Rating: NNN
You certainly can’t question former MuchMusic host Master T’s commitment and contribution to the Canadian black music scene. At a time when major labels in Canada had a decidedly blinkered outlook, T made it his business to plug local talent nationally. Unfortunately, that influence is nowhere to be seen on this compilation. Besides posing in Jamaica for the cover shots and penning the self-congratulatory liner notes, it’s unclear what involvement, if any, T had in picking the tracks here, and long-time sidekick Dave Campbell does the legwork in mixing the cuts. You can’t question the music itself: tracks by Sean Paul, Capleton, Tanya Stephens and K-OS stand on their own merits, and the set is a solid dancehall primer. As a mixed tape, though, Reggae Vibes seems more celebrity endorsement than personality-driven statement.
