still currently rock the dancehall{s} globally

Any dance yu go, one Tenor Saw must get played and I guarantee you will get a wheel up on most of his tunes

I was finally able to put a vibe to he who Tenor Saw was and he was exactly what I expected and already knew him to be, through his music and lyrical content

Though it hurts I man to know the truth of his passing, the brutality of it, alone and left for dead, I feel like knowing it and now sharing it, gives us an opportunity to reach out and walk with him... even for a minute so that his spirit can rest from such a brutal ending of a beautiful life force

Clive truly touched my heart with his music and his loving ways

Dem cyaa duss him out jus so

Dem nuh get fe kill this soul jus so

Send Clive your spiritual love on his journey for the beautiful energy that he gave us in his music

Ites up Tenor Saw

Business highlight this week ~ Kushwells
Picture
2 Comments

    Archives

    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.