News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday May 3, 2024: Esteemed Jamaican-born jazz legend, Grammy-nominated, Dr. Monty Alexander, C.D., O.J., is set to bring the vibrant spirit of Jamaica’s music to the island of Honolulu just weeks before his 80th birthday, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, known as D-Day.

Following the release of his latest musical masterpiece, the album ‘D-Day,’ on March 29th under the prestigious French record label PeeWee, Alexander will grace the stage at prestigious Blue Note Hawaii. The venue, located inside the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort at 2335 Kalakaua Ave., is renowned as Hawaii’s premier 326-seat live music destination.

The performance, scheduled for May 4th, promises an electrifying celebration of the album’s release ahead of Alexander’s milestone birthday. Joined by bassist Luke Sellick and drummer Jason Brown, two shows are scheduled at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

“I am very happy to celebrate my upcoming 80th in Hawaii at the Blue Note, where I will not only play selections from my brand new release, D-Day, but also play selections that reflect my beloved Jamaica where I was born, and where I have fond memories of participating in many recording sessions at Studio 1, as a music pioneer at the dawn of Ska when I was still a teenager,” commented Alexander. “Hope to see as many of my fans as possible – and of course, especially those who love the music of Jamaica.”

Tickets for the event are priced at $35-45, offering an unparalleled opportunity to experience the magic of Alexander’s legendary jazz expertise.

Fans can get tickets here by logging on now to https://www.bluenotejazz.com/hawaii/shows/?eid=13603273

MONTY’S OTHER UPCOMING LIVE PERFORMANCES & BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION SHOWS

The release of ‘D-Day,’ will be accompanied by other tour dates to also mark Alexander’s birthday worldwide. They will include:

The Puerto Rico Jazz Festival in San Juan on May 17th.

The Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland from May 21st to May 26th.

Birdland, New York City from May 28th to June 1st for his D-Day and 80th birthday celebration.

Jazz Alley, Seattle from June 6-9th.

The San Francisco Jazz Festival on June 11th.

Blue’s Alley, Washington, D.C. from June 14-16th.

Ronnie Scott’s London from June 24-28th.

New Morning, Domaine de Fontblanche in France on July 3rd and July 6th, respectively; and.

Victoria Hall, Switzerland on Nov. 25th.

See all performances and book advance tickets now at https://bnds.us/b8c6pc.

D’DAY’S FULL TRACK

The full track of the new album is as follows:

01 – Intro [0:16]

02 – I’ll Never Smile Again (R. Lowe) [04:18] 

03 – Aggression (M. Alexander) [06:03]

04 – Oh Why (M. Alexander) [06:37]

05 – Restoration (M. Alexander) [06:34] 

06 – June 6 (M. Alexander) [06:14]  

07 – River of Peace (M. Alexander) [05:49]

08 – Smile (C. Chaplin) [06:30]

09 – V.E. Swing (M. Alexander) [04:22]

10 – You Can See (M. Alexander) [05:33] 

11 – D-Day Voices (M. Alexander/L. Alexander) [04:28]

12 – Day-O (Trad.) [02:52

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Renowned for his extensive discography and hailed as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Alexander’s contributions to music have earned him prestigious honors, including the Commander in the Order of Distinction and the Order of Jamaica. His unwavering passion for music, coupled with his Jamaican and Caribbean heritage, continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 6, 1944, Alexander’s musical journey began at an early age. By 16, he was already proficient in various musical genres, including cha-cha, merengue, calypso, reggae, and ska. Moving to the United States at 17, he quickly gained recognition, accompanying jazz legends like Frank Sinatra, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. Today, Alexander remains an iconic figure in American jazz, blues, and gospel, infusing his music with the vibrant rhythms of his Jamaican and Caribbean heritage.

For more information, visit his YouTube channel or his official website at https://montyalexander.com/. You can also follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or stay updated on his performances through his Twitter handle, @montyHKE.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. April 25, 2024: Celebrated Caribbean immigrant actor and producer, David Heron, winner of the Broadway World Award, is set to produce and direct the American Premiere of Dominican playwright Alwin Bully’s Caribbean drama “McBee,” in Jamaica, Queens, this June, Caribbean American Heritage Month in the US.

Jamaican-born actor David Heron and Patrice Foster as Lord and Lady Montague in  Romeo and Juliet. (Photo courtesy of Shakespeare Festival of St Louis.)

The play, inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, will be staged as a one-night-only event at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) on Sunday, June 23 from 7 p.m., with a Caribbean cuisine reception starting at 5:30 p.m.

David Heron, c., flanked by Dominican playwright, the late Alwin Bully, l., and his wife, Anita Bully, r..

(Photo courtesy of David Heron.)

Heron, a Jamaican-born talent, recently received acclaim for his role in The Colonial Theatre of Rhode Island’s production of “The Tempest.” His decision to present “McBee” during New York City’s Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrations is a tribute to Bully, a renowned Dominican playwright and mentor to Heron, who passed away.

“McBee” tells the gripping tale of politician Allan McBee and his wife Alice as they navigate ambition and destiny in the backdrop of a Caribbean island. Written by Bully in the 1990s, the play makes its American debut following Bully’s passing in 2023. Heron, deeply influenced by Bully’s legacy, aims to honor the playwright’s vision by bringing “McBee” to American audiences.

“Sadly, Alwin transitioned before we could get any incarnation of the play on to an American stage,” Heron says, “So this American premiere production is really a celebration of him and his lifetime of amazing achievements, of which McBee is only one.”

