Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Left: Lloyd Stanbury speaks at 'A Taste of Cannes', held on Tuesday evening at JAMPRO's New Kingston headquarters. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer   Right: Da'Ville

Entertainment attorney and managing director of Caribeat, Lloyd Stanbury, beamed as he spoke to The Gleaner at JAMPRO's Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, head office on Tuesday night.

Ten years after Jamaica first staged the 'Sounds of Jamaica' concert at the annual MIDEM music market, on Tuesday, January 23, the package will once again be staged at the annual event in Cannes, France. This time around, though, the performers will be of a different calibre.

"Big tings a go gwaan fi Jamaica," Stanbury said over the sound of Tessane Chin singing Hideaway to an enthusiastic audience as she ended the single song performances by most of those who will be performing at MIDEM 2007. "It is a fresh crop of artistes for Jamaica. In 1997, the last time Jamaica had a big showcase, it was people like Culture, Tony Rebel, Freddie McGregor. In this line-up only Shaggy is known," Stanbury said, using 'known' in the truly international context.

Performers

Among those performing on Tuesday night at 'A Taste of Cannes', who will be at 'Sounds of Jamaica' next Tuesday, were Alborosie, Da'Ville, Etana, Jovi Rockwell, Nanko, Oba Simba, Omar Reid and Chin. The Gumption band will be providing the music.

"They are unknown but they are excellent. That is what is going to make the difference," Stanbury said.

Of course, having Shaggy on board is a huge boost. "The fact that Shaggy is on the show is going to make it the number one show on all of Midem, for you don't usually see an artiste like Shaggy at Midem," Stanbury said. "So the place will be rammed."

On the MIDEM website, the 'Sounds of Jamaica' showcase is slated to begin at 8:15 p.m. and run until midnight, with Shaggy taking the final half-hour.

The performers will be a part of a contingent of over 50 artistes, producers, lawyers and other entertainment industry professionals headed to MIDEM 2007, as the Jamaica Night Showcase returns after a four-year absence. Kirk Kennedy, executive director of markets at JAMPRO, will be leading the delegation, and in a release from JAMPRO said "We want to position Jamaica's music industry and our musicians, producers/songwriters and distributors as professionals who are ready to do business on a global scale."