Reggae In The Fields
Saturday August 23rd, 2014 with Junior Smith
Review -Montreal International Reggae Festival

Review of the Montreal International Reggae Festival (SEE PLAYLIST BELOW) Kiprich (biography) Marlon Plunkett, better known as Kiprich, formerly known as Crazy Kid, is a popular Jamaican dancehall deejay. He, like his mentor Elephant Man, is a member of The Alliance, a deejays collective. Kiprich was born in Linstead, St. Catherine, and raised in the Waterhouse district of Kingston. He attended Ardenne High School and was still a student when he had his first hit with Leggo Di Bwoi, a collaboration with Chino; Later followed Mad Sick Head No Good together with fellow deejay Predator. Also, he wrote the lyrics for Elephant Man's Jook Gyal whose remix together with Kiprich himself, Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz entered the charts in 2003. His latest and greatest hit so far was Telephone Ting, followed by The Letter. He has become known for humorous songs and songs aimed at other deejays, such as Elephant Man, Beenie Man, and Vybz Kartel. He even developed an expertise at live clashes, as he won his battle over the legendary Ninja Man at Sting 2012! In 2013 he released the album Kippo, which featured Keisha White on the track My Heart Is a Jail. Demarco (biography) Collin "Demarco" Edwards, born on September 28th, 1982 in Portmore, St. Catherine, Jamaica, represents the refined cream of a modern crop of Jamaica’s most skilled and talented music practitioners. He embodies a new age of cutting-edge artists whose ability to intertwine song writing, music production, engineering and performing, as well as his capacity to use these skills seamlessly between Dancehall, Roots Reggae, Hip Hop and R&B, make him in constant demand in one role or another. With Top names like R&B singer Olivia, Free of 106 & Park fame, rapper Styles P and Reggae/Dancehall’s top act Sean Paul experiencing his production skills, while Bounty Killer and others have put vocals to his cutting riddims, it’s no wonder Demarco’s youthful brilliance and creative ingenuity is achieving the recognition it deserves. He has made numerous beats alongside The Soul Diggaz, who were signed to Missy Elliot and were involved in the production of three of her albums, he was also featured on Foxy Brown’s album. Demarco has also been behind some of dancehall’s most notable hits as well. His first hit rhythm, Side Walk University, featured tracks like Beyonce Whine by Vybz Kartel, in addition to tracks from Tony Matterhorn, Sean Paul and Collie Budz. His musical exploits have caught the right ears, and after listening to his work, executives at E1 Entertainment, formerly Koch Records approached him and signed a three album deal through his Star Kutt Records imprint. E1 is also home to international artists like Ray J, Jim Jones, DJ Khaled, Foxy Brown and many more. He is among a team of stars and with his level of musical capability in so many areas of music, Demarco is sure to be a shining star, blazing for years to come. Alison Hinds (biography) Crowned the undisputed Queen of Soca by fans worldwide, Alison Hinds' powerful, emotional vocals and high-energy live shows are legendary in Caribbean music. Alison’s musical journey has taken her throughout the Caribbean islands and the diaspora worldwide. Alison’s first solo album entitled Soca Queen is a diverse selection of soca tunes with hot pulsating rhythm-oriented anthems with a standout song: Roll It Gal that became an international hit around 2006 and was released in North America, Europe and the Far East taking Alison’s music to new shores and making new fans all over the world, enabling Alison to take her dynamic live show worldwide, touring throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada and the Caribbean. She has won numerous awards and rave reviews everywhere she goes! Alison’s latest album entitled Caribbean Queen (2010) delivers her positive message of love and upliftment for one and all and is a celebration created for her fans all over the world. The love she received from Jamaica has spawned new combinations with Richie Spice, King and Queen, Jah Cure, Call On Me and Shaggy's Can’t Let My Love Go. When Alison Hinds is not performing, she takes out time to work as an advocate for causes such as AIDS awareness, Women’s rights, the Diabetes foundation and has participated with them wherever possible as well as organizations for disabled and physically challenged children. Most recently, Alison was named a school ambassador at Christ Church Foundation School in Barbados, the first one of Caribbean descent. In 2014, Alison is appointed International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International) Goodwill Ambassador. Alison Hinds is a vital element on the Caribbean music scene and a major force in the eruption of innovative urban-influenced Caribbean-based music. Alike artists such as fellow-Bajan popstar Rihanna, Sean Paul and Shaggy, who are changing the face of music worldwide. Alison leaves an indelible footprint on the Caribbean music scene. Sean Paul (biography) The Jamaican dancehall superstar first sparked the world in 2002 with his breakout hit, Gimme The Light, and the fire has been burning brightly ever since. Hot on the heels of his multi-platinum, Grammy-winning classic album, Dutty Rock, he dropped the 2005 RIAA platinum smash The Trinity. That album led off with the Top 10 single We Be Burnin', followed by the #1 smash Temperature. Then followed Imperial Blaze (2009), Tomahawk Technique (2012) and last February, Full Frequency. The Kingston-born rhyme slinger has already sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, and