Jumbie in the Jukebox, the second album from Trini-born and Toronto-based Drew Gonsalves' band Kobo Town released last year by the Belizean label Stonetree in partnership with premier World Music label Cumbancha, has been nominated for a World Music Album of the year Juno Award.The Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards, the Juno Awards will be announced during the week of March 24�30, in Winnipeg (recently named the cultural capital of Canada), Manitoba.Drew, nephew of well-known local musician/promoter Johnny Gonsalves, relocated from Diego Martin to Toronto in 1989, at the age of 13. Although he began playing guitar in Trinidad, his interest then was heavy metal and hard rock, a passion he shared with the Rojas brothers of the band Orange Sky. He discovered his Trini calypso roots and learnt an alternative Caribbean history listening to classic kaiso in his mother's native Toronto, where the clever wordplay and humour of the likes of Roaring Lion, Terror, Tiger and Spoiler inspired his own take which he describes as "calypso-derived" or even "bastardised calypso."
Jumbie in the Jukebox mixes obvious kaiso influences with roots reggae but with its unplugged acoustic sound and indie rock arrangements appeals to a wider world music audience, which has responded ecstatically to Kobo Town's live gigs on tour.A busy father of three, Drew took a few seconds out from his "bouncing offspring" to comment: "I am thrilled to receive this nomination. It is, of course, very encouraging to my own music but I hope it also hints at a wider appreciation here for the music of the country that has inspired it."Cumbancha founder and CEO Jacob Edgar, who will be in Trinidad for a music industry conference and workshop at this end of this month, was equally delighted and responded with appropriate wit: "Cumbancha is celebrating Kobo Town's nomination for the prestigious Juno Award with a shot of Trinidadian rum and a pint of Stag Beer (in that order)."We are so happy for Drew Gonsalves and Kobo Town and we're keeping our fingers crossed that they end up taking home the big prize when the winners are announced."We have absolutely no doubt they deserve it and we feel honoured and privileged to be able to work with such an immensely talented group."