Reggae Routes PB [Taschenbuch]

Two Jamaican Reggae enthusiasts pen the history of reggae music from the Jamaican perspective - and end up giving us so much more.

REGGAE ROUTES - By Kevin O'Brien Chang and Wayne Chen

"Jamaica has less than one-twentieth of one percent of the world's population and produces even less of its wealth...In terms of popular music, though, it's the most fortunate nation on earth. Like everything else, reggae has had to adapt to a faster moving world. But it remains inarguably Jamaican, a rhythm in tune with its people, not only listened to all over the globe but still listening to itself." Such is the tone for Reggae Routes. From cover to cover, and with practically flawless consistency, lead author Kevin O'Brien Chang and co-author Wayne Chen bring to life the story of Jamaica's reggae music with the same frankness, pride and gutsy insight that punctuate this excerpt.

When asked what prompted him to write about reggae, Brien Chang just laughs. "Oh, I don't know! My friends and I used to spend a lot of time as youngsters talking and arguing about reggae and its evolution over the years. It was like a hobby of sorts." An understatement indeed! As the name implies, Reggae Routes walks the reader through the entire history of Jamaica's hallbrand of music, now globally famous, if not unmistakablly recognised. The work is no less than thorough in its research, one of its obvious strengths, with every musical contributor being given his or her fair share of the limelight. Fear not. Bob Marley, while featured prominently on the book's cover, does not upstage his colleagues.

In fact, the book is a virtual three-dimensional expose of reggae's history, with all aspects covered, or rather, uncovered. We are made privy to the many impromptu meetings, the social observations and the private battles that lay the path for the creation and promotion of the songs that we would eventually come to know and love, and which would eventually lead to the birth of entire musical trends. Humorous anecdotes about the naming of songs and the origins of names (even reggae itself) only begin to whet the appetite for information. From the origin of Kumina to the influence of Louise Bennett, the book's occasional scholastic touch is neatly balanced with its obviously entertaining flair. The careful but lively detail used in this account is a tribute and a compliment to Jamaicans and reggae fans alike who may already know some of the history. As if sharing the mircrophone in their own recording studio, the authors prudently and frequently share the voice of authority with every side involved in an issue. From song writers to producers, musicians to singers, the opinions positive and negative, contradictory and favourable are all included in the mix, and lend much credibility to the book. Readers will appreciate this approach by these two businessmen-turned-authors who use fact to support their views, rather than force an opinion with blind passion.

But if research and supportive facts are the canvas of this piece, then it is the fresh presentation and perspective employed that make Reggae Routes a masterpiece, and much more than an account of Jamaica's musical history. The book in efect also tells the story of social Jamaica in its post independence years, and makes the link between the nationalistic pride we searached for then and the role reggae played in helping us find it. The authors also include enough global perspective to remind us of how influenced and influential our island nation has been over the years. For the younger generation especially, many of these points will make for an eye-opener. In fact, "eye-opening" describes much of this book. It is virtually crammed with information for the taking. Written in any other way, it would have taken on a more didactic tone. But herein lies its other strength. It has been expertly crafted by two individuals who have managed to weave into the written word the same upbeat lilt natural to the book's subject. There is no disappointment here. Chang and Chen are gifted storytellers. They have written their book with the hearts and "nuffness" of two Jamaicans whose passion for reggae music could not be contained. They had said they were determined to write a book on reggae from the Jamaican perspective, but one which both Jamaicans and foreigners could appreciate and share. In the end, they accomplished their goal.

Two Jamaican Reggae enthusiasts pen the history of reggae music from the Jamaican perspective - and end up giving us so much more.

REGGAE ROUTES - By Kevin O'Brien Chang and Wayne Chen

"Jamaica has less than one-twentieth of one percent of the world's population and produces even less of its wealth...In terms of popular music, though, it's the most fortunate nation on earth. Like everything else, reggae has had to adapt to a faster moving world. But it remains inarguably Jamaican, a rhythm in tune with its people, not only listened to all over the globe but still listening to itself." Such is the tone for Reggae Routes. From cover to cover, and with practically flawless consistency, lead author Kevin O'Brien Chang and co-author Wayne Chen bring to life the story of Jamaica's reggae music with the same frankness, pride and gutsy insight that punctuate this excerpt.

When asked what prompted him to write about reggae, Brien Chang just laughs. "Oh, I don't know! My friends and I used to spend a lot of time as youngsters talking and arguing about reggae and its evolution over the years. It was like a hobby of sorts." An understatement indeed! As the name implies, Reggae Routes walks the reader through the entire history of Jamaica's hallbrand of music, now globally famous, if not unmistakablly recognised. The work is no less than thorough in its research, one of its obvious strengths, with every musical contributor being given his or her fair share of the limelight. Fear not. Bob Marley, while featured prominently on the book's cover, does not upstage his colleagues.

In fact, the book is a virtual three-dimensional expose of reggae's history, with all aspects covered, or rather, uncovered. We are made privy to the many impromptu meetings, the social observations and the private battles that lay the path for the creation and promotion of the songs that we would eventually come to know and love, and which would eventually lead to the birth of entire musical trends. Humorous anecdotes about the naming of songs and the origins of names (even reggae itself) only begin to whet the appetite for information. From the origin of Kumina to the influence of Louise Bennett, the book's occasional scholastic touch is neatly balanced with its obviously entertaining flair. The careful but lively detail used in this account is a tribute and a compliment to Jamaicans and reggae fans alike who may already know some of the history. As if sharing the mircrophone in their own recording studio, the authors prudently and frequently share the voice of authority with every side involved in an issue. From song writers to producers, musicians to singers, the opinions positive and negative, contradictory and favourable are all included in the mix, and lend much credibility to the book. Readers will appreciate this approach by these two businessmen-turned-authors who use fact to support their views, rather than force an opinion with blind passion.

But if research and supportive facts are the canvas of this piece, then it is the fresh presentation and perspective employed that make Reggae Routes a masterpiece, and much more than an account of Jamaica's musical history. The book in efect also tells the story of social Jamaica in its post independence years, and makes the link between the nationalistic pride we searached for then and the role reggae played in helping us find it. The authors also include enough global perspective to remind us of how influenced and influential our island nation has been over the years. For the younger generation especially, many of these points will make for an eye-opener. In fact, "eye-opening" describes much of this book. It is virtually crammed with information for the taking. Written in any other way, it would have taken on a more didactic tone. But herein lies its other strength. It has been expertly crafted by two individuals who have managed to weave into the written word the same upbeat lilt natural to the book's subject. There is no disappointment here. Chang and Chen are gifted storytellers. They have written their book with the hearts and "nuffness" of two Jamaicans whose passion for reggae music could not be contained. They had said they were determined to write a book on reggae from the Jamaican perspective, but one which both Jamaicans and foreigners could appreciate and share. In the end, they accomplished their goal.