Impressions Jamaica 2024

Black Star Foundation and singer/songwriter Yan Bazin (artist name: Mr. Aya) are working together since 2013, when Yan Bazin was the winner of the Benelux Reggae Contest. During the years, we have done many live performances together and we recorded 2 musical productions with Yan Bazin on the label of Black Star Foundation. But we still have some more musical productions to finalize. As a social and cultural exchange on Caribbean culture between France, the Netherlands and Jamaica, we are going to Jamaica in January 2024. We bring Yan Bazin for an artistic residency for inspiration, studio recordings, cooperations with artists, meet and exchange with various associations and medias and possibly some performances. In this context, we want to finalize our musical productions during this artistic residency in Jamaica.

Day 1 in Kingston, Wednesday, 3 January, we visited Mixing Lab studio, where Kerry Lopez was working. Fantan Mojah was there, too. Then we stopped by Cross Roads at Lone Ranger's bar, which we said hello to. That night we went to Weddy Weddy Wednesdays, Stone Love Soundsystem's weekly party. There, among others, was Beenieman.

The next day we went by Anchor Studio, where Jahbar I was recording with his father George Miller (Firehouse Crew) and producer Earl Smits, Earl China Smith's son. There we ran into Shaggy. In the evening to Rub A Dub / Original Dancehall Thursdays, Peter Metro and Major Mackerel's weekly party, where Aza Lineage and Glen Washington, among others, performed. Next week, Mr. Aya will be on stage here!

Friday we drove by Sugar Minott Studio, where we met Tampanae and where Horace Andy was working at the time.

In the evening along with Kerry Lopez to Chinna Smith's Inna De Yard, where we were to meet Kiddus I. Many familiar faces there, including Israel Voice, Brains, Chinna and, of course, Kiddus. Both Kerry and Mr. Aya took the mic here for a while and showed off their skills. Then we went by Junior Reid's rooftop, where Friday Live takes place weekly. Here, too, Kerry and Aya took the stage. In addition, Nature Ellis performed there, Fred Locks was there and, of course, Junior Reid and a lot of upcoming artists.

That's how it goes in Kingston town... Studios everywhere, artists everywhere, different reggae parties every day! It was a very good experience for Mr. Aya, his first Jamaica experience with several performances and studio recordings. Unfortunately, Mr. Aya couldn't come with us to Rebel Salute Festival. We have been there for 15 years in a row and it is one of the best reggae festivals in the world!

Rebel Salute Festival 2024 featured so many legendary artists, such as Anthony B, Asadenaki Wailer, Glen Washington, Mikey Spice, Richie Stephens, Sanchez, Third World and Tony Rebel (first night), and Delly Ranks, Etana, Horace Andy, Imeru Tafari, Josey Wales, Linval Thompson, Little John, Luciano, Peter Metro, Sean Paul and Yellowman (second night)!