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Friday, July 30, 2010

Acoma's the place to be for reggae, mon

By Nathalie Baret
For the Journal
          Globe-trekking reggae vets Maxi Priest, Third World and Yellowman are headed to New Mexico.

Hanu Reggae Fest 2010     Featuring Maxi Priest, Third World and Yellowman     WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31. Gates open at 3 p.m.     WHERE: Sky City Casino's Sky City Amphitheater, exit 102 from I-40, west of Albuquerque     HOW MUCH: General admission $30 through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. For information, visit www.skycity.com

    Billed as what is sure to be one of summer's biggest Jamaican-music festivals to hit the state, the three acts' rootsy, rhythmic dance beats will permeate the air when the Hanu Reggae Fest 2010 tour stops in Acoma on Saturday at Sky City Casino's outdoor venue, Sky City Amphitheater.
        One of the main draws, Priest, has a good chunk of dancehall smashes that will get people on their feet and jamming.
        "My music doesn't have no color barrier; no race barrier; no class barrier; that isn't what it's about. I have always made music for the people," Priest, a London-born crooner of Jamaican descent, said in a statement. "I want my music to go (and reach) where the people are, no matter who the people are, black, white, pink or blue."
        Best known for meshing organic Caribbean sounds with the sweet soulful vibes of R&B, Priest's reggae fusion has earned him international attention as well as commercial crossover success. His 1988 self-titled record that unveiled a reworked version of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" not only turned him into one of England's most sought-after reggae performers, but it proved to be his breakthrough across the pond when it became his first Top 30 American hit.
        More nuggets followed, including Priest's "Just a Little Bit Longer" and his number one U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles smash "Close to You," off his biggest-selling LP, the 1990 "Bonafide." One year later, his pairing with Roberta Flack on "Set the Night to Music" caused such a buzz that the single shot straight to No. 6. In 1996, the singer was back on the charts with his collaboration with Jamaican reggae/hip-hop vocalist Shaggy on "That Girl," a duet that took off in the States and peaked at number 20.
        Not one to stay idle, Priest continues to tour and make music and founded Dugout, his own United Kingdom-based record label. He is touring in support of his 10th album and 2009 release, "Reggae Heroes: Vol. 2."
        Also featured on the bill are Third World and Yellowman. The former has generated hits with its island sound feathered with funk, disco and soul. Launched in 1973, Third World has recorded more than 20 albums, garnered numerous awards, received 10 Grammy nods, and worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, and Bob Marley and The Wailers.
        Jamaican-born Yellowman was the island's first dancehall deejay superstar who became wildly popular in the early 1980s with his flair for toasting — the equivalent of rapping. At one point, he flooded the Jamaican market with more than 40 singles.