File photo,
Mark WonderSwiss music company, Trinity Productions, already involved in the production of reggae music featuring Jamaican artistes, is planning a multi-artiste tour to promote the music in Europe beginning January 18.
Producer Jahmaik, of Trinity Productions, was in the island recently to announce plans for the European trip, featuring Mark Wonder and Price Theo, as well as Swiss band, Newland, all of whom have recorded with Trinity Records. The tour begins on January 18 and will continue for two months with stops in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.
Trinity was responsible for Wonder's big-selling European single, Awake Ethiopian, which triggered a brief tour last year.
These ventures are some examples of the increasing collaboration between European and Jamaican producers and artistes over the past few years which have resulted in more Europeans becoming involved in the creativity of reggae music.
Newland is a quartet of Swiss musicians, including Sandro Zurbugg, a classical piano player who has been studying jazz improvisation since his return home. Zurbugg spent a year studying jazz in St. Louis. Other members are classical guitarist Thomas Amrein, classical pianist Gianni Lanzilotti and bassist Oliver Meyrat.
Newland is a leading reggae/ragga band which began in 1995 in Switzerland. Members have been playing at small clubs around their hometown of Biel, working with a number of reggae artistes, including Jah Matches, Wonder and Theo, to develop their reggae music.
Bob Marley's anniversary celebrations this year already look like the biggest in recent years.
Apart from being nominated posthumously for a Grammys and plans to honour him with a lifetime achievement award, Marley is also expected to have his star planted on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood on his 56th birthday, February 6.
Marley's fans can also look forward to the re-release of his Island Records' catalogue on the same day. A concert is also being proposed for New York, in association with American Express, commerating the 20th anniversary of his passing.
"We are in the concert planning stages, looking at Madison Square Gardens for the presentation of a multi-evening event, a Marley/Tuff Gong revue," confirmed Maxine Stowe, recently appointed president of marketing with Tuff Gong International.
Tuff Gong International will also be concentrated on locating, categorising and releasing Marley's previously unavailable music.
In the United States, the company will re-release classical albums from Island Records' Reggae Archives, including titles from Aswad, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru and the soundtrack Jamaican films including The Harder They Come, Country Man and Rockers, some previously unavailable on CD.
They are also planning on creating new compilations, showcasing reggae's influence on pop music globally, while consolidating the Marley family's involvement.
Paul 'Dr. Paul' Hamilton, former bassist with the Riddym Kings and Ruff Kut, as well as DJ Shabba Ranks, has just released his debut solo album, 89th Avenue.
The CD takes it name from Hamilton's residence, 89th Avenue in Tamarac, Florida, where he has lived and worked for the past eight years, operating his own Chain Gang Studio.
The self-produced instrumental album has 15 tracks, including seven originals. Hamilton played nearly all the instruments. Guest musicians include jazz guitarist Eugene Grey and Third World's Stephen 'Cat' Coore.
