Soaking wet from the rain, UNB students kept the tradition and spirit of Neville/Jones residence alive – by pushing a bed all night to raise money for Women in Transition House.

This year, the annual Neville/Jones house bed push raised more than $11,000. It’s Friday night at 8 p.m. It’s drizzling. The well-lit soccer field sparkles with water particles. Four students are pushing the bed, making a lap, then passing it to another group that is ready for their turn. A local DJ, who has performed on international stages all over the world under the name DJ Nasty Naz, is in charge of the night’s music. Students play football and frisbee, dance and get a bite of pizza in between laps.

There’s still 12 hours to go, 272 laps to push – before they will head to the Boyce Farmers Market.

The 19th annual Neville/Jones House bed push officially ended with a cheque presentation to Women in Transition House representatives.

Originally, Neville/Jones house was an all male residence. Male students came up with the bed push idea to raise awareness about violence against women. They traveled to the UNB campus in Saint John, constructed a bed and pushed it all night – 120 kilometres – to Fredericton. All proceeds supported the shelter.

Last year, the RCMP prohibited UNB students to push the bed on the highway because of safety concerns.

This year, Neville/Jones House reopened its doors, but as a co-ed residence, after taking a year off to renovate the house.

Becky McBriarty, the first female president of the house, said that for her and most students in the house the bed push event was a new experience.

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While all eyes will be on Canada’s athletes competing for Olympic gold next month, a lot of ears in Vancouver will be treated to the best of New Brunswick music.

More than 20 of New Brunswick musicians have been financed by the province’s Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport to perform at Atlantic Canada House and Place de la Francophonie from Feb. 13 to 28.

The selected English and francophone artists span every genre and region. The roster includes Fredericton’s world-renowned soprano Measha Brueggergosman, but no artist is more fitting than her aptly named hometown compatriots, The Olympic Symphonium.

“On the list of things you want to do, it’s one of the ones you wouldn’t even think of putting on the list,” says Symphonium guitarist and vocalist Nick Cobham. “When it comes about that it’s happening it’s pretty exciting.”

The group probably wishes it had seen this possibility coming. They’ve already received a call from the Olympic administration, and may have to change their name because the word Olympic is trademarked.

“A few years ago, we even talked about that and that somewhere in the future it could come back and bite us. We’re not sure what’s going to happen there. I think it’s pretty appropriate that we’re playing there and hopefully they won’t be too mad about our name.”

Name issues aside, Cobham is excited about the opportunity and hopes to see at least one athletic event. Saint John chanteuse Jessica Rhaye is also staying a few days after her showcase to possibly catch an event and take in the atmosphere.

“I don’t have an athletic bone in me. I like to swim, that’s about it,” says Rhaye. “I will be telling people I’m going to the Olympics and they look at me funny, because I don’t look sporty. So, it is an interesting way to be involved with the Olympics.”

The news that they would be playing in Vancouver on behalf of New Brunswick came as an early Christmas present for the selected artists. But they’ve had to keep mum for the past month.

Marc Chouinard was entrusted by the province with choosing the musicians. As general manager of the Capitol Theatre in Moncton, he says he was used to programming and choosing from the wealth of New Brunswick musicians.

“We’re bringing the best image possible for our province to Vancouver,” says Chouinard. “I think we’ve got something original. We’re not just programming two or three artists, we’re putting on a show of what we do best in New Brunswick.”

The showcase will put the province’s Acadian heritage on the world’s stage. Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist group Ode a l’Acadie, considers it a “huge chance.”

“It’s a responsibility we have, but also a privilege, to share that part of who we are with the rest of the world,” says Monique Poirier, an artistic director and member of Ode. “We’ll certainly be choosing songs that best represent the Acadian spirit and culture.”

Country musician and Sussex native Julian Austin, who is now based in Alberta, shares Ode a l’Acadie’s sense of pride in his home province.

“I’m very honoured,” says Austin, “especially during the Olympics. It’s going to be such a proud time for all Canadians, and I’m going to give it 120 per cent.”

For Fredericton’s DJ Nasty Naz, who was born and raised in Trinidad, his selection goes to show what can happen if you work hard.

“I tell people this all the time, when I moved here it forced me to really do what I’m doing right now. I would not have gotten those opportunities in Trinidad,” says Naz “This can be your New York. This can be your L.A. You just have to have that mental ability to drive and succeed.”

Naz couldn’t believe it when he got the phone call at his Fredericton restaurant inviting him to Vancouver.

