JAH CURE APOLOGIZES TO FANS

Danger Zone/Sobe Entertainment artiste Jah Cure would like to apologize to all his fans who came out expecting him to perform at ‘Night on Tracks’ which was held on Sunday December 20 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Jah Cure, who on December 19 performed at on Tempo's fourth anniversary celebrations in Grenada was en-route to Jamaica from the show when eastern Caribbean airline Liat canceled the flight.

Jah Cure flew from Grenada to Barbados on Liat and was to fly from Barbados to Antigua to get a connecting flight to Jamaica. However Liat canceled the connecting flight which resulted in the team deciding to hire a private Jet to reach Asafa Powell’s show. Due to these delays Jah Cure arrived in Jamaica at approximately 2:30 on Monday December 21 when the show was wrapping up. Jah Cure is very disappointed at missing the event: “I am very upset with not making the show and that despite our best efforts it did not happen. I would like to apologize to my fans and to Asafa Powell who is doing great work with an effort like this. Missing the show was beyond our control, however we are still apologetic”

CEO of Danger Zone Music Group Delmar Drummond is also very disappointed at missing the show: “We were looking forward to this show maybe more than any we have done this year. The work that Asafa Powell is doing is commendable and we announce our support for any future endeavor of this kind by him.”

Jah Cure is slated to release several new tracks for the New Year. He recently did collaboration with Stephen Marley and Christopher Ellis dubbed End of Time. The song was recently released overseas and will soon be serviced locally. Jah Cure has had a very successful year; he hit solid with tracks such as You’ll Never Find and Call on Me with Phyllisia. He also went international in a big way, collaborating with Jason Mraz and Lil Wayne on Mraz’s I’m Yours remix. The song has been listened to over 1 million times on YouTube.

Now back in Jamaica, Jah Cure plans to spend some quality time this Christmas with family and friends after what has been a successful year for him in the music.

MAGNUM KINGS AND QUEENS OF DANCEHALL IN FULL SWING

The competition will take May Pen by storm this Saturday...

Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall has gotten off to a tremendous start. The competition, which is in its third season, brought out over 300 potential Kings and Queens last week to Montego Bay.

Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall will have three more audition dates with the next being at Leiba's Esso in May Pen on Saturday December 19 then moving on to Amnesia Night Club in Ocho Rios on Saturday January 9 and Kingston’s Lime Light on Saturday January 16.

From each audition 5 princes and 5 princesses will be chosen; totaling 50 for the audition elimination shows on TVJ beginning Saturday January 23. On every Saturday 10 contestants from each audition will vie for four (4) spots on the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall live shows. The first audition show on January 23 will feature the 5 princes and 5 princesses selected from Montego Bay. The contestants will only go through via the voting choice of Jamaica; with the 2 princes and 2 princesses with the most votes moving forward to the next round.

At the end of the audition shows, 10 princess and 10 princesses will then perform for Jamaica live on TVJ beginning Saturday March 6. Each contestant will compete in front of judges Miss Kitty, Scatta and new judge Professor Nuts, and attempt to win the votes of Jamaica. Every Saturday a prince and princess will be eliminated from the Magnum stage until only one King and Queen emerge, walking away with $1 million dollars each, a professionally produced single and video.

Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall continues to expose new talent to the main stage. The competition will take May Pen by storm this Saturday as competitors from that side of the island seek to break onto the dancehall big stage and make their mark. The quest for dancehall stardom begins at 9:30am sharp at Leiba's Esso and all sinjays and deejays are invited.

MAGNUM KINGS AND QUEENS OF DANCEHALL TV AIRING SCHEDULE

Saturday January 23: TVJ 9 PM Montego Bay Auditions

Saturday January 30: TVJ 9 PM Portmore Auditions

Saturday February 6: TVJ 9 PM May Pen Auditions

Saturday February 13: TVJ 9 PM Ocho Rios Auditions

Saturday February 20: TVJ 9 PM Kingston Auditions

Saturday February 27: TVJ 9 PM Kingston Results and Recap Show

Saturday March 6: TVJ 9 PM Live Show Begins

JAH CURE BRINGS THE AN.TI.DOTE

An.Ti.Dote will be accompanying Jah Cure on his next show in St Kitts tonight.

When Sobe Entertainment/Danger Zone recording artiste Jah Cure takes the stage for the first in a series of shows in the eastern Caribbean on tonight, he will be backed by one of the best bands to have been assembled in recent reggae history; An.Ti.Dote.

Band Manager for An.Ti.Dote Nigel Staff believes the band has complimented the international reggae star perfectly. “Last year CEO of the Danger Zone Music Group Delmar Drummond approached me to form a band to tour with Jah Cure. We had auditions and picked some of the best young musicians I have heard in my over twenty years in the business. Since then it has been a tremendous success and we are pleased with the way the band has been performing”

The band is comprised of violinist Mijane Webster, drummer Ricardo Thomas, keyboardist Gregory Palmer, percussionist and son of L'Antoinette Stines, Rupert Vereen, lead guitarist Neil Prince and bassist Kina Newby; all graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Unlike most reggae bands of today An.Ti.Dote has in its cabinet a violinist and Nigel Staff says that this has brought an exciting component to the band. “We were looking for something special; reggae has not seen a string component in a band since Cat Coore took to the stage with his Cello. Jah Cure specifically requested this element and wherever Jah Cure performs the difference has captivated audiences.

