Quickies

Health, music event to help diabetes cause

Reggae Release, in association with the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, presents the Jam Live Music Festival, a one-day charity/health and music fest. The inaugural staging will be held tomorrow at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, St Andrew.

The festival will be presented in two segments. The first is a health fair, put on by the DAJ. The fair includes blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and HIV tests, eye screening and many more health checks. This will be free to the public between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Segment two will be presented as a musical treat that showcases present stalwarts and emerging acts, sticking to the theme for Reggae Month 2017, 'Reggae Mecca'. Half Pint, Tinga Stewart, Nature, Merciless, Sugar Roy, Chuck Fenda and Thriller U, as well as emerging acts such as Shenseea, Blvk H3ro, Jordan Mais & The Rebelistic Band, Bucky Ital and many others will grace the stage, giving their time, energy and effort to this cause.

A contribution of $300 for presold tickets and $500 at the gate is required for entry after 4 p.m., with the event slated to end at 2 a.m.

Presold tickets can be purchased at the DA J, 1 Downer Avenue, Kingston 5, or by calling 927-6674.

The overall vision of Jam Live Music Festival is to be a vehicle to further promote social responsibility by aiding the most vulnerable through collective volunteerism and music. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to the DAJ for health screening and to assist with patient care.

Simply Myrna promises classy production

Last year, vocalist Myrna Hague, at the start of her annual Simply Myrna show, emerged from the historical centuries-old Great House on the grounds of Devon House masked and dressed in a floor-length, plaid 'two-piece' raw, silk outfit. Her opening number Phantom of the Opera drew loud cheers from the appreciative audience.

This year's opening number will be known on Saturday, March 4, when the concert is held again in the formal gardens of Devon House. The event begins with cocktails at 7 p.m. and showtime at 8 p.m. Myrna has invited the dynamic Ernie Smith and the 32-member National Chorale of Jamaica, both of whom say they are excited about the show and to be her guests.

Winston Ewart, conductor of the NCJ, who will be making its debut appearance on the show, said he was humbled and excited at the same time. "This is not our usual type of show, but we are going to step outside the box ... It will be something like the classics meets jazz," said the NCJ conductor.

Also on the programme is Ernie Smith, who will bring his usual warmth and charm to his audience.

With the passing of Ralph Holding, who had been putting his own flavour of arrangements to the music of the show for the last five years, the mantle has been handed over to the capable hands of drummer Desi Jones (musical director for the show), who will ensure that Ralph's arrangements will be played at the concert.

"The professional that Desi is, he has hand-picked some of our best musicians who will, no doubt, ensure a first-class production," said the leading lady Hague.

Among those musicians are Marjorie Whylie on piano, guitarists Rupert Bent Snr., Michael Fletcher (bass) and Kenroy Mullings and Christopher McDonald on keyboards. In the horn section will be Vivian Scott on trumpet, Everoll Wray on trombone, Ian Hird on saxophones and flute, with Jones on drums.

The Simply Myrna production team is headed by Executive Producer Lennon Crooks of LDC Production Enterprises.

Reggae Month 2017 heading to a close

The Technology Innovation Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI) was alive with conversation on monetisation and branding on Tuesday February 21.

The panellists were Dr. Deborah Hickling, research fellow at UWI, Kamal Powell from Digicel, Sarah Hsia Hall from Zinc Beats, Yakub Grant from Pelican Publishers, and Duane McDonald of Bebble Rock Music, who manages popular artist Kabaka Pyramid.

Reggae Open University continued yesterday with the topic 'Artists as Advocates' with Queen Ifrica, Tanya Stephens and Exile the Brave. Kwasi Bonsu was the moderator.

The final Reggae Wednesdays took place at Mandela Park with Kevin Downswell, Lt. Stitchie, George Nooks and Etana, among others. Reggae Month wraps with the signature Jamaica Regga Industry Association Honour Awards on Sunday February 26 at The Courtleigh Auditorium at 7 p.m. Reggae Month activities are made possible through the support of the Ja RIA, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, the CHASE Fund,Edna Manley College, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Starlight Productions, Events r Us, Lime & Chune, JAMMS, JACAP and Jamaica Music Conference.

The month was officially declared on January 9, 2008, by the then Governor-General of Jamaica. This was done to highlight and celebrate the impact of the musical genre on the country's social, cultural and economic development.

Rihanna awarded as humanitarian

Rihanna has been named Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year. The 29 year-old singer has been honoured with the prestigious accolade because of her charity work involving the Clara and Lionel Foundation Scholarship scheme, which was set up to encourage young children to pursue their education in the Caribbean, as well as her collaboration with Global Partnership for Education and the Global Citizen Project.

The vocalist has also helped to build a "state of the art centre" to help treat cancer patients in her home town of Barbados.

Speaking about Rihanna's philanthropic work, the Harvard Foundation's director, S. Allen Counter, said: "Rihanna has charitably built a state-of-the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados."

Rihanna's award has previously been received by 86 year-old actor James Earl Jones, and 19 year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

Meanwhile, Rihanna - who was named the creative director of the sportswear giant PUMA in 2014 - recently visited a school in Malawi, East Africa,, and on her trip she toured the classrooms and met the "bravest, most humble kids"

Alongside a picture of the school, which she shared on her Instagram account, she wrote: "Met the bravest, most humble kids and young women this week! I can't wait to share more! #CLF #GC #GPE (sic)."

The star has revealed her goal for the launch of the scholarship programme last year was to give back. Speaking previously, she said: "Giving back is important to me and it should be important to everyone. If you have the ability to help and lend a hand, no matter how big or small, you should definitely make that your responsibility."