As I noted then, the closing of the Crossroads (even on a temporary basis),  along with the prior shutdown of Zanzibar as part of redevelopment of the Southwest waterfront, means the Washington area is currently without the two large nightclubs that offered a mix of Caribbean and African-American DJed sounds, as well as live music.  Both establishments also marketed their events on radio and in the print and electronic media.  Now fans of reggae and soca sounds will have to seek out less publicized events at smaller clubs and halls. The Surf Club has recently started reggae Wednesdays. Last Friday, Jamaican performer Anthony B. appeared in a barely advertised gig at the less-known Club 12 on H Street NE.  When we hear more about the status of the Crossroads and interesting Caribbean events elsewhere, we'll let you know.

Nearly two weeks later no updated message has been posted for this large nightspot and restaurant that specializes in Caribbean and African American music and cuisine.  The dancehall reggae, soca, and R&B club may be just closed for “maintenance,” but Gayle has not yet responded to messages sent to him via Facebook and e-mail.  In addition, the club’s phone  rings without offering a recorded message or a live voice.  In 2007, the club, along with eight other Prince George’s County establishments that sell liquor, was briefly shut down by the county in an effort to address a spate of violence that included the shootings of three people in the Crossroads parking lot.  P.G. County government staffers said that the club is not currently shut down for liquor or health code violations.

Earlier this year the Caribbean, African, Latino, and African-American music nightclub Zanzibar on the Waterfront was sold and closed as part of Southwest D.C. redevelopment.  With the Crossroads closed as well for now, that means those seeking Caribbean music will have to go to smaller, less promoted clubs and one-off events at hotels and restaurants. It also means fewer international performers coming to the area.  We'll keep you updated on the status of the Crossroads and other Caribbean music venues here.

He first came to fame in 2005 with his roots-reggae single "Serious Times," which he followed with a 2006 album debut, My Name is Gyptian, that featured anti-violence roots reggae numbers and romantic lovers rock cuts. On his 2008 follow-up, I Can Feel Your Pain, he upped the polished R&B quotient, and that continues on this year's Hold You album. While sometimes he sounds more squeeky than a ladies-man balladeer ought to, on most cuts he displays an effective vocal range, going from a warm conversational tone to a more mannered, higher-note approach.

Gyptian performs tonight at 11 p.m. at the Crossroads Entertainment Complex, 4103 Baltimore Ave. (Route 1), Bladensburg, Md.  $20 (women can text “liquid” to 28527 for free admission before 11 p.m.). (301) 927-1056.

The festival is a part of the All Roads Film Project, whose pretty admirable goal is “providing a platform for indigenous and under-represented minority culture storytellers around the world to showcase their works in film and photography, to promote knowledge, dialogue, and understanding with a broader, global audience.”

Which you should remind your friends of when they demand to know why you’re dragging them to yet another film festival this summer.

Made in Jamaica begins in the middle of a rather wild party on a boat—footage that was captured, you’ll later find out, mere hours before one of the partygoers, reggae superstar Bogle, was murdered in a drive-by shooting. The film then follows Bogle’s funeral, attended by a who’s-who of the Jamaican music scene. Original interviews with some of reggae’s greatest performers offer a compelling look at the genre’s impact on Jamaican society, but what really stands out is the concert footage. Featuring performances from Bunny Wailer (Bob Marley’s step-brother and former band mate), Gregory Isaacs, Toots and the Maytals, and Third World, the doc is at its best when its focus narrows to the music.

Up From the Bottoms, narrated by Cicely Tyson, focuses on 15 residents of Muskegon, Mich., and their journey from the deep South after World War II.

Another strong entry is tomorrow's opening-night film, Stanley Nelson’s Freedom Riders, which premiered at Sundance this year. Nelson, who is widely known for his PBS doc on the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, displays that same knack for reviving history in his latest effort. Freedom Riders is the first feature-length film about the legendary group of college students whose bus rides into the South tested those states' obeisance of laws barring segregation.

The festival takes place at the National Geographic Society Headquarters, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $10 general admission; $8 for seniors and students. Festival runs July 22-25.

The “Superstar Tour 2010” is hitting just six North American cities. I found YouTube videos but no biographical information online regarding Ghazal or Jonibek. The young, photogenic Jonibek is accompanied by guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and synthesizer in his videos. He’s a pop singer, albeit one whose occasionally guttural tones might seem out of the ordinary to most Americans. The cute and perky Ghazal seems to be supported by a similar band, but her videos are performance pieces in which the singer and sometimes backing dancers strut to sounds that meld bellydancing music and disco-pop with a rapped interlude.

Lady Saw once guested on a No Doubt song, but this 38-year-old performer has spent most of her career creating raunchy numbers such as "I've Got Your Man," "Strip Tease," and “Bare as You Dare.”  She can sing as well as toast, and on  “No Less than a Woman (Infertility),” she vocalizes in a nonrisqué manner about adoption. The 28-year-old Assassin raps island-style in a dramatic fashion, changing tempo and tone with his deep voice and slang-filled, Jamaican-accented delivery.

Ghazal, Jonibek, Madina, and Adeeb & Samim Juyan perform Friday May 21 at 7 p.m.  at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel at Tyson’s Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA. $35-40. 1-800-401-2820

Lady Saw, Assassin, Zylan, Top Student , Lil’ Rap and more perform Friday May 21 at 9 p.m. at the Mirage Hall, 1401 University Avenue, Hyattsville, MD. $30. (301) 213-7599.

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".

However, both of the Easy Star All Stars' previous tribute projects, Radiodread and A Dub Side of the Moon are superlative deconstructions of the source material rebuilt into tight yet expansive riddums. Dub Band is different in that the original Sgt Pepper's is so omnipresent. The Easy Star All Stars are able to surmount this challenge by injecting new energy into tracks like the opener and "With a Little Help From My Friends", songs rendered flaccid by relentless classic rock airplay. Guest vocalists adorn Dub Band, with reggae royalty Steel Pulse shinning through on "Good Morning, Good Morning".

The production is in front like the other releases. I'm anxious to hear it on vinyl, since the sound was deep and rich for an MP3. "When I'm Sixty-Four" listens especially well, taking on a trippy bass and reverb-washed feel. The only knock I have on Dub Band is that they didn't end the album closer, "A Day in the Life," with the sound of four simultaneous bong hits.

With a Little Help From My Friends

When I'm Sixty-Four

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.