In 1786 Robert Burns, national poet of Scotland, booked a ticket for a ship’s passage to Jamaica… In 2015 Jamaican singers and musicians began recording Robert Burns’ songs…
Latest single and music video from Jamaica Sings Robert Burns. Ken Boothe – Green Grow The Rashes O!
Nickeishia Barnes performing Ye Banks and Braes live in the studio in celebration of Burns Night
Second single and music video from Jamaica Sings Robert Burns. Brina – The Slave’s Lament (Feat. Addis Pablo)
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First single and music video from Jamaica Sings Robert Burns. Brina – Warmongerers By Name
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Introduction.
English.
Facing hardship and crises In 1786 Robert Burns, national poet of Scotland, booked a ticket for a ship’s passage to Jamaica to go and work as a ‘bookkeeper’ on a plantation. Ultimately Burns did not sail to Jamaica, his first book of poetry was published – and the rest is history.
But what if Burns had gone to Jamaica, what would his songs have sounded like had they been absorbed into the Jamaican musical repertoire and sung in Jamaican musical styles such as Reggae, Nyabinghi, Mento and Dancehall – in a mix of Scots, Patwa (the Jamaican language) and English?
To answer this question, Scottish producer Kieran C Murray, in collaboration with featured Jamaican singers and musicians, began the recording and production of Jamaica Sings Robert Burns in 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica. In recording this album with some of Jamaica’s best singers, musicians and bands, Burns’ work is heard in a completely new light. This album may yet become one of the biggest musical cross-cultural collaborations between Scotland and Jamaica and introduces a new audience to the timeless works of Robert Burns, and also brings infectiously enjoyable Reggae music to Burns’ fans via familiar songs.
The album will feature Jamaican artistes such as the legendary vocalist Ken Boothe O.D., Brina, Cherine Anderson, Rootz Underground, Nickeishia Barnes, Berri, Addis Pablo and others. Musicians on the album have played and recorded with the likes of Bob Marley, The Wailers, Raging Fyah and many of Jamaica’s leading acts.
Follow this Caribbean journey, and listen to some of Jamaica’s finest voices delivering an exciting and ground-breaking fusion of Burns’ songs and Jamaican music…. and yes, there are some Scottish bagpipes in the mix as well!
Scots.
Fair trachled wi hard work an’ personal troubles in 1786 Rabbie Burns oor national bard bookit a ticket on a ship tae Jamaica tae tak on a job as a ‘bookkeeper’ oan a plantation. Bit Rabbie didnae sail tae Jamaica aifter a’ ‘cause he got ‘es book a’ poems published – a’ the lave is history.
Bit, if the chiel had gane tae Jamaica fit wid his sangs hae soonded like in Jamaican musical culture? Nae doot a mixter o’ Scots, Patwa an’ English.
Tae get tae grips wi’ this question Scottish producer Kieran C Murray, alang wi’ featured Jamaican sangsters an musicians, startit workin’ on the project ‘Jamaica sings Robert Burns’ in 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica. Recordin’ this album wi’ some o’ Jamaica’s grandest singers, musicians an’ bands his shed a new licht on Burns’ work. This album micht weel turn oot tae be ane a the foremost collaborations atween Scotland and Jamaica an’ introduces a new audience tae the timeless wark o’ Rabbie Burns. an’ faas tae say that Burns’ fans winna be injected wi’ the braw soun o’ Reggae music.
The album’ll show aff Jamaican artistes like the legendary vocalist Ken Boothe O.D., Brina, Cherine Anderson, Rootz Underground, Nickeishia Barnes, Berri, Addis Pablo an’ ithers. Musicians on the album hiv played and recorded wi’ the likes o’ Bob Marley The Wailers, Raging Fyah an’ mony o’ Jamaica’s ither leadin’ acts.
Follow us doon this Caribbean road an’ fin’ oot for yersel Jamaica’s finest voices gie’n a new an’ exciting’ fusion o’ Burns’ sangs wi’ Jamaican music… an’ aye, yeel find some Scottish bagpipe tunes intae the bargin as weel.
Patwa.
Fiesin aadships an craisis, in 1786 Robert Burns, di nashnal poet af Scotland, bai a tikit pan a ship, fi go a Jumieka, go werk az a ‘clerk’ pan a plantaishun. Bot Burns neva siel tu Jamaica. Insted him fers buuk af poetri woz poblish. Di res iz istry.
Bot ef Burns did go a Jumieka, wanda wa im sang dem wuda soun laik ef dem woz blended iin, wid di Jumiekan miyuuzikal repatwar an sing iina Jumiekan miyuuzikal stailz soch az Reggae, Nyabinghi, Mento and Dancehall?
Fi ansa dat kwestiyan, Scottish projuusa Kieran C Murray an Jumiekan singas an miyuuzishans du a rikaadin an produkshan af “Jamaica Sings Robert Burns” in 2015, in Kingston, Jumieka. Dem rekkaad di albom wid som a di bes singaz, miyuuzishans an banz, wich mek Burns’ werk erd in a kompliitli niyuu lait. Dis albom luk laik it gwain bikom di bigis miyuuzikal kraas-kulcharal kolabarieshan eva atemptid bitwiin Scotland and Jumieka, krietin a niyuu aadiensz fi di taimles werks af Robert Burns, an aalso bring infekshous injoyable Reggae muzik tu Burns’ fanz via famiilia sangz.
Di albom fiichya Jumiekan aatists soch az di legndri vuokalis Ken Boothe O.D., Brina, Cherine Anderson, Rootz Underground, Nickeishia Barnes, Berri, an adaz. Miyuzishanz uu plie pan di albom inklude som uu plie and rikkad wid Bob Marley, The Wailers, Raging Fyah an meni af Jumieka’s muos fiemos aatist dem.
So, fallo wi pan dis Caribbean jerni an listn to som a Jumieka’s fienis vaisiz an diliva a eksitin, grounbriekin fiyuushan af Burns’ sangs an Jumiekan miyuuzik …. an yes, dere iz som Scottish bagpipes iina di mix az wel!