"Dancehall Baptism Chapter One'' featuring Christafari and Friends including Junior C There was a time during the mid-to-late 1980s when Admiral Bailey and Lieutenant Stitchie ruled the dancehall. You remember the "Big Belly Mon'' dropping hit after hit so that the only one who could keep up with him was the man who reminded the girls to "Wear Yu Size''. That was a time when Deejays ran the dance, and held the entire youth culture of the Caribbean in the palms of their hands; that was an age rich in innovation and digital madness.

Bailey has been heard from a few times since, with moderate acclaim, while Stitchie took some time out to check his spirit, regroup, and come back with a message and a vision. Papa San was another top Deejay of that remarkable era ...he's back too! A brief digression: -- Locally, that era saw the emergence of a thirteen year old boy wonder who ruled de dance. We would come to know him as Junior C, and he would make us proud for many years to follow. And now, back to our story.

Stitchie and San have been saved, and are now chanting down Babylon with a mic in one hand and a Bible in the other. They are soldiers on the frontline of the newest movement in Reggae music: Christian Reggae, a movement that has had quite a bit of success right here in Bermuda.

In fact, those two legendary Jamaican Deejays are in a group called Soldiers for Jesus Christ, which also features such notable Reggae stalwarts as Judy Mowatt, Chevelle Franklin, Junior Tucker and Bermuda's own Junior C. And yes, I did go through all of that to get to the internationally renowned local legend, Carlton (Junior C) Welch.

Junior C is everywhere outside Bermuda. He currently has an album out in the US ("Faith'' on the Red Clay label), a compilation that sold out of Bermuda's music stores in very quick time, and an upcoming compilation which features the above mentioned Soldiers for Jesus Christ. This particular article is a review of the second project mentioned -- "Dancehall Baptism Chapter One'' featuring Christafari and Friends, but don't worry, you know I'll get to the others eventually! "Dancehall Baptism'' is an awesome project, which features some amazing artists and astounding performances. The first song is Christafari's "This Tribulation'' (jump up jungle remix) and this piece gives you goose bumps from go. I never liked Jungle music too much, but this song just kind of works for some reason (maybe it's the highly spiritual content). In any event, this cut is a fitting start to an album that is so fresh it makes your skin tingle.

You'll see what I'm talking about when you hear the first few chords of Junior C's "Rocky Road''...wow! "Rocky Road'' is the first of two Junior C contributions to this compilation, and it exhibits a Deejay who has refined his craft to the point where very few artists reach.

Junior has been doing this for half his life, and he's had to wade through a lot of murky waters along the road to international recognition; that experience, that perseverance, that maturity can be readily heard in his voice, in his delivery and in his message. "Dem see me inna night club just a shocking out / and dem think that the devil's got me ... "don't be fooled ...

this Deejay is far from slack! "But now I'm serving de Lord / cuz me no fraud / I come to claim my victory!'' The message is clear ... it was a long road, but now he walks it tall.

The riddim is tough! A heavy bass drum accompanied by a simple piano loop and blaring horns that come in at the perfect moment make this a heartical piece of Reggae music. TUNE! This one is produced by Dwight Jones (Studio B) and, as far as this critic is concerned, is a nominee for greatest dancehall tune ever produced locally. It's really that good.

Junior C's second contribution to this excellent disc is a considerably slower tune called "Born for the Struggle''. This one was originally released in an a cappella version on 1998's locally produced "Faith'' EP. Here it is reworked with a violin driven beat that is as bass heavy as any die-hard Reggae fan would expect. It also features a sweet chorus sung by Bermuda's own Sia Spence, and a smooth verse by Troy. Another boom shot from the Studio B catalogue that has hit the international scene...HARD! Other notable cuts on this 70 minute disc include Stitchie's "Call Pon Him'' and "Solid Rock'' (both of which find Stitchie at his frenetic best), Chevelle Franklin's "Radio is Playing it'' (her best since "Dancehall Queen'') and "Number One'', K Gees' "Big Him Up'', the beautiful "God Is Real'' by Todah and Melchizedec Order, Jr. Miller's "Jesus We a Praise'' (which has a chorus that Sizzla would be proud of) and the haunting "Draw Me Nearer''.

Junior C is still the best! The other six songs are solid, and would probably be highlights for someone else, but someone else ain't writing this article is they? This compilation sold out quite quickly the first time, so I suggest that if you want to be up on the latest movement in Reggae music, you get down to your favourite record shop and demand that they restock, cuz this CD is hot! In addition to being an outstanding compilation of Christian Reggae hits, "Dancehall Baptism Chapter One'' is an enhanced CD, which features artists' bios, photos, song lyrics, and the entire Bible! Now what more could you ask for for just $20? Pick it up y'all! "Soldiers for Jesus Christ'' hasn't been released in the stores yet, but it is just as impressive as this disc (that I'll tell you for free!). Watch this space for the upcoming review of the album recorded by a group of newborn legends of the genre: the Soldiers for Jesus Christ.

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