1st Annual Budweiwser Reggae Summerfest

Reggae returns to Washington, DC, Sunday, September 7th at RFK Stadium... featuring reggae/lover's rock great Beres Hammond, Kymani Marley, strong newcomer Etana, i-Wayne, Turbulence, etc... backed by music-scene stalwarts Stryker's Posse and The Image Band.

Though promotions speak of the "untapped reggae market", the DC reggae scene has always been strong, thanks to the inexhaustible efforts of WPFW Radio (max RASpect to Sydney White, Papa Wabe, and Tony Carr) and feet-on-the-ground work of those like Derrick "Big D" Parker. this could be a welcome influence to rebound the roots vibe in the Nation's Capital.

http://www.myspace.com/reggaewaterfront for more information.

JA Loves LA

it occurred to me, halfway through Friday's broadcast, that twenty years ago, Hurricane Gilbert lashed the island of Jamaica (when i was scanning the label of Lovindeer's Why don't We All Have Sex LP. that Lovindeer... one gem among the slackness). and now, roughly on the eve of the third anniversary of the Katrina disaster in New Orleans, history threatens to repeat itself with the mass of Gustav churning up the Gulf of Mexico.

We love you, Crescent City. we hope, beyond all hope, that the Army Corps of Engineers fixed what needed fixing... that capricious winds deflect the Storm to someplace less vulnerable... that the musical and cultural soul of this country endures...

...without which, Jamaican music would never have been the same.

the show:

James Booker "Junco Partner" Return Of The Bayou Maharaja (Rounder)
the Clash "Junco Partner" Sandinista (Epic)

ska, and ska roots:

Fats Domino "Bo Weevil" Greatest Hits: Walking To New Orleans (Capitol)
Folkes Brothers "Oh, Carolina" Tougher Than Tough (Mango)
Amos Milburn "Let's Have A Party" Thinking And Drinking (Blue Orchid)
Theophilus Beckford "Easy Snappin'" Tougher Than Tough
Rico "Sea Cruise" Dawning Of A New Era (MOJO)
Skatalites "Christine Keeler" Foundation Ska (Heartbeat)

today's hitmakers, within the theme:

Cool Riddims & Sister Teedy "Thanks And Praise" Pledge To My People (NYNO)
Tarrus Riley "Ease Off" Reggae Gold 2008 (VP)
Taj Weekes "Propaganda War" Diedem (Spectra)
Etana "I Am Not Afraid" The Strong One (VP)
Willi Williams/Gov't Mule "Rebel With A Cause" Mighty High (ATO)

Revolutionaries "Freedom Dub" Dub Massive Vol. 2 (Trojan)

the storm:

Big Youth "Lightning Flash, Weak Heart Drop" Beyond The Frontline (Caroline)
Lovindeer "Wild Gilbert" Why Don't We All Have Sex? (Sonic Sounds)
Anthony B "More Pon More" My Hope (Minor 7 flat 5)
Skatalites "Scandal Ska" Foundation Ska

reggae, zydeco-style:

Terence Simien "Waiting In Vain" The Tribute Sessions (AIM)
Chris Ardoin/Double-Clutching "Stay in-Stay Out/Pass The Dutchie" Zydeco (Putumayo)
Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners "I Don't Work No More" Monkey & The Baboon (TR)


bringing it all back home...

King Yellowman "Blueberry Hill" 12" single.

We Remember New Orleans

All this week (Monday, Aug 25th, to Sunday the 31st), regular programming at WTJU/Charlottesville is showing its support of our soul-sister city New Orleans, Louisiana, as we approach the third horrible anniversary of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the politics, past-and-present, that leave her wounded and vulnerable to this day.

"Reggae Vibrations" is part of this, too. nearly every history of reggae music mentions the influence of mythical jazz transmissions from New Orleans reaching the radios of Jamaica, and helping to influence the rise of ska.

We'll explore that... and how Duke Reid's relationship with Fats Domino may have set the foundation for rock steady. we won't forget the link between Bob Marley and the music of Beau Jocque, Terence Simien, and other zydeco stars, either.

They Built That City On Jazz and Soul...

