Creating the Musical Transition

FROM BACKING BAND TO FRONTLINER…THE NEW GUMTION ORDER

Gumption Reggae Band with a New Order

Gumtion, Jamaica’s award winning and Number One backing band is on the move with style and flair. Its giant step in transition from a reggae backing band to a frontline performing group is breathtaking to say the least. Gumtion is making this transition look like a natural progression as they embark on a new journey of interesting discoveries.

Formed in 1994 when five talented musicians and long time friends joined forces to complement each other with their unique talents and energies, Gumtion has created and sustained a distinctive and magnetic musical force. Throughout the years, Gumtion has given strong musical support to many artistes, not least among them the late Dennis Brown, Ken Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Barrington Levy, John Holt and Beres Hammond, whom the band toured with for over six years.

Gumption’s enviable reputation as a band that understands the need to continuously create new avenues of musical expression has resulted in the development of its own label -TUFF RIDDIM, with the stamping of its mark on music production with previous releases such as Israelites

Gumption received another boost with the joining of a young dynamic member, Junior Johnson aka ‘KAVAJAH’. Kavajah has known since childhood that he wanted to be a musician and has accepted in recent years that he must be a performer. From Cumberland, Clarendon, Kavajah, son of a high school music teacher and church organist has known and appreciated music all his life. He graduated naturally to the keyboard and played in Sabbath school as a youngster.

Meanwhile, band leader, Rolando “Phanso” Wilson did not mince his words when questioned on the motivation behind such an aggressive, yet timely move. “We have always had these ideas and goals and it just happens to be the right time in our development to move to another level”, he said. Co-band leader Dwight “Duke” Dawes added that “the time spent in the studio was remarkable for us as a group as it allowed us to find our unique voice and brought out subject areas that were important or meaningful to us. Additionally, we were all able to contribute vocally to the product for the first time.”

In spite of the challenges facing the music industry worldwide, Gumption Order seeks to put their years of experience to touring the globe with something new to offer. As such, look out for the new aggregation at a venue in your town which would include appearances by some of the reggae heavyweights with whom the band has played over the years to maximize the impact and value of this new reggae experience. You are assured of a value for your time and money. WATCH OUT!!!

CAROL GONZALEZ IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Carol Gonzalez is in the spotlight again. After celebrating her much deserved success with the hit single "No Second Class Love" featuring international Reggae Artiste Buju Banton. She is back and looking to do it all over again. Carol has released her debut album, "The Music In Me" which features the hit singles 'How Come, How Long' and 'Hotel California.'

Carol is currently doing interviews at Jamaican Media houses. Her next engagements will be a performance at Christophers' Jazz Cafe', New Kingston, Jamaica, October 27th 2009 and a special guest Appearance at The GMag 10th Anniversary Gala celebrations in the UK on November 8th 2009.

Please check out her latest blog. http://www.carolgonzalezpromo.blogspot.com

JAMAICA WELCOMES ATHLETES FROM BERLIN GAMES WITH GOLDEN RECEPTION AND FAMILY FUNDAY / CONCERT

Meeting Jamaica’s World Championship Athletes and performances from top entertainers like Elephant Man, Tarus Riley, Konshens, Etana and newly crowned Digicel Rising Star Brown Sugar are some of the treats that patrons will enjoy at this Sunday’s Family Fun Day and Concert at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Other acts confirmed to perform include Laden, Chino, I-Octane, G-Whizz, Alberosie, Romain Virgo, Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Khago and Digicel Rising Star runner-up Princess Tia.
The Meet ‘n’ Greet will feature kiddies’ rides, games and performances from Jamaica’s Rich Folk Culture.
Jamaica’s Cuisine will be on display with world famous Jerked Meats and Trelawny Yam “Yaam” reputed to be the wonder food of the athletes available in food stalls around the venue.

Members of the public who wish to attend the Family Fun Day and Concert must have tickets. The tickets are free of cost and can be collected at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Head Office in Kingston and its parish offices in Falmouth, Savanna-La-Mar, Montego Bay, Lucea, Port Maria and the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.
Patrons can also collect tickets at the Trelawny Parish Council Office, Inland Revenue Office in Falmouth, JIS Montego Bay and the Sports Development Foundation in Kingston.

