CD Review: Taj Weekes & Adowa's 'A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen'

From: Inside World Music

By Matthew Forss

Taj Weekes & Adowa

A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen

Jatta Records

The soul-stirring, conscientious lyrics, and reggae-swagger of St. Lucia's Taj Weekes and his Adowa Band bring to life an amazing set of songs with a bit of roots-rock, folk, and loads of island tempos. The album is largely contemporary and representative of the Lesser Antilles. Though, in this case, less(er) is more. The English lyrics and folksy guitar, bass, B-3, keyboards, drums, and assorted instruments of piano, harmonica, sax, flute, and strings create a very pleasant atmosphere to be enjoyed on the beach as much as in the privacy of one's own office. The classic beats and breezy vocals are not to be missed. Every track is catchy and infused with the intoxicating essence of island love. English lyrics are provided in the liner notes. As a bonus, the liner notes fold out into a poster of Taj. Fans of Australian folk, Caribbean folk, and good music will not be disappointed with Taj's third release.

Taj Weekes: Janjaweed

From: TV Guide

Online Video Guide

"Janjaweed" is featured on TV Guide's Online Video Guide! Visit Janjaweed Page for more info on the video, hear the song, watch the video and read reviews.

Taj Weekes

Watch Janjaweed Video

Janjaweed music video - featuring Taj Weekes, Adowa

Show Review: Taj Weekes & Adowa, Tribal Momentum – Yacht Club 8/12/11

From: Little Village

By Tim Gavin

Classes are starting soon, so the summer residents of Iowa City are running out of days to relax in the glory of a half-deserted town. On Friday night at the Yacht Club (11 S. Linn St), there was a wonderful opportunity to hear some unconventional music and unwind.

Iowa City’s Tribal Momentum makes music that mixes polyrhthymic beats, a driving horn, and bluesy rock. Imagine if the Black Keys had a smooth sax guy and a wild conga player, and you get an inkling of what these guys bring to a show. When sung by Gabriel’s raw and pleading voice, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” becomes a funky dirge. Their sound is well-focused for a group with such varied influences. They have a primal energy that fuels their music, and propels them out of the ordinary into something really interesting and fresh.

Taj Weekes & Adowa play socially conscious roots reggae. Taj’s voice is a smooth tenor, more Jimmy Cliff than Bob Marley. His sound was formed by his family’s musical traditions on St. Lucia, a Caribbean nation in the Lesser Antilles. Taj’s lyrics tell tales of struggling for freedom and respect, while the bass and drums drive a tight groove. The band plays smooth and enchanting reggae, which both educates and chills out the audience.

As demonstrated by all the funky shops, restaurants, and people around town, Iowa City has multicultural tastes. Our local bands are interesting, and our clubs bring in acts from far-flung places to meet those tastes. St. Lucia is 2600 miles away from IC, so that qualifies as far-flung in my atlas. Taj Weekes & Adowa brought some of the culture of St. Lucia all the way to Iowa, and Tribal Momentum showed off a bit of Iowa City’s own crazy culture.

Taj Weekes & Adowa Play the Courtyard at Cunningham's Journal - 8/13

From: Cunningham's Journal

Taj Weekes & Adowa perform for audiences Saturday night, August 13, in Kearney, Nebraska at Cunningham's Journal Courtyard. Known for "Big Ass Beers," good times, and great live music, locals flock to enjoy the summer weather outside in the Courtyard with top national touring acts.

What: Courtyard at Cunningham's Journal
When: Saturday, August 13
Time: 12:30-2:30 pm
Where: 15 West 23rd Street, Kearney, NE
Tel: 308-236-9737

Iowa City Weekender: August 11-13

From: Little Village

By Weekender

When a hurricane comes to whatever town it’s going to hit, there is usually a quiet period when the eye of the storm passes over. You can go outside and engage in fairly regular activities until the next wall of the storm hits. Generally, you shouldn’t do this, but if you grew up in a place that gets hurricanes all the time like Florida, you can take the risk from experience. Iowa City is sitting in its own hurricane eye. Everyone has started moving back, and they are slowly getting settled. The next wall starts in a week or two when they all start going to school again, cutting you off on your bike and living their lives here again.

There is Sand in the City this weekend, taking up a couple blocks of downtown real estate. If that is your interest, you can learn more about it at the Summer of the Arts website. I’m not a huge sand person, so this Weekender is for my people as well as the ones who do like sand but need to do something in the night. Let’s begin.

FRIDAY

Taj Weekes & Adowa w/ Tribal Momentum // Iowa City Yacht Club // 9:00 PM // $7, 19+

Hailing from St. Lucia, Taj Weekes is a modern roots reggae artist. If all you think about when you hear reggae is Bob Marley, not only are you slightly behind the times, you don’t know about modern reggae. In the modern form of the music, different styles are mixed into the traditional slow, pulsating sound. For example, Dancehall incorporates sounds from traditional reggae as well as British club culture and American hip-hop/funk culture. Taj Weekes blends his roots style with folk and soul music, making for a blend that is both danceable and very, very smooth. His voice is strong as he speaks to what he is passionate about: peace, love and understanding. With Tribal Momentum opening, this should be a nice solid night for grooving and relaxing.

