Kofi

PRESS RELEASE
May 7, 2008
New Roots Productions
1326 W. Hood Ave. #3D | Chicago, IL 60660

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Jessica McNamara, 773.504.4350

Dominica native—now Chicago resident—a founding member of acclaimed RSB Band

Reggae Artist Kofi to Showcase Debut CD, "New Name," at May 16 Release Party at Wild Hare
Classic-sounding "roots reggae" CD recorded locally with live musicians.

CHICAGO—May 7, 2008—Reggae singer "Kofi" James, a Chicago resident who hails from the Caribbean nation of Dominica, will debut his solo CD, "New Name," and perform live at 10:00 p.m. at a release party on Friday, May 16, at The Wild Hare, 3530 N. Clark Street.

The eclectic CD celebrates his pristine island homeland and reflects his passion for classic roots reggae. It was recorded in late 2007 and early 2008 in Chicago, his home since 2003.

Kofi will perform tracks—all original—from "New Name" as well as classic reggae favorites backed by The Redemption Fire Band, comprised of some of Chicago's best reggae musicians replete with a 3-piece horn section and backing vocalists.

In a digital age where most reggae CDs feature vocals over existing "rhythms" created on a computer, "New Name" was recorded live using musicians hailing from Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae, as well as Dominica and Chicago. Among those appearing on the CD are musicians from popular local band Tributosaurus. The album's featured female vocalist is Taketha "Tye" Cole whose voice has drawn comparisons with that of Lauryn Hill.

Equally compelling at the release party—and mirroring the excitement of the album—will be Kofi’s energetic and passionate live performance.

Kofi has been performing for more than 20 years and was a founding member of the acclaimed Roots, Stem, & Branches (RSB Band). Between 1983 and 2000, RSB released 10 albums that featured reggae, soca and zouk, the native music of Dominica. RSB toured extensively in Canada, England, the U.S. and the Caribbean and opened for such artists as Ziggy Marley, Bunny Wailer, Culture, Dennis Brown and Shinehead. Since settling in the Windy City, Kofi has performed throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest.

Tickets for the May 16 release party are $12 at the door. For more, please visit www.kofij.com or www.newrootsproductions.com. Phone: 773.504.4350.
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- CHICAGO EVENTS MANAGEMENT

New Name (New Roots, 2008)

Not to be confused with the '90s female lovers rock singer Kofi, this Kofi (Karl "Kofi" James) is a male roots singer from Dominica who now makes his home in Chicago. Although this is his debut solo album, Kofi is a veteran artist, having recorded 10 albums as part of the Chicago group Roots, Stem, & Branches (RSB Band). While that band performed a mix of reggae, soca, zouk, and Dominican music, New Name is strictly a reggae affair -- primarily roots with flourishes of dancehall, ska, and lovers rock. Kofi's experience comes through in his assured delivery and vintage sound. Apart from the occasional dancehall sidebar, New Name sounds like a late '70s/early '80s album, before the digital invasion, with classic melodies that hearken back even further to the '60s and early '70s. The swaying lovers tune "Well Well" and the buoyant ska of "Time Is Now" in particular sound like newly unearthed classics from the vaults of Studio One or Treasure Isle. Vintage reggae fans should be further intrigued by the uncanny resemblance of Kofi's vocals to Peter Tosh. His burly voice is thus well-suited to hard-hitting roots jams like "Check Seh," "Hold a Vibes," "None of Dem," and "Rocky Road," but he's also surprisingly adept at softer love songs like "Well Well" and "Love Power." Even more surprising, he ably switches to DJ mode for the fun dancehall track "the Spot," a tune propelled by the invigorating guest vocal of Taketha "Tye" Cole, whose sound is as uncannily reminiscent of Lauryn Hill as Kofi's is of Peter Tosh. New Name is a treat for reggae fans from start to finish -- both for those who want to close their eyes and imagine that it's a newfound Tosh album and for those who relish finding underground talent. Listen to samples at www.kofij.com.



Track Listing
1. New Name
2. Love Power
3. Check Seh featuring Taketha "Tye" Cole
4. Well Well
5. Hold a Vibes
6. the Spot featuring Taketha "Tye" Cole
7. Time Is Now
8. None of Dem
9. Praises
10. Rocky Road
11. Power of Love
- Mark Harris, Reggae-reviews.com