I once heard somebody oversimplify the definition of jazz by saying 'jazz is anything played by a jazz musician'. Yeah, that may sound cute, don't? Fi real, but it doesn't help me much. So, I spend a lot of time enjoying jazz, although I still don't know how to define it.

Well, how about that thing called Jamaican music? I know I don't have to ask about how much you love and enjoy it. But how do we define and describe it?

How wide do you cast the net when you're trying to tie down your understanding of what is Jamaican music? I don't know about you, but my idea of Jamaican music is big, broad and all encompassing. Yeah, man! And I don't subscribe to the view that any particular form of our music is more Jamaican than another. In my universe, a nice acoustic ballad from Della Manley is just as Jamaican as Konshens and Tarrus Riley belting out Good Girl Gone Bad; a rendition by Dr Curtis Watson is just as Jamaican as a Beenie Man and Bounty Killer clash; and that hot new dancehall rhythm by ZJ Chrome is definitely not more Jamaican than that orchestra being conducted by Peter Ashbourne. Ah so it go inna my books. Am I alone here?

diverse

Talk to me now, people. How many of us actually comprehen and acknowledge the fact that Jamaican music is a very, diverse, multifaceted and multi-layered field? Yeah, some radio disc jockeys and many of their young listeners may not even realise that with all its unquestionable power, energy and currency, dancehall is not the end-all and be-all of Jamaican music. I actually find it quite intriguing and more than a little interesting that when most people use the phrase 'Jamaican music', they're usually making reference exclusively to reggae, or generally to the other genres in the evolutionary continuum like ska or rock steady etc.

top drawer

Well, hear me now, friends and people. If unnu want to enjoy, absorb and experience some of the best Jamaican music around this weekend, go tek een the Cari-Folk Singers who will be presenting their 2012, season of concerts at the Little Theatre, September 21 to 23, 2012. Trust me, I got a sneak preview, and to use current terms and phrases, di show sell off, shatt and slap weh! When yu talk bout music, Cari-Folk is totally top drawer. The singing is excellent, the choreography is superb and the delightful dramatisations are a wicked brawta.

It's titled 'All Tings Not Jamaican' and the season is Cari-Folk's contribution to Jamaica's celebration of 50 years of Independence. 'All Tings Jamaican' is mento, Revival, reggae and more. It's a potpourri of forms with fun music, friendly music, festival music and more. The season presents snippets of our musical journey and highlights the playfulness, resilience and spiritual strength of Jamaicans. Yes, folks, is folk music a dweet fi me this weekend. And not just any folk, Cari-Folk.

Oh, and unnu know say the word folk actually means 'people', right? So is fi wi ting. Go support it!

box-mi-back@hotmail.com

How many of us actually comprehen and acknowledge the fact that Jamaican music is a very diverse, multifaceted and multilayered field?