High Times Cannabis Cup Band ( CCB )

B.B. King's was transformed in celebration of
reggae icon Bob Marley's birthday as a dense, diverse crowd bounced to
the familiar beats. College kids, soccer moms and, of course,
dreadlocked fans in red, green and gold moved close to the stage for
the High Times Cannabis Cup band's main set.

“Reggae is a musical form that easily cuts across
cultural barriers, because peace and love is its universal message.”
said G. Moses, drummer for the CCB. “Bob Marley was the first
international Third World superstar, and his music appealed to people
of all cultures and ethnicities.”

The 12-year-old band has headlined freedom rallies,
reggae festivals and even performed with acts like George Clinton and
Rita Marley, but this annual Tribute Concert is a tradition for them.
The show provides an opportunity to play everything from classics like
“One Love” and “Jammin’” to more esoteric tunes such as “War” – a
politically fueled anthem that contains lyrics taken from a 1960s
speech made by Ethiopian emperor Hailie Selassie I.

The golden glow of the spotlights illuminated the
stage area just enough, while front crowd members hopped around with
their arms outstretched as the drum solo of “Iron Lion Zion”
reverberated, marking the climax of the second part of the set.

Later in the evening, the group’s main vocalists
embraced some of Marley’s more melodic love songs. “Turn Your Lights
Down Low” stands out as a prime example; the singers molded it into
their own style just as Lauryn Hill did just a few years ago.

The music mellowed out to a close just after midnight,
leaving only the most loyal fans squinty-eyed and swaying, but all who
had attended seemed to savor the evening's selection of some of Tuff
Gong’s finest work. - Billboard Feb. 15 2008

B.B. King's was transformed in celebration of
reggae icon Bob Marley's birthday as a dense, diverse crowd bounced to
the familiar beats. College kids, soccer moms and, of course,
dreadlocked fans in red, green and gold moved close to the stage for
the High Times Cannabis Cup band's main set.

“Reggae is a musical form that easily cuts across
cultural barriers, because peace and love is its universal message.”
said G. Moses, drummer for the CCB. “Bob Marley was the first
international Third World superstar, and his music appealed to people
of all cultures and ethnicities.”

The 12-year-old band has headlined freedom rallies,
reggae festivals and even performed with acts like George Clinton and
Rita Marley, but this annual Tribute Concert is a tradition for them.
The show provides an opportunity to play everything from classics like
“One Love” and “Jammin’” to more esoteric tunes such as “War” – a
politically fueled anthem that contains lyrics taken from a 1960s
speech made by Ethiopian emperor Hailie Selassie I.

The golden glow of the spotlights illuminated the
stage area just enough, while front crowd members hopped around with
their arms outstretched as the drum solo of “Iron Lion Zion”
reverberated, marking the climax of the second part of the set.

Later in the evening, the group’s main vocalists
embraced some of Marley’s more melodic love songs. “Turn Your Lights
Down Low” stands out as a prime example; the singers molded it into
their own style just as Lauryn Hill did just a few years ago.

The music mellowed out to a close just after midnight,
leaving only the most loyal fans squinty-eyed and swaying, but all who
had attended seemed to savor the evening's selection of some of Tuff
Gong’s finest work. - Billboard Feb. 15 2008

B.B. King's was transformed in celebration of
reggae icon Bob Marley's birthday as a dense, diverse crowd bounced to
the familiar beats. College kids, soccer moms and, of course,
dreadlocked fans in red, green and gold moved close to the stage for
the High Times Cannabis Cup band's main set.

“Reggae is a musical form that easily cuts across
cultural barriers, because peace and love is its universal message.”
said G. Moses, drummer for the CCB. “Bob Marley was the first
international Third World superstar, and his music appealed to people
of all cultures and ethnicities.”

The 12-year-old band has headlined freedom rallies,
reggae festivals and even performed with acts like George Clinton and
Rita Marley, but this annual Tribute Concert is a tradition for them.
The show provides an opportunity to play everything from classics like
“One Love” and “Jammin’” to more esoteric tunes such as “War” – a
politically fueled anthem that contains lyrics taken from a 1960s
speech made by Ethiopian emperor Hailie Selassie I.

The golden glow of the spotlights illuminated the
stage area just enough, while front crowd members hopped around with
their arms outstretched as the drum solo of “Iron Lion Zion”
reverberated, marking the climax of the second part of the set.

Later in the evening, the group’s main vocalists
embraced some of Marley’s more melodic love songs. “Turn Your Lights
Down Low” stands out as a prime example; the singers molded it into
their own style just as Lauryn Hill did just a few years ago.