has become the most successful Jamaican artist of all time in the U.S. but despite his scorching track record, Sean Paul is taking nothing for granted. A lot of artists talk about "staying on the grind," but few work harder than Sean Paul. He has done more than any other dancehall artist to bring the hardcore sound of Kingston to new audiences around the world. Since his prophetically titled 2000 debut, Stage One, Sean Paul has proven time and again that modern Jamaican reggae can be a viable genre in the international music market. . On February 8 2014, Sean Paul has released his sixth studio album Full Frequency, including the hit singles Other Side of Love, Entertainment, Turn It Up and Want Dem All. The album features guest appearances from Damian Marley, Iggy Azalea, Brick & Lace, Konshens, Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz and Juicy J. Sean Paul appeared on the Apocalypse Soon EP by electronic group Major Lazer, on the track Come On To Me, which was released as the second single from the album, after Aerosol Can, a collaboration with Pharrell Williams. He also collaborated with Nigerian recording artist Timaya on a remix of his song Bum Bum. I-Octane (biography) Bestowed with the task of setting the pace for the next generation of troubadours, smooth Rastafarian singer I-Octane has amassed an impressive slew of hits songs in a few short years, has skillfully positioned himself as an ambassador of culture/reality/message music, while maintaining a strong appeal in the dancehall, where his songs have become anthems. Possessing a clean image and keeping his standards consistently high, I-Octane has endeared himself to fans the world over, while simultaneously breaking the proverbial glass ceiling and making steady inroads into the corporate arena. It came as no surprise, therefore, when telecoms giant, Digicel, signed him in 2010 as their official Brand Ambassador, a role he enjoys tremendously and executes with care and diligence. As a measure of his influence outside of Jamaica, the internationally acclaimed singer was signed as the ‘voice’ of hugely popular brew, Guinness, within the Caribbean, and more recently tied up a deal with the Caribbean’s favourite soft drink, Busta, as their Brand Ambassador. With only a five-year stint in the industry he is already being compared to some of the legends in reggae. Before he became known to the world as I-Octane, young Byiome Muir was just another youth growing up in Sandy Bay, Clarendon with big dreams. He earned the reputation of being a noisy little boy who was constantly belting out a tune, much to the annoyance of his mother and siblings. Despite his blossoming reputation as a talented singer, Muir still didn't consider performing professionally as a viable career choice, as he had to take on the role of 'man of the house' and focused on helping his mother raise his brothers and sister. Byiome had an aptitude for the sciences and technical drawing and actually considered becoming an architect but he couldn't seem to escape the call of the music. Upon completing high school, he took the plunge into the music industry and very soon, an upcoming dancehall artiste named Richie Rich was introduced to famed producer Donovan Germaine of Penthouse Records. Spending time at Penthouse and rubbing shoulders with more established artistes such as Buju Banton and Tony Rebel gave him the opportunity to hone his talent and focus on his musical path. Three years after linking with Penthouse, I-Octane caught the interest of Arrows Recording Company and, upon signing, steadily transitioned from dancehall music to a more cultural vibe and his first hit single Stab Vampire cemented his position as a notable reggae artiste. Not surprisingly, that song went to number one and received the award for Video of the Year at the Excellence in Music Awards. I-Octane put out hit after hit, winning over skeptics and gaining many new fans with songs such as Different Page, Hurt Mi, and Mama You Alone. In no time I-Octane was performing to his international fan base on his first European tour. The year 2012 was a landmark in the career of the singer. It saw the release of his debut album, Crying To The Nation, a production infused with roots reggae and dancehall at its purest. Extensive touring within the Caribbean, Europe and Asia has paid off handsomely for I-Octane and 2013 has started out with a bang – songs at the top of the charts, copping the Youth View Awards for Cultural Artiste of the Year and Celebrity Role Model of the Year (for which he tied with Olympian Usain Bolt), the partnership with Busta and a high school tour extolling the virtues of education, as laid out in his recent single of the same name. Sanchez (biography) Sanchez is one of the all time favorite singer/performer who transforms his audience into a mass choir at his live performances. He epitomizes elegance and style and is always splendidly attired in a formal suit, enhanced with gold chains and bracelets, giving fans the ultimate in appearance and presentation. His selection of songs range from soulful R&B to hardcore Dancehall, Reggae, balanced with religiously calming cuts that enhance the spiritual vibes of his act. Born on November 30, 1964 in Kingston, Jamaica and christened Kevin Anthony Jackson, Sanchez grew up with his Mother, Father, two brothers and two sisters, in the Stony Hill and Waterford Communities under strong Christian principles. He says, "I had to go to church every Sunday and often during the week as well. I was a member of the Rehoboth Apostolic Church junior choir and later the senior choir where I was the lead singer. I just love singing and going