Jamaican Artists in the Jazz Fest Spotlight, Week One

The highlights among the acts from Jamaica that will play the first weekend of this year’s Jazz Fest.

My default choice at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell is always the Cultural Exchange Pavilion (this year, officially the Sandals Resorts Jamaica Cultural Exchange Pavilion). That’s the place where I’ll hear music I haven’t heard before and may not get a chance to hear again after Jazz Fest. Some acts will be short-term infatuations that I follow around the grounds for a couple of days, but there are some that I will add to my collection and/or playlists and see when I get a chance.

This year’s spotlight country is Jamaica, and for those who only know reggae’s greatest generation—Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh, etc.—this year’s lineup will be a revelation. It includes many well-established artists including Lutan Fyah, who has more than 20 albums under his belt. But since Jamaica largely dropped off America’s cultural map (to the extent it was ever on it) with Sean Paul, a lot this weekend will be new to Jazz Fest audiences.

I’m not sure anyone will become Jazz Fest Viral—the act does something so unexpected and awesome that people tell people they have to see them, like Son Rompe Pera last year and the Columbian prog folk band Cimarrón in 2024.

The BrukOut Sound System might be this year’s buzz band, but it’s hard to be sure since Jazz Fest put the act together for the occasion. The London-based production company BrukOut will feature BBC radio personality Seani B. and DJ Izzy Bossy along with a handful of artists and dancers for a contemporary presentation of dancehall. There are no videos of this configuration in action, but the premise and clips of the component parts are promising.

For me, one of the strengths of the Cultural Exchange Pavilion booking is that much of it usually represents the country today. There are almost always traditionalists like this year’s Show Jam Mento Band (Friday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 2:10 p.m.; Rhythmpourium, 4:40 p.m.; Saturday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 12:45 p.m.; Kids’ Tent, 3:05 p.m.; Sunday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 12:45 p.m., Jazz & Heritage, 3:05 p.m.) but Jazz Fest also books artists whose music represents the present in aesthetics and instrumentation.

A couple of quick caveats: This list is a guide to the first weekend, not a guarantee. I’ve been fascinated by videos by acts that did nothing for me when I saw them live, while others that didn’t seem like anything special on YouTube came to life for me in front of an audience. Also, I have left out the Marleys and the biggest names. You don’t need me to tell you about them. I’m focusing on the artists who may fly under your radar.

My guide to the second weekend will go up next week.

Rik Jam and the Island Federation

Thursday, Congo Square Stage, 11:20 a.m.; Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 2:20 p.m.)

Spiritual reggae from a relative newcomer with one album, The Genesis, under his belt. The obvious sincerity in his performance breathes life into commonplace ideas.

Monty Alexander “Jamericana”

(Thursday, Music Heritage Stage (interview with Tom McDermott), H, 2:45 p.m., Jazz Tent, 5:45p.m.)

Alexander continues in the jazz tradition of interpreting standards, but he draws from a very different body of music, including Bob Marley and dub master Augustus Pablo.

Sevana

(Friday, Gentilly, 12:45 p.m.; Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 3:35 p.m.)

You can hear her love of pop R&B in the voice of this singer/actress/model from Jamaica.

Protoje

(Friday, Music Heritage Stage (interview with Shelah Moody), 1:15 p.m., Congo Square Stage, 3:50 p.m.)

His new album, The Art of Acceptance, is his eighth, and he is a part of the current reggae musical establishment at this point in his career. He has received Grammy nominations, and you can hear the breadth of his musical influences—including soul and hip-hop—throughout his catalog.

Lutan Fyah

(Saturday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 2:10 p.m.; Jazz & Heritage, 4:45 p.m.)

Lutan Fyah’s a modern reggae veteran whose body of work covers a lot of ground, from soulful singing to fiery dancehall toasting

BrukOut Sound System feat. Seani B, Nesta, Laa Lee, & Izzy Bossy

(Saturday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 3:35 p.m.; Sunday, Rhythmmpourium, 1:15 p.m.; Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 3:35 p.m.)

Jazz Fest partnered with BrukOut to put together a show that focuses on dancehall’s international reach, complete with DJs, singers and dancers. BBC1 DJ and personality Seani B. will be joined by British DJ Izzy Bossy, and singers Nesta (from Queens) and Laa Lee .

On Sunday, the BrukOut Dancehall Experience in the Rhythmpourium will be a stripped-down version of the show featuring Seani B., Izzy Bossy, and the dancers.

Topp Brass plays Ska

(Sunday, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, 2:10 p.m.)

The four members of the Topp Brass horn section emerged from the Jamaica’s Best School Band competition, and they’ve become a go-to horn section for singers who need chops and an affection for the classic sound. They’re best known for their song, “Bourbon Beach,” but they’ll play a ska set on Sunday afternoon.)