Earlier this decade, reggae was getting a fair amount of  attention in the US and UK thanks to rap producers, rap/r’n’b stations, and alt-weekly critics giving love to dancehall.  While those audiences may not be paying that much attention now, Jamaican singers and rappers are still keeping as busy as ever.  Tarrus Riley  is in town tonight, Sunday, at the Crossroads, and next Sunday a number of roots and dancehall reggae performers will be in DC at the City Center (the old DC Convention Center parking lot).  Tarrus Riley, the son of vocalist Jimmy Riley, does not chat in a speedy dancehall style, but his beats and r’n’b friendly vocals are worthy of crossover attention (see this video).  He is a soulful crooner who mixes romantic (see this video also) and cultural concerns in his lyrics and yet retains Caribbean street cred.  His voice is impressive enough that it does not matter what he is warbling about, although the non-raunchy phrasing he uses may help him with some.  Regarding tonight’s gig, he once did not come onstage at the Crossroads until nearly 2 a.m., but the club is promising an early show this evening.

Tarrus Riley, sax player/producer Dean Fraser, singer Duane Stephenson at 7 Sunday August 23 at the Crossroads, 4103 Baltimore Ave., Bladensburg, MD (301) 927-1056

Crooked Beat just got in a huge shipment of reggae vinyl. I am told that the shipment includes over 100 LPs and about 80 CDs—a lot of King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Scientist, Keith Hudson, Dillinger, and quite a few Prince Buster records.

“A lot of stuff that people have been asking for,” says Crooked Beat’s owner Bill Daly. “They look like they are coming right from Jamaica. They look close to the way [they did] when they first came out….It’s a lot of really good stuff. You are the fourth person already today asking. One of the guys who used to work at DJ Hut is coming down. I’m listing to Junior Murvin right now—’Police and Thieves.’”

I struggled with my approach on reviewing the newest from the Easy Star All Stars—Lonely Hearts Dub Band. There are as many Beatles covers floating around as there are batshit crazy Heather Mills quotes. Most aren’t worth the time, though this tribute to Rubber Soul had its moments and this compilation from the Atlantic and Warner jazz vaults is superb.

Reggae cover albums offer their own set of challenges. As on the recent epidemic of bluegrass cover records (see Pickin’ on U2), it takes more than applying a different musical style to produce a transcendent cover. Think more “Johnny B Goode” and less “I Can See Clearly Now“.

Read More “It Ain’t Easy to Cover the Beatles, Even for an All Star” »

I was over at Crooked Beat tonight. Jeez. They got in a huge shipment of reggae LPs. More than a hundred LPs in total. Way more. I saw Jackie Mittoo classics, King Tubby, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Delroy Wilson, Burning Spear, Alton Ellis, and tons of Studio One stuff.

So get over there.