For lovers of reggae music, Sugar Minott was a veritable force of nature. When he died at age 54 in 2010, he left behind an impressive body of work. While still in his teens in the late ‘60s, Minott cofounded the African Brothers, a band savvy at blending R&B and soul with a strong Rastafari vibe. In the subsequent decades …
Dub Master Pachyman Brings His Vocals to the Front of the Mix on “Trago Coqueto”
As Pachyman, L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist Pachy García has proven himself a master of dub, the musical style first popularized in late-’60s Jamaica by King Tubby and the late, unimpeachably great Lee “Scratch” Perry. Like his dub daddies and forefathers, Pachyman has made the studio console his lead instrument, bending and transmogrifying recorded audio to his whims to create mesmerizing and enjoyably-chill-AF …
The Clash’s Crucial Reggae
We’re celebrating Joe Strummer’s Bday with a Punky Reggae Party
The Clash, the amorphous British punks, remain one of the most influential bands of the 20th Century. Beginning with the unhinged cacophony of the quartet’s eponymous debut, the group remained on the cutting edge of a fast-changing musical landscape, gorging on everything from reggae to disco to hip-hop with the same gusto with which they ingested amphetamines. The Clash’s embrace …
Playlist | Summer in the Electro Lounge
Chillout! There's a new mix of downtempo, nu jazz, reggae and more
There’s been a handful of requests for a new Electro Lounge playlist, so here we go: A summer-themed mix of past, present and future music, featuring downtempo, nu jazz, reggae and more, spanning the decades from Robert Glasper to Miles Davis, with chill cuts from French artist St Germain, Slovenian duo Zalagasper and Jamaican singer-songwriter Cocoa Tea. I’ve also got …
Rebelution Releases ‘Live In St. Augustine’ Album
Popular SoCal reggae outfit commits recent The Amp performance to tape
Reggae band Rebelution has released Live In St. Augustine ahead of their two-night run at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre this week. The concert album was captured at The Amp in September of 2021. Since their 2007 debut, Courage to Grow, there’s been no bigger reggae act than SoCal-bred quartet. Indeed, after the breakout success of their first full-length, Rebelution topped …
Koffee, already a Grammy-winning globetrotter, is in full control for ‘Genius’ debut
At the 2018 edition of the Jamaican reggae festival Rebel Salute, legendary singer Cocoa Tea interrupted his set to introduce a petite, teenaged female artist, excitedly telling the audience of more than 10,000: “This little 17-year-old from Spanish Town is Jamaica’s next female sensation; come in Koffee.” Although relatively unknown at the time, Koffee’s rapid-fire, patois-heavy vocals on that first …
Go | This week’s live music picks
Reggae-rock fusion, Jedi vibes and a country crossover artist
There’s lots of great live music on this week’s concert calendar. Here’s what JME contributors want to see and hear in and around Jacksonville this week. NOTE: The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission even if you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta and Omicron variants …
Go | Underbelly stirs up reggae night with Central FL’s King Tappa and genre stalwarts Link&Chain
Newly reopened Underbelly hosts its inaugural reggae night
Kurt Prince, aka King Tappa, has been making his name in the country’s reggae scene for over a decade now. Influenced by artists like Sizzla, Steel Pulse, Beres Hammond and Gregory Isaac, his work encompasses a wide range of roots music, from dancehall to dub. He began behind the boards, as a producer and DJ, before transitioning into writing and …
Astro, a founding member of the reggae group UB40, has died at age 64
Terence Wilson, a founding member of UB40 who was known by fans of the pioneering reggae band as Astro, has died following a short illness. He was 64. Wilson’s death was confirmed Saturday on the official Twitter page for his group, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro. “We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken to have to tell you that …
Reggae great and Dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry dead at 85
A towering figure in reggae, the pioneering Jamaican musician and producer Lee “Scratch” Perry has died at 85. Early in his career, Perry famously worked with Bob Marley’s fledgling group, The Wailers, helping to turn the band from a buttoned-up rocksteady outfit into a spiritual and politically conscious force. He was an instrumental figure at Kingston’s famed Studio One, where …