Jamaica Day 19: Keeping Mento Alive, Errol Flynn Island, Jah T, More Studio, Drum Line, by Davin Michael Stedman

My friends Bull and Joseph Whitmore and my new friend Jah T on guitar keeping Mento music alive.

Jah T said something tonight that inspired me, that I want to share. But let me wait till after we do some more work with them tomorrow…

But let’s just say I hatched a plan to bust Mento out of the posh hotels, and back towards the charts. The kids of Trench Town are going to help.

*Lenni I-Music is flexing his producer muscles and repping Port Antonio music to the fullest.

JAMAICAN DAYS: I have so many great clips that are too big to upload, but soon come. When I get home I am opening the treasure chest. I am here at Errol Flynn Marina. In the back ground is Errol Flynn island. My self and fellas are working up an arrangement of my tune, ‘Go Tell It To The Mystics’. We found a nice bridge between a classic Mento feel and my peculiar Seattle thang.

This is West Indian Rock.

There is so much History in Port Antonio. This is where you really want to go. Come to Port Antonio with me sometime and step back in time to the 1950s of old Jamaica. Cruise down the river in a bamboo ship, go fish for lobster with Bobby, the 73 year old fisherman and hid boat, Dr. Love. Bobby will throw the seafood on the grill and relax on the beach or Goblin Hill and hear the mystic sounds of Mento.

These are my friends. They will take good care of you. Take care of them.

Lenni I-Music brought me over to Styles FM 96.5. The Reggae Powerhouse Band was in the station doing at interview and promoting their new single, ‘Roots’.

Jah T, the disc jockey and veteran MC pulled Lenni I and myself in the studio when he saw him. He got Lenni I on the mic to ask him when his next album is dropping.

This was moment was a trip because I was making all these great links with a major music manager and a famous DJ, but as I mentioned yesterday, I also was stoned for the first time on the whole trip, wondering to myself if I should have eaten that much of that brownie.

Everyone was lovely.

Sneaker pimps of East Jamaica.

But just when you think you are in the clear in Jamaica to just not be making major moves, you meet a manager that follows up with you hours later to tell you he loves your new single and sent the song to key DJs and sound systems through out the Caribbean.I may be a light weight on that Cannabis tip, but I can play it coooooool. This moment was so cool.

On Jamaica’s Rio Grande:

In Axx Studio in Norich. This is Devon Bradshaw’s facility. Stay tuned.

INSIDE A JAMAICAN STUDIO: Studio owner & Engineer Devon Bradshaw discusses my song, ‘Go Tell it To The Mystics’. Bradshaw traveled the world playing bass with Burning Spear in the 1980s, and most recently, he performed on a track on this year’s Grammy nominated album by Chronixx.

The discussion of the tune we recorded today led to some pretty neat insights from a wise and esteemed member of the Jamaican music community.

When you come one upon a Jamaican Youth Drum Line. Just a wonderful sunny day in Port Antonio, with random bouts of warm Caribbean rain I call a nice cool break in the regular programming.

The Jamaicans move away from the rain for a couple of reasons. I move towards it like I did at this moment, hearing culture pouring on the street corner, from the cement to the sky.

Davin’s new song has been released and is fast becoming a dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN

– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many musical ventures and is one of the driving forces behind the Staxx Brothers. He is networking and reporting from Kingston, Jamaica right now.