• Latest
“Groove’’ is Calypso’s best chance of going international like Reggae

Classy Jab Jab songs but more creativity needed

3 years ago
Government boosts Coast Guard capacity to patrol country’s northern border

Government boosts Coast Guard capacity to patrol country’s northern border

7 hours ago
Covid-19 update by Minister for Health

Nightly curfew remains in place

7 hours ago
Reach Within supports teens as they grow into young adulthood

Reach Within supports teens as they grow into young adulthood

9 hours ago
US Gives Additional Support to Dominica

US Embassy cancels all non-immigrant visa appointments

11 hours ago
Nightly curfew remains in place but will begin at 10 pm

Curfew to remain for at least 2 more weeks

11 hours ago
Fewer than 400 marriages registered in 2020

Fewer than 400 marriages registered in 2020

1 day ago
Randy Isaac arrested and charged for domestic violence

Randy Isaac arrested and charged for domestic violence

1 day ago
Response to PM’s National Address

Statement of solidarity with teachers and public workers

2 days ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 23 January

3 days ago
Grand Etang route disruption

Grand Etang route disruption

3 days ago
Early Intervention is the best hope for reducing child abuse

A crisis of sexual assault and rape among people in Grenada

4 days ago
GHTA Expresses Concern Over the 2017 Budget

Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association elects its new board

4 days ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

Classy Jab Jab songs but more creativity needed

This story was posted 3 years ago
16 July 2018
in Arts/Culture/Entertainment, OPINION/COMMENTARY
3 min. read
Arley Gill
Share

by Arley Gill

Several years ago, I was of the considered view that we, as Grenadians, should take ownership of the ‘Jab Jab’ masquerade. I came to that conclusion because, although there are pockets in the region where that masquerade still survives, Grenada, in my view, represents the island where it is most prominently practised.

Jab Jab is a portrayal where masqueraders essentially mock the devil. Traditionally, in Grenada, these masqueraders applied charcoal to cover their skins in black, from head to foot. In those days, they would use red colouring dripping from their mouths that really made the mas’ scary. These Jab Jabs used to have serpents and snakes as part of their portrayal. Nowadays, the use of these reptiles is no longer included as part of the portrayal, and “used’’ motor oil is the main agent applied to attain the black colour of the Jab Jab.

Importantly, accompanying the masquerade, were the songs or chants of the Jab Jabs; today, it’s hi-fi music. Like the chant-well of the Shortknee, Jab jabs sang on a variety of themes that were topical at the time; those chants could not be aired on radio and could easily satisfy the criminal law requirement as obscene and insulting language. The chants had musical accompaniment of goat-skin drums, buckets, biscuit tins and any old item that could be pound into a musical beat.

These chants and songs were seized on by the local calypsonians and were first made prominent by Moss International, at the time Grenada’s leading jam band. Their monster international hit which included the chant, “run fast your mother coming”, with conch shell being used generously throughout the song, created a unique and distinctive Grenadian sound.

In more recent years, the band Rhythm Mix of Birchgrove and Tallpree from Vendome – two communities separated by the Grand Etang mountains – gave us some wonderful Jab Jab music. Tallpree must get a lot of credit for getting that brand of music into the consciousness of the youthful generation in Grenada and throughout the region.

In the past few years we have had a steady and consistent production of ‘Jab Jab’ songs. There is no doubting, Grenada is now firmly established as the ‘Jab Jab’ capital of the world and Spicemas is the carnival with the best J’ouvert. That, I believe, is the consensus in all respected discussions about Trinidad-style carnivals.

Now, my concern after listening to the early music releases for this year’s carnival, is whether or not we are becoming a bit monotonous with the Jab Jab rhythm. Speaking to Colin Dowe, former Spicemas Chairman, he noted that “there is no real attempt at arrangements or varying the melodic lines within the song”. That was his observation, and I agree with him wholeheartedly.

We need to be a little bit more creative or inventive with the Jab Jab music or else it would all sound alike or very monotonous. If that happens it will lose its attractiveness and appeal. I am aware of another Caribbean musical form that is suffering the same fate. When that happens, it becomes a local music and lacks appeal outside one’s national boundary. Having said that, there are some commendable songs which I expect to do well outside of Grenada; but, the point is, we must be mindful of the direction of the music.

I was listening to an interview with Stedson Wiltshire, better known as Red Plastic Bag, the ten-time Pic o’ de Crop calypso champion in Barbados, and he was making the point that there can be an improvement in the themes used by calypsonians. The same point can be made for the Jab Jab songs, in particular, and in the music here in Grenada in general. There is some very descriptive and vivid imagery created by the lyrics in some of the Jab Jab songs; but, here again, if the writers of these songs compose on the same themes, we’ll likely suffer the same fate as if the melodies were identical or similar. So, we ought to be mindful of being innovative and creative in the themes and the treatment that we give to those themes.

In concluding, it is heartening to hear all the wonderful Jab Jab songs, some of which are really classy compositions; but, we must be warned that there is tremendous room for improvements.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: arley gillcarnivaljab jabjouvertspicemas
Next Post
Fiscal Responsibility Oversight Committee Releases 2017 Annual Report

Fiscal Responsibility Oversight Committee Releases 2017 Annual Report

Comment on story Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved
Published by Aqua Design Inc.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.