- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Something amuses Minister of Industry and Tourism Aloun Assamba (centre), Lorraine Powell (left) and Charmaine Franklin. The ladies were attending Bacchanal Carnival's Mad Hatters night at Mas Camp recently.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
WITHIN DAYS of her cousin's wedding, the fabulous Dr. Rebecca Tortello, daughter of the charming Fay Tortello, is set to tie knot to her beau, Welshman Dr. Johnathan Greenland. The private ceremony is set to take place here in Kingston on April 3, at the University Chapel. The reception will follow at the simply tres chic neighbouring Ruins.
Now, my dears, wait for this one as it promises to be another fabulous society do!
And speaking of weddings, the word is that the former financial editor at The Gleaner, Delroy Alexander, recently married businesswoman and People's National Party (PNP) powerplayer the lovely Maureen Webber, in a very hush-hush wedding, that has left many in surprise.
REGRETS
Sadly, Donovan Lewis buried his father George Lewis last Tuesday. It was a sombre but yet spirited affair which saw old family friend, billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, his companion, the lovely Sonya Hamilton and his former wife, the lovely Vera Lee-Chin all jetting in from Canada, for the service.
And speaking of Canada, Grace Kennedy's Douglas Orane was in Toronto last week unveiling his company's new 'Jamaican Birthright' new branding to rave review. Among those out attending included the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley; Canadian/Jamaican multi-millionaire Ray Chang and his belle Donnette Chin-Loy and a host of others.
A COLLECTOR'S ITEM
It's just like that. Some people are givers. Some takers. And some others share.
And so it is my dears, that there is an absolutely gorgeous property in Port Antonio, known to the inhabitants of that fabulously picturesque resort town as Alligator Head. It has been the summer home of one of Europe's leading blue-blooded families for upwards of the last half of a century, and then some. As indeed, the property has been in the family of the late German industrialist Baron von Thyssen, for donkey years.
A simply marvellous property, Alligator Head is simply one of the world's best kept secrets. It is indeed, the preferred get-away for many European blue-bloods, the wealthy and/or the titled. It is not only a little piece of paradise, it is still a piece of paradise unspoilt by the prying lenses of the international paparazzi, or the intrusive pen of the rag-scribes. Now, the place is literally a legend and then some as during the near 60 years of it being the property of the Thyssen clan, the place has not only hosted quite a number of Europe's leading royals and notables, Alligator Head is noted by the absolutely dee-vine soirees, dinners and or plain ol cocktails! Mind you all, there has never been anything plain associated with the name Thyssen as indeed, the name is an international symbol for civilised good-taste and haute style. And so, nothing but the best is ever accommodated here!
As style is as the fabulous do, then you all know that we are talking haute-fabulissimo here, and nothing but!
My dears, it is like that and then some, as the latest and oh so fabulous sounds out of Port Antonio, is the absolutely marvellous CD entitled The Alligator Head Sista P Sessions (Limited Edition), with the Nayamka Drummers!
A J'CAN WORK OF ART
Me Daahlings, the work is nothing short of precious and then some, as it is indeed the very heart, soul and character of the very early Jamaican music, as practised by pre-1960s musicians and music lovers, capturing the very rich Afrocentric and religious feel of the era in drums and lyrics that transports the listener into an era of purity and reverence that makes for a collector's item, and then some!
Dovecakes, we are talking musical mastery here and nothing but as indeed, the CD is a treasure trove of a collection of some of the most fabulous music to ever have been produced for this format, covering as it does elements of Nyah Binghi, Kumina, Mento, with just a hint of Quadrille to crown a musical masterpiece of a collection!
Now, here's the absolute best part. This musical treasure trove is the brainchild of the absolutely fabulous Princess Francesca Von Hapsburg, the daughter of the late Baron Von Thyssen and wife of Austrian blue-blood, Prince Karl Von Hapsburg, the grandson of the last Austrian Emperor, and is a collorabative effort of producer Tkae Mendez with Francesca Von Hapsburg, sharing the executive producer billing, with Jon Baker of GeeJam Studios in Port Antonio.
Me-daahlings, and this is on the life of this here Mont Blanc, this is riveting music at its historical and fabulous best! Sadly, this absolute gem of a CD is not available commercially as it is indeed, a collector's item.
