Go East, new writer!

Independent VoYces Literary Fair was created to provide a forum through which new, self-published and largely unknown Caribbean authors, poets and other writers and speakers of the word can share their work with a captive audience, potential publishers and booksellers.

These goals will be achieved by targeting our audiences, involving other stakeholders in the litereary and wider community with an interest in the continued preservation and promotion of the arts.

with that, the organizers are inviting writers to the salubrious shoreline of Robin's Bay, St Mary on November 7 or an eastern - and sanitized (no sexually explicit work; no profanity; no exception says the website) - version of Calabash.

go to www.independentvoyces.com for more info

Museum Crawl III: The Big Guns

Ok, so let's get the cheesy phallic reference stuff out of the way - there's a lot more than big guns to recommend the Jamaica Military Museum on the grounds of the JDF headquarters at Up Park Camp. Housed largely in two unassuming half-domes (though our pics were mostly taken outside), the compendium of the country's military history encompasses the Taino era, as well as the Spanish and British colonial period. On display are uniforms, weaponry and historical documents, including one that tells the inspiring story of the former 6th Regiment, a group of freedmen who were enlisted - much to the chagrin of the local planter class - to help shore the then burgeoning British Empire's interests in Central America.

The Museum opens Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 am. Appointments are recommended.

Negril Nice

the Negril "Pavillion" was the gem of the entire Experience Jamaica expo on the lawns of Devon House (the part facing Hope Road). Great people, nice food samples (especially the sweet potato pudding from PushCart)look out for my detailed review as of tomorrow

What's Next in Biz tech

CARIBIZTECH set to unfold this October
The renamed and rebranded, 2010 Caribbean SME Business Technology Exposition and Media Conference, “Where SME Business Technology, Social Media and the Realities of the Business World Collide” is now set to get underway starting October 26th to 28th 2010 at The Courtleigh Auditorium, New Kingston Jamaica.
According to AMK Communications, the organizers and promoters of the regional event, CARIBIZTECH is positioned as the premier business to business exhibition and media conference exclusively for SME business owners, executives and entrepreneurs, marketing, media and advertising executives interested in staying at the forefront of business technology and looking to innovate or source the right solutions to transform and streamline their business and brands.
CARIBIZTECH will also be a spectacular showcase of leading SME business technology brands and industry experts dedicated to keeping SME’s one step ahead of the competition.
CARIBIZTECH will also include an unrivalled range of networking opportunities, industry integration and new business lead generation.
Commenting on the strategy behind the rebranding, the organizers said that
“Following extensive consultations, listening to the comments and feedback from prospective and confirmed sponsors, presenters, participants, potential
exhibitors, industry insiders we have taken a strategic decision to expand the reach and scope of the original Caribbean New Media Conference to now embrace and explore the ways technology and new technology paradigms are radically transforming the way SME businesses function and are giving rise to new business models. Media, new or traditional can no longer be viewed in isolation. Technology is rapidly changing and forcing us to review our traditional notion and concept of media. CARIBIZTECH will be exploring the ways technology and new technology paradigms are radically transforming the way SME businesses function and are giving rise to new business models.”
To ensure the widest national level of SME participation, special invitations to attend have been sent to members of organizations such as the Small Business Association of Jamaica, PSOJ, Young Entrepreneurs Association, Jamaica Exporters Association, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Media Association of Jamaica, and Advertising Agency Association of Jamaica. This group will be expanded to others around the island in the coming weeks to ensure the widest level of participation.
With a seating capacity for 400 the organizer are projecting conservatively at least 200 attendees each day at the event location. Thousands more are expected to log on daily to the live internet stream as the organizers seek to have the widest level of participation and interaction from the Caribbean and around the world.
More information on this event can be found at

http://caribbeannewmediaconferenceandexposition.wordpress.com/

Jazz Katz and Manifesto's Art

Thanks to my old friend, saxophonist Kevin Bonfield, for restoring the tradition of the sidewalk performer on Knutsford Boulevard. Kevin's been around the block a few times, and seen the best and (more often) worst of life, but he keeps a bright outlook and an endearing humility which caused me, like others threading the Friday afternoon jam in New Kingston, to stop and give him a listening ear. Fellow saxman Conrad Pinnock was also out there lending moral support.

later, just ahead of the now obligatory late afternoon downpour, we found ourselves at Bookophilia, where preparations were well underway for the "Artical Exposure" event being mounted by activist group Manifesto Jamaica (see them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ManifestoJA?ref=ts&v=app_4949752878)Despite our best intentions we missed the musical vibes, but we caught sight of some pretty interesting artwork, which we share with you here.

Good thingz are happening around the city - you have to open your eyez.

Museum Crawl II: Much more music

A funny thing happened on the way to the screening.

Having gotten a lift form my friend, musicologist Herbie Miller, our conversation inevitably turned to music matters and to the stuff he's presently doing at the nascent Museum of Jamaican Music(JAMM). It wasn't long before the proverbial "bing!" went off in my head and I took the opportunity to postpone my film screening date (see www.mikethemovies.blogspot.com) and take stock of what the JAMM had to offer.
What a great move. From the casually posed horns of the late Don Drummond and Johnny "Dizzy" Moore (see www.drummondbook.blogspot.com), to uncountable stacks of LPs, 45s and 78s from virtually every musical era and diverse corners of the globe.

there's also a (sadly) damaged Victrola record player (truly beautiful)and an upright bass used during the performance of the Skatalites at the fabled Blue Monk (which Miler owned) the venue which also hosted legends such as Max Roach, Dexter Gordon and many others.

Then to cap off, there's the in-office exhibit of instruments, posters and other documents and memorabilia outlining the story of Jamaican music from the Tainos to the present.

A true national treasure if ever there as one.

Polish, Take II

Finally, after some glitches, we have the next set of photos form Warsaw

Dzień dobry (that's good day in Polish)