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Jamzone Summer Break 2012 begins with the Chutney Night Super Concert

BMRZ Band
BMRZ Band

On August 18, 2012, Jamzone Summer Break officially got underway with the staging of the Chutney Night Super Concert at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The first event on the Jamzone 2012 calendar featured over twenty artistes from across the Caribbean, Ashnie Singh and the 2Famous group from Holland and a stellar headlining performance by the Caribbean’s #1 cross over band Karma.

The show though poorly attended (when compared to other Chutney concerts over the years) got off to an early start and ran smoothly without any obvious glitches. It was hosted by local comedian Chow Pow and television personality WR Reaz. The talented performers took the patrons on a musical passage from chutney to soca to dancehall and even hip hop, at times.

Shakti Strings performing at Jamzone Chutney Summa Concert
Shakti Strings performing at Jamzone Chutney Summa Concert

Guyana’s own Shakti Strings did a great job in hyping the crowd from the very inception. The band sang everything imaginable. They made way for Sexy Vanessa who came out to entice the men folk with her skimpy outfit and sensual moves. She invited WR Reaz on stage to dance with her and after exchanging a few words, she told the crowd that he had a lot of mouth and that she had a gift for him. She then went on to hand him something wrapped, after opening it we all saw that it was a very big lollipop. “Now he has something to do with all that mouth he has”, she said. Ha!

Terry Gajraj receives award from Hits and Jams Entertainment
Terry Gajraj receives award from Hits and Jams Entertainment

Rick Ramoutar was accompanied by the Dance Fanatics dance group as he did his performance. The tassa drummers also made an appearance. Terry Gajraj after his performance received an award from the Hits and Jams Entertainment Group for his contribution towards music in Guyana. Chris Garcia took to the stage and began his performance with a rendition of ‘No Woman No Cry’ before singing the song that made him famous ‘Chutney Bacchanal.’

It was after his performance that WR Reaz came back on stage with a complete wardrobe change, he definitely looks at too much television. It would have been nice of him to send Chow Pow the memo though. LOL.

Reaz reppin fuh Chutney and Guyana
Reaz reppin fuh Chutney and Guyana

D Hitman and Anil Bheem and the BMRZ band did not disappoint their fans. Ashnie Singh and the 2Famous group from Holland were another story. I’m certain some persons enjoyed their performances; however, those around me were very eager for them to come off the stage. One of the guys in the 2Famous group is not Indian but he sang in Hindi; that was impressive. That is all! It was great of Hits and Jams to bring them all the way from Holland though.

De Hunter and Karma Band ended the show and brought back the hype and excitement that died when Ashnie came on. Ravi B and Nisha B were their usual fun and energetic selves. No doubt, patrons at the Chutney Night Super Concert had a damn good time!

Jamzone Delegates at Chutney Super Concert
Jamzone Delegates at Chutney Super Concert

Kudos to Hits and Jams for the set up of the VIP area, however I hope the space at the front of the stage is looked at and expanded for the other shows, it just seemed a bit congested at the front. This is taking into consideration that the crowds at the Regional Night and International Night Super Concerts might be larger. Free drinks and food are wise, but not when the drinks are finished half way through the show. Something has to be done about that. I absolutely loved that the artistes were not strangers in the VIP area.

Dance Fanatics : Granny Ivelaw
Dance Fanatics : Granny Ivelaw

For instance, I was standing behind this guy and though that his outfit was very different – he was wearing yellow jeans, a white shirt and a yellow waistcoat . He was standing there like all the other persons in VIP, it wasn’t until he got on stage that I realized he was Terry Gajraj! Also, I saw these two guys walking around wearing the same shirt and I thought it cute but I also thought that they were too big for that until Karma’s band starting to sound check then I realised that the guys were a part of the band.

I can’t wait for the other Jamzone 2012 events! Visit Jamzone Summer Break 2012 for a comprehensive list of all the events to come.

