Out of Tampa Florida, hails Jahfari Reggae Band made up of a group of all Jamaican-born artistes.

Formed a little over two years ago led by Junior “Bally” Allen, Jahfari Band has been blazing the reggae trail with high energy performances at major concerts, club gigs and other special events.

The band has backed international reggae recording artistes at all levels and have been performing for thousands of reggae lovers in and around Florida.

Recently the Band welcomed a new member, lead vocalist Jerry Jackson who is an accomplished singer, dancer and songwriter. He hails from Negril, Jamaica, a country with rich culture, creativity and musical dominance.

Jerry, a past student of Mannings High school, was drawn to music from as early as age eleven, when his unique talent became apparent. This musical giant is a Capricorn and speaks fluent Spanish. It is his desire to take the Latin market by storm with his powerful lyrics and versatility.

Only in grade 6Z, “Class of ‘73” can the a young rabbit be a “rabbi”, the capital of Jamaica, “Ghetto” and the prayer for every occasion, “For health and strength and daily food…”

Patrick Brown’s “Class of ’73” starring Oliver Samuels, Glen Campbell, Camille Davis, Courtney Wilson Sharee McDonald-Russell and the Jambiz Krew in its solo showing at the Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts played to a packed auditorium. “Class of ’73” combines well the absurd with the realistic and manages to include some elements of a musical.

Oliver Samuels who plays teacher Mr. Bringle executes this role only as Oliver can. His capacity to take any situation and transform it into something of comedic quality was evident as he did quite a bit of ad libbing, inciting audience participation. Class of ’73 mirrors some of the challenges of the Jamaican Education system where the ‘dregs’ of society are sometimes not given the same opportunities as those of the upper echelons. It also depicts the teachers who have given up on students before giving them a chance. Mr. Bringle is one such teacher who spends his days belittling students, calling them ‘dunce’ and telling them they “will neva amount to nuttin” all while hustling on the side and hoping to fly off to England. Of course these students are determined to sit the “Kamon Ntrance” exam, which will take them to high school.

Carnival activities are gearing up in St. Vincent, Antigua, and Barbados.   While the music has been trickling out of Antigua, St. Vincent and Barbados have been dropping tunes left and right.  Antigua doesn’t appear to have many solo artistes in comparison to the other islands.  Perhaps it’s the style of music that Antigua has and the importance of the “riddim box,” that we hear in bands such as Red Hot Flames.  When referring to Antigua’s music, we think about Burning Flames, High Intensity, Taxic, and El-A-Kru.  While people may make mention of an artiste, they still belong to a band.  The airwaves aren’t filled with as many individuals like in Barbados and Trinidad.  Perhaps this is the reason why the music seems to come so late.  They are done more as collaborations and release as albums versus singles.  Nevertheless, I look forward to the new Antiguan tunes in the near future.

Over the weekend, Barbados had a clash of new talent at the popular Crop Over venue, Tim’s On The Highway.  For anyone who has never been to Crop Over, Tim’s is open everyday and all day, for the Crop Over season for fetes, drinks, and food. Upcoming bands, Electrik and Jabae were on the airwaves, advertising the event.  They asked fans to support in the colors red for Jabae and white for Electrik.  I’m not sure why either band thought a clash was necessary.  While I enjoy music from both bands, they are both in need of some work to achieve the status of Krosfyah or the former Square One.

HEATHER MILLS McCartney, the estranged wife of Beatles legend Paul McCartney is to sue a British newspaper over claims that she was a prostitute who took part in lesbian and group sex, it was reported. She is to argue that a report claiming that she was paid thousands of pounds for nights of passion with wealthy Arabs while in her 20s, were "untrue and highly defamatory". Lawyer for the 38-year-old charity campaigner and former model said legal proceedings would begin once her divorce from McCartney, 63, is completed. Mills, who lost her left leg in a 1993 road accident, has a two-year-old daughter named Beatrice with her pop superstar husband. "She continues to recover slowly from her revision amputation operation and has suffered weight loss, anxiety and sleeping problems as a result of the stress and anxiety of the break-up of her marriage,” says her lawyer.  Before they wedded in 2002, McCartney spurned Mills' offer of a prenuptial agreement to protect his estimated £825 million fortune in case of a split. Mills could walk away at least 200 million pounds richer.                          

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It’s back to the class-room for Patrick Brown’s side-splitting comedy featuring Oliver Samuels - the Caribbean’s King of Comedy - and a cast of talented actors, in Class of ’73. This rollicking comedy will play in Tampa and Palm Beach June 24 and 25 respectively, North Miami Beach and Coral Springs July 1st and 2nd.

Imagine Oliver Samuels playing the role of a teacher - Mr. B. Pringle – saddled with a bunch of intellectually-challenged social rejects known as Grade 6Z.  Join these social misfits on a gut-busting, laugh-a-minute ride towards their unlikely graduation.

Writer Patrick Brown uses Class of ’73 to look at some of the challenges facing Jamaica’s education system.  But despite the inherent and obvious frailties, he shows that the nation continues to beat the odds.  How? Come see what eventually happens to the Class of ’73.   The 1973 setting adds a touch of nostalgia to this unforgettable experience.  Picture Oliver Samuels in Jherri Curls and Bell-foot polyester pants “skanking” to the music of The Heptones, or Glen “Titus” Campbell & Company, sporting giant afros, doing the “S90 Skank”.  Need we say more?

Tickets will are available at selected Caribbean outlets.  Class of ’73 is presented by Riddims Marketing in association with Jamaica Awareness, Inc. and Jamaica National Money Transfer.  Class of ’73 is sponsored by Air Jamaica, Grace Tropical Rhythms and Douglas Chiropractic Centers.