BRICK & LACE
shows that Love is Wicked!

With their new release “Never Never” taking the top spot on Itunes and being featured on Yahoo Music, the sibling duo, Brick & Lace is thrusting into the biz with their debut album “Love is Wicked”. Their eclectic sound is featured on this debut project and put together by Kon Live/180 Ent./Geffen. Brick & Lace is already set to join recording artistes, Gwen Stephani and Akon on their upcoming tour.

With roots steeped in Jamaica, Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne, born to a Jamaican father and an American mother, were raised on a steady diet of reggae, R&B, hip hop, and country in Kingston – a factor which adds to their eclectic feel.

This too is evident in the name with seems almost oxymoronic, juxtaposing the hard street edgy ‘brick’ with the sexy feminine ‘lace’.

The Jazz in the Gardens musical event which took place at the Dolphin’s Stadium on March 25 and 26 and featured artistes like India Arie and Luciano, had was a great event. Promoters of the event transformed the site giving it an excellent garden feel where patrons could sit and enjoy the musical might of the featured artistes.

Third World’s Bunny Rugs appropriately called “The Voice” launched his new inspirational CD “I’m Sure” on Sunday at Kareem's Seafood & Wine Bar 7529 W. Oakland Park Blvd., in Lauderhill.

Bunny Rugs, has been the lead singer for the legendary reggae group Third World, and has been for over 30 years. This is his 3rd solo album, and his first truly inspirational and uplifting project. Bunny performed a few of the tracks from his new album and guests at the launch purchased CD's.

In giving back to his community, the proceeds from the sales at the event will go to the Jamaican Children’s Heart Fund Inc. (JCHF) and almost 50 percent of sales thereafter will also apply.

As a result of the support offered by Bunny Rugs, the Jamaican Children Heart Fund Inc., (JCHF), will begin the night showcasing this charitable cause. JCHF is a not-for-profit 501c3 medical charity from Joe DiMaggio's Children Hospital in Hollywood. This team goes to Jamaica once a year to perform free, life saving open heart surgery on children from indigent families, without accepting compensation of any kind. As the waiting list grows, children are dying while awaiting help. The JCHF pediatric open heart surgical team, would like to increase the missions to at least 4 per year. This increase in mission trips can only be made possible with the support of everyone.

The Third World member gave away photos and signed autographs for guests at the event.

For more on Bunny visit www.bunnyrugs.com

‘The best concert ever’ is what many fans were saying after Friday night’s Machel Montano HD Concert. Celebrating his 25 years in the soca business, Machel performed two shows at the theater at Madison Square Garden. The first show sold out in a matter of days when tickets went on sale late last month. A second show was added, and while it wasn’t completely sold out, there were very few seats available. While I wasn’t able to attend, judging by the reviews of a good thirty friends who did make it, I missed quite a show.

It seems no expense was spared as the theatrics for the show was more elaborate than any show soca has ever seen. Costumes designed by top mas maker, Peter Minshall, as well as Island People Mas added to the theme of HD (High Definition) and his new CD, Book of Angels. Dancers in carnival costumes, angel wings, and moko jumbies were just a small sampling of what Machel had to offer to those who were lucky enough to attend the event. Steel pan players, guest artistes, and of course the man of the evening, treated patrons to three hours of music. The show featured the opening guest act, Collie Budz of Bermuda. Machel brought along a cast of guest artistes to include: Shaggy, Doug E Fresh, Lil Vicious (yes, remember him?!), Drupatee, Walker, and David Rudder. I’ve yet to speak to anyone who didn’t think the cost of their ticket wasn’t worth the money. Some patrons even stayed for the second show. Hopefully there will be another show around Labor Day. Machel should proud of himself for taking soca to another level.

Clad in a black and silver sparkly pant suit, legendary singing sensation Dionne Warwick brought over four decades of experience to the stage as she captivated fans with her cool, velvety voice at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami recently.

The singer, whose voice is so versatile, talked fans into her first single “Don’t Make Me Over” which was first released in 1962. She wowed the audience with her powerful and almost unmannered voice rising high and falling low with the same matter-of-fact effortlessness. Continuing with some of her greatest hits, Dionne moved into “Walk On By” and “Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart”.

Commanding the stage with her at times raspy voice, the singer paused to give what she called her “shameless plug” as she spoke about some projects she had been undertaking. Dionne said she has been in the biz for 46 years and is currently on a four and a half years world tour that is supposed to take her to all the continents and all the cities in which she has performed in her long illustrious career.