Authentic Jamaican roots, pianist Monty Alexander presented a new cd called, CONCRETE JUNGLE, in New York on Monday, April 24. In the summer of 2005, Monty Alexander traveled to Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, with a crew of highly talented U.S. musicians and teamed up with Jamaican top session players to record the brilliant follow up to his 1999 Telarc release Stir It Up - an album that combined acoustic jazz and Jamaican reggae rhythm sections to interpret the music of the great Bob Marley. Concrete Jungle is a set of twelve compositions penned by Bob Marley and reinterpreted via Alexander’s jazz piano-oriented arrangements. The resulting union of musical sensibilities digs even deeper into the Marley legend.  In the past decade alone, Alexander has maintained an especially busy schedule with multiple projects spanning multiple genres and styles. In 1991, he assisted Natalie Cole in crafting a tribute album to her father, Nat “King” Cole (the album, Unforgettable, won seven Grammy awards). In 1993, he had performed at Carnegie Hall in a tribute to the great jazz pianist Erroll Garner; just to name a few of Monty’s projects. CONCRETE JUNGLE is a must for every one. Check it out at Monty’ website www.montyalexander.com

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STAMPEDE: Carnival stampede at the National Stadium! Gunshots were fired causing panic at the last Carnival celebrations on last week Sunday, and resulted in chaos as hundreds of revelers fled as they pushed down security scampering for cover. It is reported that a skirmish broke out in the crowd causing plainclothes policemen to pull their guns and moved through the crowd with their weapons aloft as they attempted to take charge of the situation. But this seemed to have caused further panic. Emergency first aid treatment was applied to some of the injured at the National Arena before they were taken to the Kingston Public and other hospitals. Police investigators said they were still trying to find out who had fired the shots and the motive behind the shooting. Hundreds of revelers had gathered at the National Stadium car park for a stage show, the grand climax of Jamaica Carnival Road Show.

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Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, will grace the stage for the 25th Silver Anniversary of The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) announced Chicago based event producers Martin’s inter-Culture Ltd. and associates. Nominated for six awards, the youngest son of music icon Bob Marley reached extraordinary heights with “Welcome To Jamrock” (Universal Records), of which he will perform at the prestigious event held this year at The World Famous Apollo Theatre, 253 West 125 Street, New York, New York, Saturday, May 6, commencing at 8:00PM.

Marley will be joined by an elite roster of performing artists for this made-for-TV event to be distributed by international television syndication company Khemetcom Entertainment, Inc. Performers also include: Jamaica’s forejost dancehall DJ Beenie Man, the incomparable Alton Ellis (Lifetime Award recipient) celebrating 50 years in the business, Calypso/Soca star Machel Montano, former I-Three’s vocalist Marcia Griffiths, top female DJ Macka Diamond and more…..

The IRAWMA annually honors the very best in Reggae and World Beat Music with the staging of this popular event. Among the leading nominees for 2006 are: Elephant Man, with 8 nominations, Damian Marley and Sean Paul (6), Beenie Man and Jah Cure (5), with I Wayne, T.O.K, Luciano and Gyptian, garnering four nominations. Other reggae and world music nominees include: Akon, Sly and Robbie, Freddy McGregor, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Kanye West, Shaggy, Toots and the Maytals, Beres Hammond, Dean Fraser, Ernie Ranglin, Carlene Davis, Third World, Burning Spear, among others. Visit the Irawma website: www.irawma.com for more info.

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That’s all for now, walk good til nex time!