The Dirty Heads to Take the Country by Storm

By Bruce Moore

August 9, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles-based reggae band The Dirty Heads are preparing to release their long-awaited debut CD, Any Port in a Storm, on September 23. Produced by Sugar Ray, drummer Stan Frazier, and Steve Fox (producer of Ashlee Simpson,) the self-released CD features a wide array of guest musicians, including legendary keyboardist Billy Preston to Nine Inch Nails (NIN) and Korn drummer Josh Freese. Melding reggae and hip-hop with acoustic guitars and a hint of pop, The Dirty Heads have crafted a brilliant sounding CD that is a whole lot of fun to listen to. The first single, “Stand Tall,” was featured in the Sony Pictures movie, Surfs Up. They have toured with the likes of the critically acclaimed reggae/hip hop act 311 and Jewish Reggae DJ Matisyahu, and are preparing to go back out on the road in support of Any Port in a Storm. I recently had the opportunity to speak with vocalist Jared Watson about the band and their debut CD. Continue reading The Dirty Heads →

Morgan Heritage Rocks the Key Club on Sunset Strip

Photos and Review by Jan Salzman

June 18, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – I arrived early, around 3 PM, at The Key Club. I thought it was sound check time, but it was actually load in time. A few of the Morgan brothers and sister Una were mingling with local family members. Mr. Mojo came over and said, “You’re early!” I explained that I would love to listen to sound check, if possible, and Mojo agreed. I think he had problems with a digital percussion machine that he bought. He had to run it back to the shop.

After a wonderful sound check, Mr. Mojo arranged for me to interview Una and Gramps also. I went for a bite to eat and returned about 9:30 to catch the opening act, Hooliganz. They were a surprisingly good roots Reggae band that raps, too. Continue reading Morgan Heritage at LA’s Key Club 2008 →

Morgan Heritage: Mission in Progress

Interview and Photos by Jan Salzman

July 1, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – I am a huge fan of Morgan Heritage, the popular Reggae/Rock group of siblings, children of Reggae’s legendary singer, Denroy Morgan. My first exposure to the Morgan clan came during the 2007 Ragga Muffins Festival in Long Beach, CA, where their professionalism and expertise knocked me out! On June 18, 2008, they kicked off their summer tour at the Key Club on LA’s famed Sunset Strip. I caught up with them after sound check and took the opportunity to talk with brother and sister team, Una and Gramps Morgan. In this interview, the Morgan’s share their experiences growing up in Brooklyn, NY and Springfield, MA, as well as their musical influences, and what is important to this multi-talented family.

Morgan Heritage consists of Peter “Jahpetes” Morgan on vocals; Una Morgan—the sole female member—on vocals and keyboards; Roy “Gramps” Morgan on keyboards and vocals; Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” Morgan on percussion, vocals, and rap; and Nakhamyah “Lukes” Morgan on guitar. As children, Morgan Heritage began performing in 1982. However, following two extraordinary performances at Montego Bay’s Sunsplash Festival in 1993, the group walked off the stage and into their first recording contract with MCA Records. Their journey is remarkable and their performances unforgettable. Here’s Una and Gramps, in their own words. Continue reading Interview with Una and Gramps – Morgan Heritage 2008 →

The 22nd UCLA Jazz-Reggae Festival ‘08

A Weekend of Peace, Love, and Music
Review and Photos by Jan Salzman

Reggae Day – May 26

June 1, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA  –  It was a beautiful Southern California afternoon–the temperature in the 70s, the warm sun shining and cool Pacific Ocean breezes filled the air. The Intramural Field at UCLA was filling up with blankets, drawn by the inviting aroma from the great food booths that surrounded this diver – se collection of fans. One of the largest student-run events in the country, the annual JazzReggae fest regularly sees tens of thousands flock to its Memorial Day weekend celebration.

Monday was Reggae Day, and first up on the main stage was Rebelution, who kicked off the day to a rocking Reggae riddim. With the crowd warmed up, fans were ready for Pangea Collective, a band that features Baba Ken Okulolo, from King Sunny Ade’s band, on bass and vocals, and Soji Odukogbe, guitar and vocals, from Fela Kuti’s band. Pangea Collective is huge group, with lots of percussion and a full horn section. They offer a wonderful blend of African rhythms with a jazzy overtone. The band, themselves dressed colorfully, brought out three very African-decorated and beautiful women to shake it up – and had the crowd doing so, too! Continue reading UCLA Jazz-Reggae Fest 2008 →

Luciano Performs at Crash Mansion – As Part of His Summer Tour

Photos and Review by Jan Salzman

I eagerly anticipated this show as, about six weeks prior, I caught up with Luciano at a CD release party held at a Jamaica Live event insie the club, Dragonfly. This Crash Mansion show, in downtown LA, was another great production put on by the group known as Jamaica Live.

The club was packed as Jah Messenjah Band took the stage about 11 pm. First up was Luciano’s long-time music associate and friend, Mikey General, who livened up the crowd with “Power of the Most High, Jah.” At one point during his show, Mikey told about the tribulations he went through in choosing to wear dreadlocks, and his choice to follow the Rastafari path. He did a short but magnificent set.

Steel Pulse and Stephen Marley Draw Huge Audiences at SunFest!

By M. Peggy Quattro
Photos Lynn Dearing

May 6, 2008 – Palm Beach, Florida  – Another picture perfect weekend for a picture perfect festival. Founded in 1982, SunFest, Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival, is held the first of every May and attracts more than 275,000 visitors annually. The ever-popular 5-day Fest stretches for nearly a mile, tucked between the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway and the architecturally beautiful downtown West Palm Beach.

The Fest always features the finest in music, food, art, and fun for the entire family. This year, SunFest’s diverse headliners, spread out over three stages, included John Legend, Fergie, Sheryl Crowe, Little Feat, The Black Crowes, and Morris Day and the Time, to name just a few. Reggae fans can always count on catching the Reggae train at SunFest, and this year’s featured performers included Steel Pulse, Stephen Marley, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Matisyahu, and Made of Hemp. Continue reading SunFest 2008 – W. Palm Beach →

Freddie McGregor and John Holt & A Sell-Out Performance

Backed by the New York Symphony Reggae Strings and We the People Band

By M. Peggy Quattro
Photos Dreamy Riley

April 25, 2008 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – What promised to be an elegant evening of Reggae classics and Reggae strings turned out to be even more than that! The beautiful Broward Center of the Performing Arts was soon filled – from the main floor and mezzanine, to the balcony and boxes – with dedicated fans as excitement and anticipation filled the air.

When Freddie McGregor and John Holt, two of Jamaica’s most beloved and respected singers, come together, backed by the powerful 11-piece Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band AND the 19-piece New York Symphony Reggae Strings, you know it is an event you just ‘cyaan’ miss. The South Florida Jamaican community turned out to support and honor the two legends as they went through a catalogue of hit songs, and had the crowd on their feet dancing and singing the whole evening long. “You don’t have to stay in your seats,” Freddie told the throng, and we certainly did not! Continue reading Reggae Symphony with FREDDIE MCGREGOR →