The music mellowed out to a close just after midnight,
leaving only the most loyal fans squinty-eyed and swaying, but all who
had attended seemed to savor the evening's selection of some of Tuff
Gong’s finest work. - Billboard Feb. 15 2008

B.B. King's was transformed in celebration of
reggae icon Bob Marley's birthday as a dense, diverse crowd bounced to
the familiar beats. College kids, soccer moms and, of course,
dreadlocked fans in red, green and gold moved close to the stage for
the High Times Cannabis Cup band's main set.

“Reggae is a musical form that easily cuts across
cultural barriers, because peace and love is its universal message.”
said G. Moses, drummer for the CCB. “Bob Marley was the first
international Third World superstar, and his music appealed to people
of all cultures and ethnicities.”

The 12-year-old band has headlined freedom rallies,
reggae festivals and even performed with acts like George Clinton and
Rita Marley, but this annual Tribute Concert is a tradition for them.
The show provides an opportunity to play everything from classics like
“One Love” and “Jammin’” to more esoteric tunes such as “War” – a
politically fueled anthem that contains lyrics taken from a 1960s
speech made by Ethiopian emperor Hailie Selassie I.

The golden glow of the spotlights illuminated the
stage area just enough, while front crowd members hopped around with
their arms outstretched as the drum solo of “Iron Lion Zion”
reverberated, marking the climax of the second part of the set.

Later in the evening, the group’s main vocalists
embraced some of Marley’s more melodic love songs. “Turn Your Lights
Down Low” stands out as a prime example; the singers molded it into
their own style just as Lauryn Hill did just a few years ago.

The music mellowed out to a close just after midnight,
leaving only the most loyal fans squinty-eyed and swaying, but all who
had attended seemed to savor the evening's selection of some of Tuff
Gong’s finest work. - Billboard Feb. 15 2008

On Sept. 6, 2000, we hosted the Doobies, our first-ever awards show celebrating marijuana in music. At New York’s now-defunct jam-band joint Wetlands Preserve, the Kottonmouth Kings were named Band of the Year and performed on a bill that included Dope, Charlie Hunter, David Peel, Atomic Bitchwax and the Cannabis Cup Band. A fully inebriated Jackie (the Joke Man) Martling emceed the five-hour Doobies marathon.

We scheduled the 2nd Annual Doobies for Sept.12, 2001. That show never took place—we all know what happened on the morning of Sept. 11. We gave out awards to winners whenever they came through New York City during that devastating fall and winter.

With Wetlands’ doors shuttered, we moved the 3rd Annual Doobies uptown to our new awards-show home at BB King’s in Times Square. On Sept. 25, 2002, Fear Factor’s Joe Rogan hosted a show that saw performances by Sean Paul, High on Fire, Black Moon, Lettuce, the Cannabis Cup Band and a reunion of the New Riders of the Purple Sage. One of the highlights that night was Dave Chappelle presenting Pot Song of the Year to Paul for “Gimme the Light.” - High Times Magazine / Trans-High Corp

Satisfied stoners enjoyed mega-vaporizer hits and hot nurses dispensing oodles of cannabis smoke, along with hemp and cannabis display booths, in Cup headquarters at the Pax Party House. At night, swarms of smokers enjoyed musical and dramatic presentations at the Melkweg. Of particular interest were a self-mutilation expert who tied his penis in knots, and the sizzling performances of the Cannabis Cup Band (anchored by master percussionist Gabe Kirchheimer) and Fishbone. - CannabisCulture Magazine

In an attempt to force the press to deal with counterculture spirituality, I established the Counterculture Hall of Fame at the 10th Cup. By honoring spiritual leaders of the culture, I also hoped to define the culture, as well as channel energy on a righteous vibe, not high-holy or bliss-ninny, but truly righteous. The first inductee was Bob Marley, and his widow, Rita, made an unexpected surprise appearance. We'd already created the Cannabis Cup Band to provide a musical backdrop for the ceremonies. Rita was so impressed with the band that when she heard them at soundcheck, she gave me a look of amazement and asked, "Who ARE these guys?" She'd never seen so many white guys cranking such a solid reggae heartbeat. But they also had a few ringers from Jamaica, including a close friend of Bob's, Ras Menelik.