An.Ti.Dote also brings on the road three capable back-up singers: Demetria Griffiths, Keren Brown and daughter of Inga Stewart, Sandy Stewart as well as sound engineer Gary ‘Shanguly’ Samuels. All of whom performed with Jah Cure at the Amsterdam Reggae Festival in the Heineken Music Hall recently.

Jah Cure is excited about his new band: “When I am on stage and I hear the An.Ti.Dote the notes are on point, it’s like magic! I am happy that I am at the stage in my career where I can have my own band and dictate my musical direction and quality more effectively”

An.Ti.Dote will be accompanying Jah Cure on his show in St Kitts tonight. The show is a part of the ‘What’s Up weekend Fiesta’ which is a run-up to St Kitts and Nevis’ National Carnival and will be held at the Carnival Village. Last year Jah Cure brought out over 10,000 residents of the small island and this year will be no different.

The Cure will then move on to Barbados on December 5 and Grenada on December 19 for two more shows.

The Season Has Begun!

Magnum Kings & Queens of Dancehall has returned for its third exciting season. Kicking off with a high energy launch on Tuesday November 24, 2009 at Indies Pub in New Kingston Magnum Kings & Queens takes it on the road again with auditions being held islandwide- Montego Bay, May Pen, Portmore, Ocho Rios and Kingston throughout December and January.

• Montego Bay - 5^th of December - Wexford Hotel.
• Portmore- 12^th of December,-Aphrodiziac Night club
• May Pen- 19th December -Leiba’s Esso
• Ocho Rios- 9^th of January, 2010- Amnesia
• Kingston- January 16^th - Oakton Entertainment Center

The objective of Magnum Kings & Queens of Dancehall is to discover, encourage and showcase the multifaceted musical talent of aspiring local dancehall artistes. The television show produced by Real Jam TV airs on TVJ for its third season in 2010 incorporates the dancehall fashion, lifestyle and culture.

This year the television show introduces its new host Professor Nuts, the well known and respected artiste who was the first to combine comedy, social commentary and music and is well known for his song ,‘In A Di Bus’. Missing this year will be General Degree whose music career has continued to ramp up and become more demanding of him. Always the heart of the party she is Jamaica’s favourite Fluffy lady, Ms Kitty will continue to bring her candid and direct input into the aspiring artistes and always looking out for the technical aspects of the promising king or queen, Skatta continues on with the show as well.

“My People, My People, My people!”- You will continue to hear your favourite television host Empress as she lights up another Magnum Kings and Queens stage bring her own style of DeeJaing, Singing, Comedy, Dance- she does it all while looking great too!

With Magnum celebrating its 10^th year – 10 long 10 strong - this season promises to have even more energy, more entertainment and more vibes. Gary Dixon, Category Manager for Lascelles Wines & Spirits says, “we are looking forward to bringing a whole new level to the show this year; with 10 Long 10 Strong at the forefront you can expect great surprises, great performances and our guest judges will also be adding new dimensions to the show.” Dixon could barely contain his excitement but was determined to keep the surprises for the new season a surprise. Also on board this year are Lucky Dollar stores.

The best Cure

…Reggae singer inspires at Guaracara concert

Screaming fans hold on to the hand of reggae icon
Jah Cure as he delivered a stellar performance.
Inset (from top): Prophet Benjamin, Jamelody, and
Romain Virgo. Photos: Cori Baynes

The banner of consciousness was flown high in the air and love and unity reigned supreme as thousands of screaming reggae lovers flocked to the southland for one of Jah Cure’s most memorable performances.

Entitled Cure Again, the much anticipated concert was organised by MIB Promotions and held at Guaracara Park on November 7. In addition to Jah Cure, the event also featured the talents of reggae's newest sensation Romain Virgo, as well as local entertainers Ja Melody and Prophet Benjamin. Opening the live entertainment segment of the show, shortly after midnight, was Royal Dainties, who set the mood of the event with a barrage of his conscious hits. Taking the stage immediately afterward was Ja Melody, who crooned to the women in song. He also called on the music fraternity to have more respect for local artistes and provide a live band to accompany them each time they were slated to perform at large concerts. Rounding off the local cast and the first half of the show was Prophet Benjamin, who launched a stinging musical attack on under-aged sexual activity, while at the same time urging young people, especially females, to make education their first priority.

As is customary with all MIB events, special emphasis was placed on security and the large contingent of heavily armed police officers successfully kept violence to a minimum. The momentum flowed seamlessly, as Romain Virgo opened the second half of the show. Virgo, who recently burst onto the Reggae arena, did not disappoint patrons with his 45-minute debut performance, which was packed with his most popular hits, including Cya Sleep, Rain is Falling, Love Doctor, You Murderer and Who Feels It Knows It. But the night firmly belonged to Jah Cure, who, a few hours after being arrested by police officers at the Hyatt hotel, ran onto the Guaracara stage around 3am, singing his hit, I Know Jah Jah Bless Me. When news of his arrest first hit the nation, it was rumoured that the artiste would be a no-show at the event.

But at the first sound of his voice, the massive crowd erupted into cheers and loud applause. He immediately launched into a musical journey, giving the crowd a wide variety of his music. From love songs to songs of spiritual reverence, there was something for each type of Jah Cure fan and all in attendance seemingly lapped up every minute of his performance. Some of the hits on his list included, Run Come Love Me, Searching for a Girl Like You, Cure Again, Sunny Day, King in dis Jungle and Journey. When patrons began filing out of the venue more than 90 minutes after Jah Cure first took the stage, the general opinion was that it was the best of his Trinidad performances since his recent release from prison.

Source: Trinidad Guardian