Even though he has almost 20 years experience as a show promoter under his belt, Johnny Gourzong believes this month’s production of Reggae Sumfest will be the most challenging to date.

Jamaica has not escaped the rigours of the worldwide recession that started in August 2008, and Gourzong says Sumfest, which runs from July 19-25 in Montego Bay, has felt the pinch.

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Elephant Man, dancehall’s self-styled “Energy God,” commanded a multitude to the Providence National Stadium, where he swept up fans with his “swagger” into the early hours of the morning.

He lived up to the top billing he received at the Digicel’s D’ Summer Flex concert on June 27. The trifecta of Jamaican headliners was rounded out by soulful reggae star Tanya Stephens and up and comer Tessanne Chin who delivered strong performances, after the local opening acts x2 and B-52 whetted the crowd’s appetite and firmed up their credentials.

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As one of the pioneers of roots-reggae music, Winston Rodney, a Bob Marley protege better known as Burning Spear, has long been a respected figure in music, counting everyone from Bono to B.B. King as fans.

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When flossing king, Flippa Mafia, scored number one last year with the hit single Dem Yah and Dem Yah, it was the signal that this deejay was one of those “to watch”. And he has proved that this success was no fluke.

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Picture a bus full of Rastafarians high in the mountains of Colorado.

At the wheel is their leader, a man who many credit with keeping roots reggae alive through the dance hall years, through the days when the music itself seemed threatened with the extinction, lost amid rapid beats and DJ’s and the electronic pulse of a newer and considerably less soulful sound. Keith Porter has been on the road for as long as he can remember. As the leader of the Itals, he is one of the last remaining links to the very foundations of reggae music. And he is nowhere near stopping.

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Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a professional athlete at the age of 13. But after eight years playing for the national water polo team, he gave it all up to focus on his music career. This turned out to be a wise move, as he’s gone on to sell more than 12 million albums, nab a Grammy and collaborate with the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé. We hooked up with the man himself as he prepares to release Imperial Blaze, his first album since 2005.

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Though primarily a roots reggae album, Julian Marley delves into several other genres on his latest project, Awake.

On the album, due out May 26 through Ghetto Youths/Universal, there is a marked difference between the feel of two adjacent songs on the same topic, the slow, bare-bones (musically) Just In Time, which is followed by the up-tempo reggae piece, Jah Works. Both deal with the spirituality of the Rastafarian. Marley tells The Sunday Gleaner that the tempo for Just In Time was decided when the song was being constructed.

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In the article entitled ‘No Caribbean love for dancehall’ by Krista Henry in the May 10 issue of The Gleaner, the assertion that “Caribbean islands are putting a ’stop order’ on Jamaican artistes travelling throughout the region” is not only misleading but also divisive.

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Though primarily a roots reggae album, Julian Marley delves into several other genres on his latest project, Awake.

On the album, due out May 26 through Ghetto Youths/Universal, there is a marked difference between the feel of two adjacent songs on the same topic, the slow, bare-bones (musically) Just In Time, which is followed by the up-tempo reggae piece, Jah Works. Both deal with the spirituality of the Rastafarian. Marley tells The Sunday Gleaner that the tempo for Just In Time was decided when the song was being constructed.

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TripAdvisor, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, announced its top 10 eco-friendly accommodations, according to TripAdvisor editors and travelers. From rustic cabins in the forest to contemporary digs in the city, these green properties allow travelers to be environmentally conscious, while enjoying incredibly unique and beautiful places to stay.

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