“Along with another great Caribbean artist, the late Trevor Nairne, Alwin Bully has been the single greatest supporter, influencer and mentor in my entire career,” he added.  “I would not be the artist I am today without him. And several of the actors in our production feel the same way. So we are using Caribbean American Heritage Month and this event to share Alwin’s legacy with the world and to provide an evening of theatre that will be truly memorable for our audience, right in the heart of Jamaica Queens.”

Born in Roseau, Dominica, Alwin Bully was a cultural administrator, playwright, actor and artist who designed the national flag of Dominica. His association with Heron and many other major Jamaican artists flourished during his two decades in Jamaica as UNESCO’s Caribbean Cultural Advisor. In addition to McBee, his other plays include The Ruler, Good Morning, Miss Millie and The Nitebox. He received Dominica’s second highest national honor, The Sisserou Award of Honor, in 1985. Upon his passing in 2023, he was hailed throughout the Caribbean as a cultural icon and was accorded a full state funeral by the Dominican government.

In addition to his award winning role in The Tempest, Heron’s Shakespearean resume also includes Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello and Hamlet among others.

With an illustrious cast from stage, film, and Broadway, the production promises to be a memorable cultural experience. Casting announcements will be made soon, and tickets for the premiere will be available for purchase in early May. Don’t miss this exclusive theatrical event celebrating Caribbean heritage in the heart of Jamaica, Queens at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, New York, 11432.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 19, 2024: Fresh off his GRAMMY® win alongside Julian Marley for Best Reggae Album, Antaeus is back with another hit. Teaming up with “World Singer” Jah Vinci and A-List producer Notnice (known for his work with Vybz Kartel, Alkaline, and Popcaan), Antaeus delivers “Ganja,” just in time for marijuana culture’s high holiday on April 20th.

The term “420” has become synonymous with cannabis culture, originating in 1970s California and officially recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017.

“Ganja” is an electrifying Electro and Dancehall fusion. The official video, directed by Linkz (known for his work with Aidonia, Sean Paul, and Chronic Law), will premiere on the Monom Records YouTube channel on April 19th. Featuring 2024 Dancehall Queen Raquel Cautiion, the video was shot at the iconic Water Lane Murals in Downtown Kingston, Jamaica, capturing the essence of the party vibe.

Jah Vinci’s lyrics in “Ganja” resonate with cannabis enthusiasts worldwide, bringing a fresh energy to the track. Recorded at Antaeus’ Monom Records studio in Kingston and mixed at his Contrackz Music studio in The Bronx, NY, the track was mastered by Grammy®-winning engineer Alex Psaroudakis.

Jah Vinci expressed his excitement for the release, stating, “I’m really looking forward to this record being out. It’s a different vibe, different energy. As a ganja smoker myself, on 4/20, this is the song I’ll be blasting.”

Antaeus shared his thoughts on the collaboration, highlighting Jah Vinci’s talent and the innovative electro riddim. He also praised Notnice, emphasizing the producer’s humility and ease to work with.

Notnice echoed Antaeus’ sentiments, describing the collaboration with Alexx as a great experience filled with positive energy.

With “Ganja,” Antaeus, Jah Vinci, and Notnice have crafted a track that promises to be a favorite among reggae and dancehall fans, celebrating the spirit of 4/20 with infectious beats and uplifting lyrics.

Check it out here

News Americas, Toronto, ON., April 08, 2024: Acclaimed actress CCH Pounder, celebrated film producer Paul Garnes, along with international media executives, and 26 high-level producers hailing from Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and various Caribbean nations will convene in Barbados from April 15-19 for the inaugural Cross Continental Forum, (CCF).

The CCF, a pioneering initiative led by CaribbeanTales Media Group and Imagine Media International in collaboration with the Faculty of Culture, Creative, and Performing Arts at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, aims to foster collaboration and business development within the global film industry.

The forum will kick off with a screening of Ava DuVernay’s critically-acclaimed film “Origin,” followed by an interactive talk-back session with Garnes at the university’s Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination. Pounder will host the talk-back session, as stated in a media release.

This unprecedented event serves as a dynamic platform for co-producing and cultivating new business opportunities, bringing together industry leaders, producers, and innovators from diverse backgrounds for a collaborative exchange of ideas and possibilities that will lead to innovative co-productions.

Frances-Anne Solomon, CEO at CaribbeanTales Media Group, expressed enthusiasm about the forum, stating, “We are excited to bring together a diverse group of international professionals to facilitate new co-ventures. As film storytellers from the global south, with connections around the world, we have access to incredible untold stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.”

This year’s forum will focus on “Decolonizing the co-production process for the benefit of the Global South,” aiming to foster interactive networking opportunities that result in successful long-term production partnerships.

Lisa Wickham, President & CEO at Imagine Media International Limited, emphasized the potential of the forum to unearth compelling, diverse stories, stating, “We expect the Cross Continental Forum to be a cornucopia of strong, untold, diverse stories.”

The event is supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (Fed Dev), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Trinidad and Tobago Film Co. (FilmTT), and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), offering a unique platform for fostering partnerships and building co-productions between the UK, Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Key highlights of the event include peer-to-peer discussions, real-life case studies, engaging panel discussions, networking opportunities, pitch sessions, and roundtable conversations.

Agnieszka Moody, BFI Head of International Relations, expressed support for the forum, stating, “We are delighted to support the Cross Continental Forum in Barbados. It is a great opportunity for UK-based filmmakers to develop connections with filmmaking talent across the Caribbean region with rich cultural ties to the UK and Canada.”

Through initiatives like the CCF, the global film industry aims to enable diverse, collaborative storytelling that resonates with audiences worldwide.