Miami’s 16th Caribbean Festival Features the Marley Brothers and More!

Miami, FL The 16th Annual Caribbean Festival will be held Sat., Feb. 28, 2009, in Bicentennial Park, downtown Miami, Florida. The daylong celebration of music, arts, and crafts honors the life and philosophy of legendary reggae star, Bob Marley. This year it also honors the memory of Cedella Marley Booker, the mother of Bob Marley who passed away in 2008. It was her spirit and energy that lived in the festival, and it will continue to be felt in those whose lives she touched. The festival will continue to spread the Marley family message—to help those who are less fortunate. Continue reading 16th Miami Caribbean Fest is Coming →

Matisyahu – Reggae’s Hasidic Hip-Hop Rocker

Interview, Show Review, and Photos by Jan Salzman

Dec. 7, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA – Matisyahu is an American reggae, rock, hip-hop performer and an Ashkenazi Jew. His name is the Hebrew and Yiddish pronunciation of the Biblical name, Matthew. Matisyahu means Gift of God. Born Matthew Paul Miller, June 30, 1979, in West Chester, PA, his family finally settled in White Plains, NY, where he grew up in a multi-cultural blend of humanity.

Known for combining Jewish themes with reggae, rock, and hip-hop sounds, he is most recognizable for being a Hasidic Jew. Continue reading Matisyahu: Hasidic Reggae Hip-Hop Rocker →

Collie Buddz – Rocks the Roxy on Sunset Strip

Review and Photos by Jan Salzman

Nov. 11, 2008 – Hollywood, CAA long line of fans waited outside the Roxy despite the rather cold and windy Southern California night. Most of the girls were scantily clad and freezing in the 40-degree temperature. It all warmed up though, as they crowded to the front of the stage awaiting the hot performance of Reggae sensation, Collie Buddz.

The 27-year-old New Orleans-born, Bermuda-raised singjay has achieved international success since the 2007 release of his self-titled CD and when awarded the 2008 Best International Artist at Kingston’s Reggae Academy Awards. He is recognized for his singing, deejaying, and writing approach; delivering conscious lyrics in a Dancehall stylee while sounding uncannily Jamaican. Continue reading Collie Buddz at the Roxy →

Wailing Souls Reunite

Bread, Pipe and Garth Dennis
Review and Photos by Jan Salzman

Oct. 13, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – Three members of the original Wailing Souls have reunited as a vocal trio and delivered a fantastic show at West Hollywood’s Key Club. The group, which has consisted of Winston “Pipe” Matthews and Lloyd “Bread” McDonald for quite a few years, have added Garth Dennis, an original Wailing Souls member. Garth also received recognition as a member of Black Uhuru for a number of years. Between the three talented singers, they have received seven Grammy nominations for Best Reggae CD. Their roots reggae songs continue to be considered classics throughout the reggae music industry.

Donning “Nestabrand” colorful T-shirts, the trio took the stage with the insightful song “Jah, Jah Give Us Life to Live.” They put out incredible energy as they danced and sang through the roots riddims that they are widely known for. An all-time favorite is the classic reggae love song, “She Pleases Me,” from the Grammy-nominated CD, All Over the World. From the same album, they performed the smash hit “Shark Attack,” which has one of the best driving bass lines ever heard in the genre. They waited to perform it toward the end of the set to keep the throng skankin’ strong. Continue reading Wailing Souls in LA 2008 →

Reggae Ska Punk Equals Slightly Stoopid: A Not-So-Stoopid Conversation with Kyle McDonald

By Bruce Moore

Oct. 2, 2008 – For more than ten years, Slightly Stoopid, the California-based reggae, ska, and punk band, has been making music their way and touring the world. On July 22, they released their latest recorded effort, Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid, a CD containing, what the band calls, a collection of “odds and ends.” The disc includes songs that were written for the last release and a few new songs, as well as a cover of the UB40 tune, “I Would Do For You.” Once dubbed by Spin Magazine as, “One of the top ten bands least likely to succeed based on their name,” these guys are intent on proving their critics wrong. The bands longevity can be attributed to their rabid fan base and their constant touring. I recently had the opportunity to interview guitarist, vocalist, and one of the group’s leaders, Kyle McDonald. Here’s our conversation about the band, touring, and their new record.