...and we know what it means to miss New Orleans.

Live & Direct

The Jewish Mother 31st & Pacific, VA Beach
John Brown's Body/Joseph Israel
Sat Aug 16th (Nov 11th Canal club)

Tarrus Riley/Duane Stephenson & Dean Fraser Band
Mon Sept 15th

Steppin' Out 600 Nevan Road, Virginia Beach
Yellowman
Fri Aug 29th

Let Us Recall Some Great Men

Big Youth "S90 Skank" Tougher Than Tough (Mango)

Chosen Few (Hopeton Lewis) "Theme From Shaft" Tighten Up! Vols 5-6 (Trojan)
Burning Spear "Great Men" 12" single (Mango)
Linval Thompson/Dubmatix "Peace & Love" Renegade Rocker (Dubmatix)
Sugar Minott/Dubmatix "In The Ghetto" Renegade Rocker
Sub Sawara "Backwater Dub" Coup D'Ya (Low Motion)

Etana "I Am Not Afraid" The Strong One (VP)
Taj Weekes "Propaganda Wars" Diedem (VP)
Bob/Wailers "So Much Trouble" Survival (Island)
Horace Andy "Some People" Living In The Flood (Melankolik)
Rudy Mills "John Jones" Tighten Up! 1-2 (Trojan)
Morgan Heritage "Nothing To Smile About" Mission In Progress (VP)
Pinchers "Rock And A Hard Place" Renegade Rocker

Dubchek "Football Dub" Down Memory Gap Lane (Unitone)


(Ras Rizla set)
Lord Laro "Woman Rules"
Bunny Wailer "Boderation" Crucial! Roots Classics (Solomonic)
Anthony B/Culture "Two Sevens Clash" (7" Old To The New)
Culture "Wings Of A Dove" (Shanachie)
Junior Gong "Welcome To Jamrock" (Tuff Gong)
Richie Spice "Gideon Boot" (VP)
Burning Spear "Identity" The World Should Know (Burning Music)
Steel Pulse "Rollerskates" Earth Crisis (Elektra)

Dubmatix "Happy Dub" Renegade Rocker
Etana/Alborosie "Blessing" The Strong One (VP)
Gregory Isaacs "Willow Tree" Best Of... Vols 1 & 2 (Heartbeat)

August 1... A Nation Of Immigrants

Hopeton Lewis "Sounds And Pressure" Roots Of Reggae: Rock Steady (Rhino)
Ini Kamoze "World 'A Reggae" Ini Kamoze (Mango)
Salif Keita "Africa" (12" single Mango)
Victor Essiet/Mandators "Rat Race" Crucial (Mystic Records)
Alpha Blondy "Masada" (World Pacific)
Augustus Pablo "East Of The River Nile" Trojan Instrumentals Box Set


Tenor Saw "Pumpkin Belly" Hey, Punk... Get Riddim! (Victory)
Horace Andy "Living In The Flood" (Melankolik)
Alton Ellis/Dubmatix "Blessings Of Compassion" Renegade Rocker (Dubmatix)
Wyclef Jean/Tankian/Sizzla "Riot" Carnival Vol II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant (Columbia)
Bob Marley/Wailers "Bad Card" Uprising (Island)
Morgan Heritage "Nothing To Smile About" Mission In Progress (VP)
Specials "Do Nothing" More Specials (Chrysalis)

Jimmy Cliff "Viet Nam" ...Anthology (Hip-O/Island)
Gov't Mule/Willi Williams "Rebel With A Cause" Mighty High (ATO)
Dubmatix/Linval Thompson "Peace & Love" Renegade Rocker
Lynn Taitt "Napoleon Solo" Trojan Instrumentals Box Set

Taj Weekes "Hollow Display" Diedem (VP)
Tarrus Riley "Better This Way" Parables (VP)
Corey Harris "You Never Know" Zion Crossroads (Rounder)
Toots & The Maytals "Love And Happiness" Toots In Memphis (Mango)
Tyrone Taylor "Cottage In Negril" Massive! (Virgin)
Dubmatix "Happy Dub" Renegade Rocker