“I thought they were joking. I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to be on the other line “¦ I didn’t know whether to jump for joy or think it was a hoax.”

Named Atlantic Canada’s Top DJ, Naz has performed with the Black Eyed Peas, Akon and The Pussycat Dolls. He’s also reggae superstar Sean Kingston’s official DJ and will be heading in a week around the world to play the Grammys, Dubai, New Zealand and the NBA all-star game. But even with that international schedule, Naz is most looking forward to the Olympics.

“It definitely obviously makes me excited. I’ve done many shows with different artists -Akon, Sean Kingston, Black Eyed Peas, etc. But to tell my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, I was part of that Olympics in 2010? That’s a big thing.”

The post Hitting the right note for New Brunswick appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

David Myles

DJ Bones

DJ Nasty Naz

Edith Butler

George Belliveau

Grand Theft Bus

Hubert Francis

Jean François Breau

Jessica Rhaye

Julian Austin

Julie Doiron

Lisa LeBlanc

Matt Anderson

Measha Brueggergosman

Mindy Ward

Ode A l’Acadie

Pascal Lejeune

Radio Radio

Ryan LeBlanc

Samantha Robichaud

The Olympic Symphonium

VJ Pan

The post The Musical Team for Vancouver 2010 Olympics appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

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His crazy Caribbean style definitely shines through his music selection, his energy, and his food. DJ Nasty Naz’s professional career in the music industry as a tour chef, tour hype man and a tour DJ has allowed him to work with artists like the Black Eyed Peas, The Game, Akon, Wyclef, Danny Fernandes and Sean Paul to name a few. This attitude of continuously being on the grind has pitched this Trinidadian-born entrepreneur into a class of his own, with not only being a top DJ in the East Coast, but to having an award-winning restaurant in Fredericton, “Caribbean Flavas.”

His skills in the kitchen have allowed him to cater for a number of groups, including Akon, Sean Kingston, Girlicious, Hedley, The Trews, and even rock and roll legend Leonard Cohen. DJ Nasty Naz Flava of the Week will be a weekly column where Naz takes readers inside his world of cooking, performing and rubbing elbows with the stars. For more information on DJ Nasty Naz, visit www.djnastynaz.com, Join the “fan page” www.facebook.com/djnastynaz Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/djnastynaz. Or, to taste d’island life, visit Caribbean Flavas on 123 York St. Fredericton.

Somebody call N-A””Z… he’s got them shawtys fire burning in tha kitchen… whoaaa… Haha, how about I just stick to the cooking and leave the singing to the professionals, a customer told me this week. So much for me putting on dinner and a show.

Myself and Sean Kingston are on tour again, so I hope you enjoy this Jamaican dish.

Oh well, the reason I was singing that song is because I am on tour AGAIN with Jamaican reggae/pop sensation Sean Kingston (‘Fire Burning’), and triple platinum R & B singers Danny Fernandes (‘Private Dancer’) and Karl Wolf (‘Africa’).

This is the second time on tour with these acts, and so far every venue has been sold out. So with that whole island vibe, I decided to do up a Jamaican dish, in light of ma boi Sean Kingston.

Ingredients for the Salt fish Fritter

– 1lb of soaked, washed and stripped cod

– 2 chopped garlic cloves

– 1 red bell pepper, sliced.

– 1 tspn of paprika

– 1 red onion chopped sliced

– ½ cup of all purpose flour

– 2 habanero chili peppers

– 2 large tomatoes

Directions

1. Wash and dry the salt fish.

2. Use your hands and shred the salt fish finely and set aside in a mixing bowl.

3. Cut the onions, garlic, habanero pepper and tomatoes in to fine pieces.

4. Combine the onions, garlic, pepper and tomatoes.

5. Cook this seasoning thoroughly in a frying pan (skillet) using a small amount of oil.

6. Add flour and water to the salt fish and make a thin batter. Stir this batter till it is smooth.

7. Combine the fried seasoning and paprika with this batter. Mix batter.

8. Dip a large spoon in oil and “spoon scoop” thin batter into frying pan.

9. Deep fry in a frying pan till brown and crisp on both sides.

10. Drain on paper towel and serve, with a side of your favourite chutney.

I decided to put my little recipe into a ‘song.’ Now remember to sing it to the tune of Sean Kingston’s ‘Fire Burning.’ I’m not saying I’m gonna win any Grammies here people, but you can certainly try… ha.

