Taj Weekes and Adowa

Taj Weekes & Adowa present a new experience in classic roots reggae. With wry, trenchant lyrics, a haunting, dusky quiver in his voice, and the knock-down sound of his band, Weekes combines a rare social consciousness with an unforgettable reggae groove. Guitarist-singer Weekes is backed by the tight-knit Adowa: guitarists Adoni Xavier and Shelton Garner, bassist Radss Desiree, and drummer/percussionist Delroy ?Delly? Golding.

Born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Weekes grew up listening to a wide range of musical styles, but when he moved to New York and formed Adowa, the group focused on deep-groove reggae to carry his lyric messages. The deaths of his parents between his 2005 debut album, ?Hope & Doubt,? and the recent ?Deidem? (?All of Us?), has led Weekes to write songs exploring feelings of sorrow and loss in universal terms, ones that all people experience. Adowa puts strong dance rhythms to lyrics detailing life experiences and social and class struggles. On occasion the group switches to a more folk-style mode in such songs as ?Louisiana,? where Weekes digs into the sense of loss following Hurricane Katrina. The combination of Weekes? expressive voice in songs of struggle and hope and Adowa's rhythmic accompaniment makes for a show that moves beyond the usual definition of reggae.