The Family Fun Day / Concert which will take place on Sunday October 4, from 2 – 10pm with gates opening at 12:00 noon. Provides an excellent opportunity for the Jamaican people to express their gratitude to the athletes for the unbridled joy their world beating performances created, while allowing the athletes to party with their family, friends and fans.
Persons can view the Red Carpet invitation only Golden Reception at Jamaica House on Friday October 2 which starts at 7:30 pm streaming live on the worldwide web on www.dramayard.com and Sunday October 4 Family Funday / Concert which starts @2pm streaming live also on www.dramayard.com proceeds will be donated to the staging of future cultural events.

iNi Kamoze nwe Album 5150 Rule

The cover of 5150 Rule Album
The concept of the 5150 (fifty one-fifty) code is to put you in a psychological hold. It allows a so-called qualified officer to place you in confinement on the basis of their personal assessment of your mental state. Various aspects of the societal superstructure are designed to keep us in this psychological hole, such as commerce, politics, religion. …
No one can determine that ini kamoze should do only a particular type of music…in fact the album reflects this variety…it is a protest against the 5150 rule that seeks to control us.








iNi Kamoze “Out in the street they call it Murder.”

From Kingston Jamaica to Jamaica Queens, the platinum certified iNi Kamoze has carved out a rep, blending politically conscious lyrics with undeniably infectious hooks.
The proclaimed Hot Stepper is the master of mixing reggae’s sensuality with hip-hop excitement, from the genuinely potent boastin’ and roastin’ rude boy anthem Hotter This Year to the explosive No. 1 Billboard smash, Here Comes The Hot Stepper.
Known as one of the greatest lyricists to emerge from Jamaica, iNi Kamoze has galvanized audiences around the globe with his charismatic presence and fetching delivery. His compositions have been covered or sampled by the likes of R&B sensation Beyonce (Babyboy), Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley (Welcome to Jamrock), Santana, Busta Rhymes, and a host of others.
With his ever fresh trademark “hey, hey”, Kamoze has burned a few movie and television soundtracks, vis Bad Boys, Prêt-A-Porter (Ready To Wear), Good To Go, New York Undercover, The Bernie Mac Show, and has worked with a number of heavyweight producers such as Jermaine Duprie, P Diddy, Salaam Remi, 9Soundclik, Sly and Robbie, and Phillip “Fattis” Burrell.
iNi Kamoze flows timeless, but urgent, from the inside out…can’t be rigged or faded. This cryptic poet prefers to remain a shadowy enigma – owing more to Gil Scott Heron – rather than sell out as this year’s pin-up gangsta model.
“I’m not following no blue print for this, ya get that…You can’t typecast me. I can rock whatever you come with and still you’ll feel it. When ya think I’m on the ground, I’m in mid air.”
For the lyrical gangsta, the future is just dawning…

JUICY NEWS

ENTERTAINERS BEWARE

Three years after the dancehall and by extension entertainment industry was gripped by the fatal and gruesome death of popular dancer Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy; the entertainment industry has once again been hit with the shocking news that two more members of the industry have also been killed by means of the gun. The new victims to die from the entertainment industry are the dancer David Alexander Smith also known as Ice and gospel DJ Kassim Grant, who is known in entertainment circles as Moses.

Dancer Ice was gunned down in the early hours of Boxing day, December 26 2008, along Newark Avenue, Kingston 11. The St. Andrew central police has relayed that, Ice was killed moments after exiting a bar where he had gone to purchase a pack of cigarettes. Further reports are that the vehicle in which he was traveling, a Mitsubishi Lancer, was also stolen.

In the case of Moses, he was reportedly involved in a dispute on the Mammee River in Gordon Town, Kingston, on the 26 of January 2009. During the reported altercation, he is said to have pulled a gun and fired shots, hitting one of two persons with whom he was arguing. Grant reportedly fled the scene and his body was found in the area the following morning with
gunshot wounds.

Is this violence and lack of care for human life spilling into the entertainment industry? Jamaica over a period of years has received the exclusive title of being the "murder capital of the world". Throughout this ‘reign’, however, certain members of the upper class were exempt (or so were thought). Some members of the upper class that were thought to be excluded were politicians, religious leaders and members of the entertainment fraternity. Conversely, as recent history has shown a new metamorphosed generation of murderers has taken over! They seem to have no mercy on neither lower, middle or upper class citizens. It was once thought that certain members of society could never be harmed because of their influential position. But as recent events have shown, no one is safe.

Even though the conclusion has been made that no one is safe, the question must be asked, is there a plot against entertainers in Jamaica? The space of time between Bogle’s death and Ice’s death is almost three years, but within weeks after Ice’s death, Moses was murdered. Is this a new trend or are these isolated occurrences?

These questions are pretty hard to answer. Only those incorporated in the business of murders can answer those questions. However, no matter the answer , we as Jamaicans must try our best to preserve our national culture and cultural icons, of which Bogle, Ice and Moses are apart of.