Rita closed the awards show by singing "One Draw" with the band, and she invited the winners to come up and dance on stage during the song. It was an amazing moment, and ever since, the winners have come on stage and danced at the end. That's how our ceremony grew. We waited for peak improvisational moments to emerge, and when they did, they got incorporated into the ceremonies through telepathic osmosis. - High Times Magazine / Trans-High Corp

The Counterculture Hall of Fame became a major part of the Cup at the 10th Cup, when Bob Marley become the first inductee. Marley's widow, Rita Marley, made a surprise trip from Jamaica to join the festivities and declared onstage: "I know Bob's presence is with us here tonight." The entire HIGH TIMES office attended and many were made celebrity judges. Also on the list were Ras Menelik, Rocker T, Robin Ludwig, Mountain Girl and Rita Marley. The Cannabis Cup Band stole the show with a four-hour tribute to Bob Marley, emceed by Chef Ra. The Awards Night was MCed by counterculture icon Paul Krassner, and de Dampkring repeated as winner of the Cannabis Cup. Homegrown Fantasy upset the Sensi Seed Bank to win the seed-company Cup. - High Times Magazine / Trans-High Corp

Live Joint, the debut album from the notorious High Times Cannabis Cup Band, was released by High Times Records on February 11. A wicked compendium of reggae, hip-hop, ska and rock tracks recorded live in New York, Amsterdam and Oregon, Live Joint features an all-star lineup of New York’s best dancehall musicians. Since emerging in 1996 as the High Times Cannabis Cup house band, the CCB has been tearing up the underground New York reggae scene with sold-out performances, many of which -- recorded in the wee hours of the morning -- are offered here for the first time. The CCB retains the core members of Elektra artists Skadanks, which, fronted by Rocker T, ruled NYC dancehalls through the early ’90s. The group’s ability to play a wide variety of idioms, an inspired group of special guests, and their celebration of herban life and music have earned CCB legions of inspired local fans, headline status at Boston’s Freedom Rally and the Seattle Hempfest, and gigs backing diverse artists ranging from Rita Marley to George Clinton. The band's annual Bob Marley Birthday Tribute show, now at BB King's in Times Square, has sold out every year since its inception in 1997.

Live Joint’s 12 tracks offer a mix of originals (Rocker T’s “Just to Be Alive”) and covers of classic marijuana anthems (Black Uhuru’s “Sinsemilla”), sung by no less than six vocalists. Introduced by Leaders of the New School MC Charlie Brown, who also expertly freestyles the funky “I Get Lifted,” the disc covers a surprising gamut of styles.

“Tru Ganjaman” Rocker T sings and chats lead on five tracks, which include Skadanks’ ragamuffin chant “Pass the Herb.” The recent ascendance of T’s own group, the IRT Band, is sure to bring attention to this effort. His newest album, More Luv, follows If Yu Luv Luv Show Ya Luv and the Tru Ganjaman 12” EP, whose legendary cover shot of Rocker T was featured beside Ice Cube in Next Friday.

Judah Eskender Tafari, a polished singer who shared the Jamaican stage with Bob Marley and has many Studio One hits to his credit, provides additional vocals with stellar guitarist Junior Jazz, whose Live Joint rendition of Marley’s “Heathen” stands on its own. Tafari’s latest solo album, The Builder, received an exceptional review in The Beat, which proclaimed it “superior in every way,” while Junior’s recent VP album My Turn garnered heavy rotation and four Tamika award nominations. One of reggae’s most sought-after sidemen, with tours with Diana King, Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs and Judy Mowatt to his credit, Jazz brings tremendous skill to the medley, “Fussing and Fighting/On Broadway.” Live Joint’s explosive rock track, “Superstar,” is sung by diva Kimona 117, whose ferocious delivery complements the searing guitar solo. Edison Archer and Mister Rhee round out CCB’s background vocals.

The core rhythm section of the CCB includes some of reggae’s most in-demand players. Bandleader and former Dennis Brown keyboardist Ricky T, Maxi Priest guitarist extraordinaire Joe “JJ” Sansaverino, and veteran guitarist and singer Donovan McKitty continue to play internationally with a long “A” list of Jamaican artists, including Freddie McGregor, Tony Rebel and Marcia Griffiths. Bassist Alex Valenti has toured with Queen Latifah and Nigerian star Majek Fashek, and regularly gigs with dancehall don Super Cat. Drummer G. Moses backs Rocker T in the IRT Band and Judah Eskender Tafari in his solo project, Players of Instruments, and has toured with Shinehead. Percussionist Josh Tepperberg continues to play with some of NYC’s finest and adds spice to Live Joint’s diverse rhythms.

Live Joint’s special guests add the icing. Kevin B. sings Sugar Minott’s classic “D.C.” and flashes his trumpet with saxophonist Jerry Johnson, both veterans of numerous world tours with Steel Pulse, Big Mountain and others. Kevin and Jerry form the formidable CCB horn section, augmented by phenomenal Sting trombonist Clark Gayton and Brazilian saxophone star Zé Luis Oliveira.

The message of the CCB is clear: It’s a party, but remember to Get Up, Stand Up for your rights. - High Times Magazine / Trans-High Corp