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Taj Weekes & Adowa Play Iowa City Yacht Club - 8/12

From: Iowa City Yacht Club

Taj Weekes & Adowa return to the Iowa City Yacht Club for a repeat performance. Don't miss this incredible show! The Yacht Club is Iowa City's main source for live music set in an environment where you truly are part of the music.

The Yacht Club is located in the basement of 13 S. Linn St. in a building built in 1918 in downtown Iowa City. The exterior of the building has remained basically unchanged since it was built and was restored in 2000. We are here for your fun - plain and simple - and have entertainment 6 nights a week. All ages until 10pm, 19 & 20 until midnight. Open 6pm to 2am Monday to Saturday.

Venue: Iowa City Yacht Club
When: Friday, August 12, 2011
Time: 9:00 pm
Where: 13 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52240
Tel: (319) 337-6464
Tickets: $7
Opener: Tribal Momentum

Taj Weekes & Adowa at The Metro, Chicago - 8/11

From: The Metro

Conscious Culture Chicago welcomes Taj Weekes & Adowa to open for legendary classic reggae group, The Meditations, at The Metro on Thursday, August 11 at 10:00 pm. Doors open at 9:00. 18+ Tickets are $10 advance/$20 day of show.

The Meditations are one of the most recognized reggae trios in reggae music. They began recording hits for Channel One in 1974 and then worked recording back up for Bob Marley on "Blackman Redemption," "Punky Reggae Party," and "Rastaman Live Up". The Meditations have continued to carry the banner of Roots Reggae music to the world touring Africa, Europe, and the United States and recording numerous acclaimed albums.

Taj Weekes & Adowa unite a true social consciousness with an unforgettable reggae groove. Blending in elements of acoustic roots rock and afro-folk simplicity, the band's vibrant sound defies genre and has garnered critical acclaim and a wide audience across the globe. The group's first two full-length albums are Hope and Doubt and Deidem, which won "Best Reggae Album" at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards and was shortlisted for a Grammy Award. The band released their much-anticipated third CD, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen, in October 2010. 

Venue: The Metro
When: Thursday, August 11, 2011
Time: 9:00 Doors/10:00 Show
Where:  3730 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60613 (Two blocks North of Wrigley Field)
Tel: 773-549-4140
Tickets: $10 advance/$20 day of show
Opener: DJ Slacky J

Video: Taj Weekes “Janjaweed”

From: OkayAfrica

By Aaron Rodriguez

Watch this amazing animated vid where Taj Weekes roots out the the evil "Janjaweed" with the latest single off his album A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen.

To commemorate the birth of Southern Sudan, reggae artist Taj Weekes has released this stunningly beautiful video as a musical memorial to all those who have suffered at the hands of the mounted devils known as the Janjaweed. The video is done in a captivating style of animation that turns the story of the Janjaweed into a metaphorical tale about a botanical infestation that sweeps across the land. The depiction of the Janjaweed as a species of cancerous floral cyclops seems like something out of Dr. Seuss’s nightmares, but the fantastical images imbue the song with a semblance of grandeur, as if to say, "The Janjaweed are more than just criminals, they are a supernatural force of pure malevolence." It’s an important reminder that amidst the joy and spectacle of South Sudan’s independence, there are still many wounds to be healed beneath the surface.

Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve [Taj Weekes]

From: Earmilk

By Montrey

This is your Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve. We will try to bring you one “chill” track every day. This is for when you get home and you are trying to unwind. You reach for that glass of wine or that unlit Black & Mild or maybe you reach for something more herbal. This track is for those times. We are just your milkmen and I’m here to make a delivery. Chill…..

Today’s delivery is brought to you by Taj Weekes. This new reggae tune came across my desk, at just the right time, because I’ve really been slacking on my island music. The track I’m bringing to you today is called "Janjaweed" and although it sounds like a light-hearted track; it actually carries a bit of seriousness with it. This track was made in response to the recent development in South Sudan which relates to the Darfur conflict. South Sudan was just recently recognized as an independent nation by the name of The Republic of South Sudan. Now, if you want to know more you’re going to have to do your own research because I don’t want to get too heavy when this is just really about the music.

02-taj weekes and adowa-janjaweed by MixmasterE

There’s also a video that comes with this new track and although it has heavy content; it’s still a great chilled out vibe. So enjoy. Check out the track and chill….

Janjaweed from Taj Weekes on Vimeo.

MixMasterE's Jam of the Day

From: Sketches of Existence Blog

By MixMasterE

This song is taken from St Lucian-born (& former high school classmate) Taj Weekes & Adowa's latest masterpiece, "A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen" which I have written about in previous posts (here and here). Of all the songs on the CD, this one stood out for me as it describes the unimaginable, heart-breaking horror of the south Sudanese people at the hands of the merciless Janjaweed militia.

I won't go into the detailed history of this conflict, but here are a few good resources to learn more about it:

Darfur as a Resource War

War in Darfur

What's Happening in Darfur?

Also, check out this interview of one of the Janjaweed commanders who went into hiding as he felt that the Sudanese government was about to scapegoat him because of mounting awareness and pressure from the international communtiy:

OneLove

:::MME:::