to church. However, when I started to attend St. Andrew Technical High School, I started hanging out with a new set of friends, things began to change and we would go to parties where sound systems like Rambo, Small Axe and Crystal would play. I really began to like the music and went through a period of conflict which later resulted in me drifting from the church." The former choir leader became a selector for the Rambo Sound system; a system on which many of his close DJ colleagues such as Flourgon, Daddy Lizard and Red Dragon also worked out. (By this time, he had been renamed Sanchez by his friends. and soccer team mates because of a highly skilled pass he made that was reminiscent of the great Brazilian soccer star Hugo Sanchez). As he gradually moved on to singing at these parties/sessions, the response he received was encouraging. Sanchez soon began voicing for some of the top record producers in the business: Red Man, Winston Riley and Fattis Burrell. In 1987, Sanchez’s first single Lady In Red was released; soaring to the # 19 slot on JBC Radio record chart and that was very encouraging for young Sanchez. "It was a great feeling to hear my song playing on the radio." His first hit, the Winston Riley produced, Loneliness, recorded in 1988, is still one of his biggest hits. In that same year, he was voted Singer of the Year, Best Up and Coming and Best New Artist by Rockers and Bins awards respectively. Loneliness was also voted Song of the Year, and this led him to his first appearance at Reggae Sunsplash. Over his long career, Sanchez has come a long way from his first performance at a school concert at Waterford Secondary backed by the Sagittarius band. It was then that bandleader, bassist/vocalist, Derrick Barnett told Sanchez that he had a good voice and invited him to come by where they used to rehearse. To date, he has released 28 albums and over 70 singles and has toured extensively throughout Europe, the USA, the Caribbean and Japan. Luciano (biography) With the release of his landmark CD Where There Is Life in 1995, Luciano emerged as one of the most important reggae singers in decades and the greatest hope for roots reggae’s survival in the digital dancehall era. Since that much acclaimed release, Luciano’s music has been consistently praised for imparting sentiments of spiritual salvation, Rastafarian edification and African repatriation. Music has run deeply throughout Luciano’s life. Born Jepther Washington McClymont on October 20, 1964 in Davey Town, a small community located atop a hilly region on the road to Mandeville in the central Jamaican parish of Manchester. Luciano was raised in the Adventist church and sang in the church choir. His father Arthur passed away when Luciano was just 11 years old. He left behind a guitar he had built and as Luciano recalls, “through those early years, I fell in love with the guitar and started to learn to play, which I realized was showing love and respect to my father.” His beloved mother Sophie, who struggled to raise Luciano and his eight siblings, is also a gifted singer. As he grew older, Luciano sang in local youth clubs and took the mic at local sound system dances. In the late 80s, he arrived in Jamaica’s bustling capital Kingston hoping to transform his musical talent into a flourishing career. He sold oranges in the marketplace as means of initially supporting himself but when a drought restricted that year’s orange crop, he returned to Mandeville. However, the music beckoned so it wasn’t long before Luciano went back to Kingston, this time with even greater determination to succeed. He worked as an upholsterer by day and at night he sought recording opportunities in various studios. It was suggested by one of his mentors, Homer Harris, that the name Jepther McClymont did not have the requisite charisma to propel the career of an aspiring entertainer; Jepther was (professionally) re-christened as Luciano, a name that parallels his extraordinary vocal skills alongside those of the world-renowned operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The name was also somewhat prophetic: “Luci” means bearer of light and within a few years Luciano would shine as one of the brightest lights in the Jamaican music constellation. As the 1990s progressed, Luciano recorded for a few producers but failed to make any significant headway until he met Freddie McGregor. “Shake It Up” recorded for Freddie’s Big Ship label became a number one hit in the UK in 1993 and was featured on Luciano’s first release for VP Records, After All. But due to Freddie’s hectic touring commitments, he was unable to devote sufficient time to developing Luciano’s singer/songwriting skills. However the singer soon found an ideal collaborator in producer Phillip “Fatis” Burell of Xterminator Records whose releases were characterized by Rastafari imbued themes and intricately crafted roots rock riddims played by some of Jamaica’s finest musicians. Fatis, who also took on the managerial role in Luciano’s career, brought the gifted singer’s talents to the musical forefront. With the release of Where There Is Life for Island Jamaica/Xterminator, Luciano’s deeply devotional yet accessible lyrics and the beautiful melodies, coupled with Fatis’ contemporary one drop riddims catapulted the singer to the top of the reggae charts, toppling (at least temporarily) the decade long reign of deejays rapping x-rated lyrics over digitized dancehall beats. At the end of 2013, Luciano released his album Qalabah Man, distributed by VP Records and earlier this year, also release Deliverance, a Mad Professor british production, on his imprint Ariwa Records. Source : Gong Communications 2014