Can you say REMIXXXXXXX …

Shawty got that super thang

with tha pepper its hotter than the sun in Spain

Got me soon as I walked through the door ..orrr

My mouth started water-ing

The way she dropped it low that thang

Got me wanna eat more and more ”

She roll it, shape it, and drop it in tha oil,

That salt fish frit,

Got a candle, or a match to get that fryer lit,

Now take my BMO card or my CIBC

Shawty that fritter is HOT like the fire,

HOT like fire

Somebody call N””A-Z

He got them Shawty fire burning in tha Kitchen

Whoa

I gotta cool her mouth

It will burn the roof of your mouth, in the kitchen

Whoa

It’s fire burning, fire burning in the kitchen

That little fritter’s fire burning in the kitchen

It’s fire burning, fire burning in the kitchen

That little fritter’s fire burning in the kitchen

Fire burning fire burning

That taste is a masterpiece

You can place your order every couple days

But ain’t no doubt you’ll eat it before you get home… home…

I’m afraid it’s not made with eggs

So all you vegans, yup, that’s what I said

Once they taste it, it will be in kitchens all over the world …world

She roll it, shape it, and drop it in tha oil,

That salt fish frit,

Got a candle, or a match to get that stove lit,

Now take my BMO card or my CIBC

Shawty that fritter is HOT like the fire,

HOT like fire

Somebody call N””A-Z

He got them Shawty fire burning in tha Kitchen

Whoa

I gotta cool her mouth

It will burn the roof of your mouth, in the kitchen

Whoa

It’s fire burning, fire burning in the kitchen

That little fritter’s fire burning in the kitchen

It’s fire burning, fire burning in the kitchen

That little fritter’s fire burning in the kitchen

Fire burning fire burning

Somebody call N””A””Z

Now even though Sean Kingston usually eats my mom’s homemade Coconut Bread, I guess I will be making some Salt fish Fritters for him this time around. Okay I gotta bounce outta this kitchen now, because my customers in the restaurant are looking at me funny, as I am singing while I’m cooking. Make sure and look out for me while on tour in a city near you with tha Crew… come up and say ‘Hi’ even.

The post Shawty fire burning in tha kitchen appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

[here] Magazine.

His Crazy Caribbean Style definitely shines through his music selection, his energy, and his food.

DJ Nasty Naz’s professional career in the music industry as a tour chef, tour hype man and a tour DJ has allowed him to work with artists like the Black Eyed Peas, The Game, Akon, Wyclef, Danny Fernandes and Sean Paul, to name a few. This attitude of continuously being on the grind has pitched this Trinidadian-born entrepreneur into a class of his own, with not only being a top DJ in the East Coast, but to having an award winning restaurant in Fredericton “” Caribbean Flavas.

His skills in the kitchen have allowed him to cater for a number of groups, including Akon, Sean Kingston, Girlicious, Hedley, The Trews, and even rock and roll legend, Leonard Cohen.

DJ Nasty Naz Flava of the Week will be a weekly column where Naz takes readers inside his world of cooking, performing and rubbing elbows with the stars. For more information on DJ Nasty Naz, visit www.djnastynaz.com, Join the fanpage “” www.facebook.com/djnastynaz or follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/djnastynaz. Or, to taste d’island life, visit Caribbean Flavas on 123 York St, Fredericton.

I was the Deejay for an event this weekend, and I played the track Jai Ho by A. R. Rahman, and I remembered everyone had the Oscar Fever, especially with the many build ups and sneak previews the networks aired during that week. After it was all said and done, I think that Slumdog Millionaire definitely deserved all the credit it has gotten. It was a total underdog project that no network wanted in the first place to now an Oscar award-winning film.

That hits close to home, as my award winning restaurant Caribbean Flavas was an underdog project as well, which no one wanted or believed in at UNB. Now, four years later, we have won BEST restaurant in the province, where to dine in Canada and we have gone on to cook for acts like Hedley and Snoop to Leonard Cohen and the Trailer Park Boys.

So I decided in keeping with the Indian theme that I would do up a nice recipe for some curried duck. Of course any protein can be used here, from chicken to lamb, including tofu, which would be an excellent choice. I didn’t want to have beef in this recipe, as I said I am sticking to the Slumdog theme, and the cow is seen as a sacred animal in their beliefs.

Having lived in Trinidad most of my life, curry was always part of our Sunday traditional “River Lime.”

I guess I should lend some insight to this new lingo:

Lime/Liming “” a party or any get-together/to hang out with friends and acquaintances. Example: Hey Johnny, we are liming at the mall, you should swing by.