SLY and ROBBIE: Reggae Disciples Standing up for Reggae

Words & Photos by M. Peggy Quattro

August 30, 2008 – Miami, Florida – With careers spanning more than 30 years and hundreds of thousands of recorded tracks, SLY and ROBBIE – aka the Riddim Twins – are still standing up for Reggae.  Equal partners in the studio or on the stage, these world-renown artists, performers, and producers represent Reggae to the fullest.  Fueled by, what Robbie calls “God power,” this ageless duo is having a seriously fun time doing it.

I caught up with Sly and Robbie, long-time friends and colleagues, after their rousing performance with Reggae Rock Dubsters Simply Stoopid, Internet sensations hailing from southern California, and Hawaii’s popular threesome, Pepper. Continue reading Sly & Robbie – Fueled by “God Power” 2008 →

Ky-mani Marley and Joseph Israel: Stir Up the House of Blues on Sunset Strip

Review and Photos by Jan Salzman

August 18, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – Joseph Israel started the night’s live performances with an acoustic set, his mission he said, “To bring joy to the House of Blues.” One of my favorite Joseph Israel songs is “Jah Kingdom” from his CD Gone Are the Days. He truly did warm up the crowd with a positive vibe.

Ky-mani Marley then blasted onstage to “I’m Back.” In fact, he began with three songs straight from his latest CD Radio, including “The March,” and my favorite, the very sexy “Slow Roll.” Truly one of the hardest-working and fastest-moving performers, Ky-mani is consistently dashing all over the stage. Sometimes he brought out the microphone stand, getting all wound up, grabbing the mic, then putting the stand behind him again. Most of the time Ky-mani had the mic in his hand, bending towards the audience and gesturing to the crowd. I noted that he makes this curvy gesture when he sings about women. It is as if he is caressing the women in the audience, especially with the lure of his sleepy, sexy eyes. He was truly enjoying playing at the Los Angeles House of Blues for the first time. Continue reading Ky-mani at LA’s House of Blues →

Reggae Rising 2008: Roots, Dancehall, and an International Flavor

By Jamey Millie / Photos by Elliot Shields

August 14, 2008 – San Francisco, CA – On August 1, 2, and 3, 2008, the 2nd Annual Reggae Rising Festival took place in the Redwood hills of Humboldt County, northern California. Twenty thousand-plus Reggae fans united for a weekend celebration of music, nature and Jamaican Rasta culture. A dedicated group of organizers plan all year for California‘s biggest Reggae show, staged along the tranquil banks of the Eel River. The second annual staging of Reggae Rising continues a long tradition of Reggae music. Each year Reggae Rising, once known as Reggae on the River, can boast that its annual line-up is packed with international talent. This year’s line-up was no exception, featuring such artists as Sizzla, Gentlemen, Sly and Robbie, UB40, Beres Hammond, Junior Reid, Mr. Vegas, Cham, Turbulence, Tanya Stephens, Etana, and Collie Buddz, to name a few. Local bands included The Lion Camp and Jah Sun, while Detour Posse backed the Saturday series of Dancehall artists.

Friday afternoon featured Mr. Easy, Cham and Tanya Stephens, the only female in the male-dominated roster. Friday evening saw Beres Hammond deliver a breath-giving two hour performance.The veteran Lover’s Rock singer kept the energy of his set so smooth that new fans could visualize how many amazing songs he actually has recorded. Closing Friday night, the UK’s UB40 followed with a real Caribbean vibe not to be messed with. Even without vocalist Ali Campbell and trumpeter Astro, the solid musicians of the classic group made for a real Reggae experience. Continue reading Reggae Rising Festival 2008 →