by ERIN MacLEOD

Ms. B is not the best female reggae DJ in the city, but simply one of the best reggae DJs in the city. Period. Every Thursday night, Ms. B is responsible for playing some of the latest and best Jamaican music at her weekly residency at Blue Dog. "The night itself reflects what's going on in reggae music right now," she says, "everything from lovers to roots to rockers to conscious to back again. We're trying to create a dance vibe in the club."

If you haven't been out to hear the good vibes, it's not, as Ms. B explains, "a regular downtown Plateau kind of night." Indeed. Ms. B's been instrumental in bringing together people all over the city who share a love for reggae. "We bring different DJs and artists to this side of town, people from uptown, NDG, LaSalle, people who wouldn't normally come to St-Laurent Boulevard. It's the only place on a weekly basis that you can get this." For 2005, Ms. B's planning on more dancehall-related events, some Rasta events, and bringing some more out of town acts to her night "to reflect what's really going on in the community and in the music itself."

Also, Ms. B, who's known to have a lovely singing voice, is making a New Year's resolution to use this talent more. "Regulars at Blue Dog know I do get on the mic and sing," she says. "This year I want to put out some tracks. I want to incorporate the singing part into my set. I've got some plans." After the big forward her Stevie Wonder version recently received at Tiffany's, people will be surely looking out for this.

And resolution number two: Ms. B's getting herself organized. "I hope nobody asks me again in 2005 if I have a mix CD and have me have to say no."