The BBC has put together a pretty good recap on the goings on in the Caribbean over the past year. Check it out here.

Asho hit me with this info last week, but I wanted to get a little closer to the event date before I spread the word on things. For more info on Puntilla, click here. Check out the info on the event below…

Jan 10, 2009
Tribute to Orlando “Puntilla” Rios Concert
Master Afro-Cuban Bata Drummer

Special Performances by:
Nueva Generacion – founded by Orlando “Puntilla” Rios and Olufemi Mitchell
New Yor-Uba – founded by Michelle Rosewoman

And a short preview of the documentary When the Spirits Dance Mambo. Produced by CCCADI, Musical Director Puntilla.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Blvd @ West 135th St
New York, NY 10037

Tickets: $15 each
To purchase tickets, call The Schomburg Shop at (212) 491-2206. Ticket charge hours, Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 6 p.m.

Part of the proceeds will be donated towards a youth drummer scholarship in recognition of Puntilla. For more information please contact Monthina Williams at mwilliams@cccadi.org or 212-307-7420 ext 3006.

Check out more info on Puntilla and a video of him in action, after the jump…

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A little something for the holidays. Thanks to DJ Junior for the heads up. Check out some samples below and after the jump along with a link to download the album…

Audio track inside
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Via Caribbean Beat, check out this article on Trinidadian Icon Beryl McBurnie….

In the spring of 1941, Beryl McBurnie, under her stage name of La Belle Rosette, started to feature in the New York press. From then until the end of 1945 she was one of the most active and celebrated black dancers in the city.

Public notice of McBurnie outside Harlem started in spring 1941, with the Coffee Concerts, a series at the Museum of Modern Art organised by the young theatrical agent Louise Crane. Crane developed an amazingly adventurous series of events, which ranged from jazz to gospel to avant garde, as well as featuring musicians from the Caribbean and Latin America….

Check out more of the article after the jump…
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Heavy D (aka Mr. Big Stuff) dropped a new album yesterday, and has decided to take things back to his roots. Check the review from allmusic.com below…

Vibes is not only Heavy D’s first album in nine years but a reggae-pop album on top of it, with a whole lot less rap than expected. The rapper, and now more often singer, has referenced his birthplace of Jamaica before, most notably with his hit cover version of “Now That We Found Love,” which was based on reggae act Third World’s take on the track . Here he is consumed by the sounds of Freddie McGregor, Beres Hammond, Morgan Heritage, and others who combine Island tones with grown folk’s R&B. Another obvious influence, Barrington Levy, shows up for the great “Love Me Like This,” one of the many songs based on cool lovers rock. This mostly smooth album isn’t courting the Marley fans as there’s not much political reggae here but the influence of roots music can be found in the cabinet rattling bass of “Queen Majesty” or “Long Distance Girlfriend,” while “Private Dancer” is a one-drop lust number featuring modern dread Sizzla. With nylon-stringed guitars and soulful crooning, the pleasant “Delilah” ends up a more modest version of Wyclef’s genre-blending, appearing right before the heartbroken but hopeful “Chasing Windmills” pulls out the metaphors for what’s arguably the songwriting highlight of his career. On this aptly titled album, Heavy D does doubly duty, embracing his roots while relaunching his music career. Successful on both counts, this is a genuine find for lovers of the softer side of reggae plus the big payoff for the Overweight Lover’s most patient fans.

Check the first single, “Long Distance Girlfriend” below. The video’s after the jump…