Anyway, our “River Lime” would entail having most of the family and many friends pack up the trunks of their cars with coolers “” properly stocked with drinks and duck, and head down to the nearest river to “make ah cook!” We would then find a suitable spot, bring out the cast iron pot, start up the fire, bring out the playing cards and blast tha music from tha trunk.

Slumdog Curried Duck

Main Ingredients:

Duck: 2lbs (if you are ah true Trini, the whole duck would be used here!)

Frying Oil: 4 tbsp

Onion: 1 (large)

Garlic: 3 cloves

Coconut milk: 1 cup

Yogurt: 1/2 cup

Fresh ginger: 2 tbsp (grated)

Curry powder or curry paste: 3 tsp

Salt: 1/4 tsp

Black Pepper: 1/2 tsp

Coconut flakes

Slivered almonds: to garnish

Cooked jasmine rice for 4 (to serve with)

Note: Again if you are a crazy Trini like me, Scotch Bonnette Peppers are in order here, probably at least 2-3 whole peppers.

Directions:

1. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and finely dice the garlic cloves.

2. Rinse the protein (lamb, duck, tofu etc) with lime juice to take away some of the freshness; pat dry. Cut into one-inch pieces

3. Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the chopped onion and sauté until tender. Add duck and sauté about 5 minutes or until slightly browned. Transfer the duck to a medium-size bowl.

4. Add remaining 1 tbsp of oil to the pot. Add the rest of the chopped onion and garlic. Cook and stir until onion is tender. Drain.

5. Add coconut milk, yogurt, grated ginger, curry powder, salt and pepper to the pan. Bring to a simmer. Add the duck and water, simmer for about 30 minutes.

6. Transfer the curry to the serving bowl, garnish on top with slivered almonds, chopped cilantro (coriander) and grated coconut (optional). Serve with jasmine rice.

After serving up such a great dish, you would surely get a great nod of approval but if you are going for the Oscar award, like my good friend Marion (aka Dev Patel look alike), then a lovely side of Naan (which means bread “” similar to a pita bread) and some mango chutney would surely give you a standing ovation and the Oscar for best role as a leading Chef.

The post Slum Dog – Curry Duck. appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

By the time they get to university, most people think they know what career path they would like to take. But life is a tricky thing and no matter how many plans you make, you can still end up somewhere different down the road.

When Naz Ali started his business career at the University of New Brunswick’s BBA program in Trinidad and Tobago, he dreamed of becoming a Pediatrician or Marine Biologist. Little did he know he would go on to become a successful restaurateur and internationally known DJ.

Back in Trinidad and Tobago he had already started out being a DJ at various shows and this career forced him to come up with an interesting and unique stage name, and so “Nasty Naz” was born! 

Naz decided he would bring his music and culture to the Canadian Maritimes and he moved to Fredericton in 2003, after being offered a scholarship to study business at UNB. He earned an MBA degree and managed to turn his underdog business plan, which he created for an entrepreneurship class, into a successful restaurant. Caribbean Flavas is an award winning restaurant located in Fredericton, owned and operated by Naz and his family.

Naz received a lot of media attention last year when he was invited by the famous singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, to become his personal chef during his Atlantic tour. Naz catered to Cohen and his crew for their entire stay in the Maritimes.

Naz’s dual career has him working 18-hour days, but he’s not complaining. He loves the crazy hours he keeps. Naz says that his two jobs are really more like six. Other than being a DJ and chef, he is also a radio and television personality, artist promoter, production director, marketing promotions manager, and more. He has also worked on tour with artists such as the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Snoop Dog and Sean Paul.

Russell Simmons, Naz’s mentor and a music and fashion industry mogul, said that Naz was, “highly motivated, a born winner, full of resilience and faith”.  To this day, that memory still makes Naz’s jaw drop. He continuously works hard to stay true to Simmons’ statements.

In Salisha Baboolal’s interview with Naz for the April, 2009 issue of Caribbean Belle magazine, Naz said that whatever path you go down and where ever it leads you “be true to yourself. Find your groove and stick to it; stand your ground and be strong. Sometime’s others won’t see your idea or vision but it’s yours. No one can take that from you – ever! It’s your job to make people see it and believe in you”.  Naz is an inspiration to finding and following your dream.

Even with the little downtime Naz has, he still has time to connect with his fans on the DJ Nasty Naz fan page on Facebook. If you would like to learn more about Naz and the people he has worked with you can visit his website, www.djnastynaz.com.

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