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Guyana Baboo – Terry G in Top 15

Terry GTrinidad International Chutney Competition

After a grueling Semi Final round at the Rienzi complex in Couva, and 4 intense days of both online and text voting for the BMobile Wildcard that accumulated more than 26,000 votes, the names of the 15 finalists are finally in and  a Guyanese is among the lot.

For the first time in the competition’s history a Guyanese has reached the finials of the Trinidad International Chutney Monarch Competition. His is the lone Guyanese that is still in the 2011 competition from a field of more than 120 entries including Guyanese Adrian Dutchin and Mahendra Ramkellawanlall.  Dutchin did not make the first cut but Ramkellwan and Terry G did but after another cut that has brought the list down to 15 the lone Guyanese representative is the Guyana Baboo Terry Gajraj.

To him its an honor to be in this line-up especially since he is putting Guyana on the forefront in the line of chutney entertainment. His Semi final performance was a Bollywood spectacle with his dancers & actors to the song Sumatee for which more props and story line will be added for the finals. The song which is fast gaining recognition on the local, T&T & North America airwaves was produced by Big Rich Out of the T&T with a guest appearance by Ravi B in the song.

Terry G is calling on all Guyanese to give him the support as we puts Guyana on show at this prestigious annual competition by voting online & or text messages at http://www.simplyvote.net/csm/  or www.ChutneySocaMonarch.com .

Terry Gajraj code name is TGA and Entertainer is encouraging all as true Guyanese to vote TGA for the “Guyana Baboo” who’s representing Guyana all the way.

Reports are that once he wins Terry pledges that he will donate $2Million to charity for kids in Guyana & Trinidad. The first prize is $2M T&T Dollars

It should be noted that the 2011 edition has been the best Semi Final in the history of the competition, not only from the level of the production of the event, but also from the level of performances delivered by all 41 contestants.

This gave the judges the hard task of having to pick 14 from the pack of 41, while the last person earned a place via the online, International and local text votes.

The 15 finalist in the ‘Race for 2 Million’ are scheduled to compete at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Saturday February 19.

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Return of the Guyana Baboo – Shows in Progress

“We bringing world flavour with our flavour”- Terry Gajraj

Guyanese Baboo, Terry Gajraj and his Supertones band have touched down in Guyana and have begun to entertain fans and convert whoever those in attendance this weekend. Last night the partying began at the Arracari resort much to the liking of the fans who traveled from as far as Berbice. Tonight the show goes to the Starlite- Drive-in and patrons are invited to “come out to support your own and have fun, everybody will have a ball,” said band leader Terry Gajraj.

The New York based Gajraj and the Supertones band as they sat in the Hits and Jams television studio said they will continue to thrill local party goers tonight at the Starlite Drive-in before heading to Berbice on Sunday for the Kings Duck Curry competition. “We bringing world flavor with our flavour,” Gajraj said.

Organised by Wonder Boy Productions, party goers are in for some energetic Chutney/Soca and crossover musical entertainment action Gajraj promised.

Wonder Boy Reaz said the time has come for Guyana to see why the all Guyanese Supertones band was voted “Best Recorded Band”, “Best Crossover Band”, and “Best Performing Stage Band” at the 2009 West Indian Music Awards in the USA.  The band members, based in Queens, New York comprise Avinash Singh who plays the Key boards and is also a vocalist who said “people will have blast at our shows because we going way back and coming straight forward with hits from our new album.

The other band members include Omesh “Kuli Bai” Kemraj who plays the Dholak and is a vocalist, Pally Dass a lead vocalist, Princess Anisa a lead vocalist who will be singing soca and chutney, and Terry Gajraj the band’s lead vocalist and manager. They genre range include Soca, Chutney, Reggae and Filmi, Punjabi, and pop music. “This is a show for everybody matters not of your race, culture or creed,” promoter Reaz said.

The band recently released a video for their hit “Tek Sunita” and has also completed a brand new track titled Caribbean Girl. Two weeks ago they played in one of the theaters on Broadway in the West Indian dreams production and are billed to perform in Suriname, Holland and back on Broadway early in 2010.

The group will also be launching its “Red HottSupper one’s Band” album tonight and lucky patrons will take home free autographed copies.