CD Review by Kevsonik for Reggae Reflection
Featured Artist:  Taddy  P  
CD Title: Gimmi Di Bass

Release Year: 2011
Publishing Company: BASS INNA YU FACE Records
CD Style: Compilation of multiple Vocalists including...Traditional Reggae, Dance hall and Dub Mixes.
Artist Website: TaddyP.com/blog


Favorite Track:   Track # 12, God is (Featuring Simonie Kitson)

Track id         Title                                   Featured Artist

1                Play For me                              Deesah 
2                Lets Get it Started                    Shaggy, Red Fox, Chevaughn
3                Heart of Stone                          Tanya Stephens
4                Come Go With ME                     Even Lake
5                Lady In My Life                         Rik Rok
6                Embrace Love                           Deeyah
7                Will This Love Survive                Rik Rok
8                Too Busy                                  Maxi Priest
9                Monday Morning Blues               Bunny Rugs
10              Gimmi Di Bass                          Beniton
11              Leave the Crumbs Alone            Mackie Conscious
12              God is*                                    Simonie Kitson
13              Heart of Stone Dub Mix              Taddy P
14              Monday Morning Blues Dub Mix   Taddy P     
15              Mama                                        Dean Stephens

Rating Section  
Category                   Score out of 10

Main Vocals                           8
Backing                                 8
Vocals                                 10
Rhythm Section                   10
ProductionSound                  10
QualityPresentation                8

Summary: The CD is unique in that it features the modern reggae bassist; Taddy P. The bass presence is more than your usual reggae style production. On this CD the bass accomplishes a varied tonal range. In a sense the bass has a voice of its own. There are segments of various tracks in which the bass is featured, and almost maintains a centered presence of the mix. The bass even goes along with many of the lead hook sections. What is amazing about the CD is the varied attitude the bass has throughout the compilation. The compilation features a style for every kind of reggae fan, dancehall, modern roots, dub and spiritual. There is a really good blues style fusion track with Tanya Stephens, Track #3 Heart of Stone. This CD represents an immense issue in reggae, which is the need to feature the work of the musicians who actually write the back tracks, perform and often support the artists and labels. I highly recommend buying this CD, whether it is through an electronic outlet or the actual physical CD. I doubt you will be disappointed with this compilation. 

Best Regards – Kevsonik,  Correspondent for Reggae Reflection

Preview  'Gimmi Di Bass'. Available for purchase on Itunes & more

Location:  State Theater,
609 Congress St. Portland Maine
www.statetheatreportland.com

Date: 12/26/2011
Start time:  08:00 PM 
Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Overall Rating:  10/10


Back ground: The international known and acclaimed fusion artist Matisyahu at the age of 32 has an incredible list of credible events to his name.
Matthew Paul Miller (Born on June 30, 1979) better known as Matisyahu finely developed his seamless style of melodically blending contemporary elements of Roots Reggae, Up-tempo hip hop, Beat Boxing and high energy Rock. Matisyahu has worked with some of the industry’s best producers including the legendary duo Sly and Robbie.

Upcoming Tour Dates:  www.matisyahuworld.com

• 12/31 - Morsani Hall, Tampa Fl.
• 01/04 - Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
• 07/28 – Floyd Fest, Floyd, Va.

Notable releases:

• No Place to Be, 2004
• Youth, 2006
• Light, 2009
• Live at Stubbs Part 1, 2011
• Live at Stubbs Part 2, 2011

Newest Release: Miracle EP, 2011
The Good: The show started on time, with a warm up-tempo roots beat. The backing band was Dub Trio. Dub Trio is a unique band with only three musicians. The musicians play multiple instruments and hence they create a complete and authentic sound by carefully sequencing their contributions. Matisyahu entered from the left and sang his famous track Open the Gates. The band transitioned into a wildly high BPM moment and then evolved into Motivate. One of the cool elements of his Performance was how well he would feature his own lyrical work and then the immense talent of the band. The performance mesmerized their fans which were of all ages. He brought the night ¾’s way with the fan favorite, One Day. The night was full of enchantment which included a massive fan exodus to the stage, which was a truly amazing sight to see the many smiling excited faces celebrating the moment. He closed the night with Miracle, a song from his latest work.

Possible Improvement: Matisyahu and the Dub Trio Band could do with an additional sound element such as a DJ dropping cool blips, blip’s and wooops in the right places, this option could enable the band to have more of live, technical set.

Final remarks: Matisyahu continues to demonstrate a very admirable pattern of interacting with his audience. The best part is to see how people enjoy every moment of his performance. Watching the smiling faces of fans says a lot about the work of a performing artist.

Regards – Kevsonik, correspondent for Reggae Reflection

Location:  Fete Music fetemusic.com
Providence RI

Date: 10/28/2011  Start: 09:00 PM

Duration: 3 hours

Overall Rating:  8/10



Upcoming 2012 Tour

• Jan 26th San Diego, CA - World Beat Center
• Jan 27th Hollywood, CA - The Key Club
• Jan 28th Santa Ana, CA - The Galaxy Theater

Back ground: The Midnite band is originally from St. Croix Virgin Islands. The bands leading contributors are brothers Vaughn and Ron Benjamin. The band is driven predominately by the lyrical brilliance of Vaughn, who possesses a remarkable voice with a powerful and steady presence. Additional members of the band are Christian Molina (Drums), Edmund Fieulleteau (Guitar), and Edwin Byron (Guitar).

Notable releases:

• Branch I, 2003
  
• Full Cup, 2004
• Let Live, 2005

Newest Release: Kings Bell, 2011
Take note that the current tour is in support of their newest release which is now available via multiple online sites (Google it) :)

The Good: The show started with a big and heavy delivery of the melodramatic style roots one drop rhythm. The crowd was instantly moved into a localized hub at the front of the stage. There was no denial that the work of Vaughn's voice was amazingly shaped into the mix. The venue was large with two separate rooms, a lounge room and a ball room. The show was held in the ball room. The setting and design of the room was stellar. The sound and ambience was worthy of top notch venues, and could easily compliment the best performing acts. Midnite took advantage of the outstanding acoustics, by maintaining a constant drive, with triumphant chorus lines. The crowd favorite was easily the famous evocative track; I am a bush man, the lyrics are subtle deep with nice cache… (Excerpt from song)…

“You, you need to Overstand
You from the African continent
Just how the black American, stand up
Truly is your brother man
Had they dehumanized and taken your name
Had they fed you swine and fed you shame hey hey
Today you would be just the same, stand up
As the people you disrespect and disdain
You have been brainwashed to call each other bushman…”

Possible Improvement: The band played a very steady tempo and I thought it would have been acceptable to increase the tempo range and even include some of the Hip Hopish style tracks featured on a few of their CD’s. 

Final remarks: Whether Providence, RI knows it or, they were treated to a special event to have the legendary Midnite Band playing their highly respected sound in the Ocean State.

Regards – Kevsonik :) Correspondent for Reggae Reflection