Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
JAH KINGS Reggae Band
List of Venues and Performances
Festivals/Benefits:
Black Arts Festival-Kalamazoo, Mi
Black Arts Festival-Ann Arbor, Mi
CD Release Party-Hopi Indian Reservation, Second Mesa, Az
Island Festival-Kalamazoo, Mi
Reggae Sunsplash- Faulsburg Park, Mi
Reggae on the Mall, Kalamazoo, Mi
Reggae on the Reservation, Baraga, Mi
Robert Thomas Benefit-Pegosa Springs, Co
Rock Island Reggae Festival-Rock Island, Il
NBA's Tim Hardaway Benefit-Chicago Cultural Center,Chicago,Il
Turtle Lake Nude Resort, Union City, Mi
Unity Church-Kalamazoo, Mi
Kneadmore Reggae Festival, Needmore, In
Peace Conspiracy Festival, Eldrige, Mo
Benefit Concert/Zapista Indians/Amnesty International, Peace-Tree, Kalamazoo, Mi
Mother/Father Spiritual Center, Sedona, Az
Mayor's All-Star Picnic, Gary, In
Chicago Music Awards (2002), Chicago, Il
Jammie Awards (2004), Grand Rapids, Mi
Black History Month Celebration @ the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home, Kalamazoo, Mi
21st Century After-School Celebration/Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo, Mi
Stop the Violence Benefit Concert/Kalamazoo Police Department, Kalamazoo, Mi
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mi
Kalamazoo Community College, Kalamazoo, Mi
K College, Kalamazoo, Mi
Albion College, Albion,Mi
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, In
Assembly/Performance, Lawton High School, Lawton, Mi
Assembly/Performance, LC Mohr High School, South Haven, Mi
Assembly/Performance, Lorry Norrix High School, Kalamazoo, Mi
Assembly/Performance, Bloomingdale Elementary School, Bloomingdale, Mi
Domestic Violence Shelter Benefit, Paw Paw, Mi
Assembly/ Performance, Allegan County Juvenile Home, Allegan, Mi
Earth Day Benefit, Kalamazoo, Mi
Community Celebration, Grand Rapids, Mi
Wheatland Festival, Wheatland, MI
Roots Deep VIP Celebration, Springfield,Mo
CD Release Party/State Theater, Kalamazoo,Mi
CLUBS:
Abyss, Springfield, Mo La Viva Room, St. Louis, Mo
Alligator Lounge, Breckenridge, Co Loading Dock, Traverse City, Mi
Arco Iris, Grand Rapids, Mi Madison Oyster Bar, Southbend, In
Aurora Room, Marquette, Mi Rasta Grill, Nederland, Co
Bell's Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mi San Juan Room, Durango, Co
Blue Note, Columbus, Mo Mystic Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mi
The Bob, Grand Rapids, Mi On Deck, Detroit, Mi
Billy's Lounge, Grand Rapids, Mi Serengetti Room, Minneapolis, Mn
Chelsea's, Columbus, Oh Skankland, Columbus, Oh
Club Soda, Kalamazoo, Mi Trenchtown, Detroit, Mi
Culture Club, Chicago, Il Uncle Festa's, Bloomington, In
Happy Banana, Branson, Mi Wally's, Saugatuck, Mi
Intersection, Grand Rapids, Mi 911, Vail, Co
Kraftbrau Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mi Shaw's Lounge, Gary, In
APPEARED WITH:
Ark Band Inner Circle
Bobby Womack Itals
Casper Indika
Coco Taylor Kanda Bonda Man
Eek-A-Mouse Mikey Dread
Foreigner Phyllis Hyman
Four Tops Shai
TLC
OTHER HONORS:
LOVE CD Nominated "Best Reggae CD" and "Best Reggae Performer" at the 2002 Chicago Music Awards
NOW CD Nominated "Best World CD" at 2004 Jammie Awards
- .
Discography
Jah freqency{full cd} love{full cd} now{full cd} new cd currently in production
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Simba Jahi is a veteran musician with over 25 years of experience in jazz, funk, R&B, and reggae. A Detroit native with a heavy, soulful thump, Jahi has become Kalamazoo's quintessential electric bassists. He is a former member of the band Onyx and has been blessed to share the stage with Shabba Ranks, Lucky Dube, Mikey Dread, and more. He feels that Jah Kings' reggae is an extension of his spiritual beliefs. "Our music is an awakening experience for all to enjoy."
Alexander Washington has been performing professionally since the age of 15. He is not only the chief vocalist and song writer, but also plays guitar, keyboards, drums and percussion. Washington is a former world class athlete that represented the U.S. National Track and Field Team overseas and was an Olympic trial semi-finalist in 1988. He was inducted into the Western Michigan University Hall of Fame in 1997. He is a former case worker and intake referee in the Michigan Court System, and continues community service through motivational speaking, teen and adult counseling, and personal coaching/training. His life surrounds spreading Jah's words of righteousness and unconditional love
Preston Moore has been performing for over 10 years in the areas of drum, bass, lead guitar, and keyboards. He began playing with a gospel group who won the CGMA in both 1982 and 1983. Moore was left paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident in 1990. The accident enabled Preston to focus on music as therapy, he began writing and co-producing. In 1998 he reemerged on stage. "It's a miracle to be playing. I see my life as a miracle."
The
Illegal Poet
Illegal substance
Darrell Rollins born in Gary Nov. 2nd 1969. A 88 graduate with Olympic aspirations in track n field. When injuries became overwhelming the track star hung up his spikes for a mic. Rollins was no stranger to the stage; as a fifth grader (80) he became "Batmite", a break-dancer destroying competition groups at a time. He retired & started rapping in 84. In high school and college he used rapping to and from track meets as a way to talk to the team. When college and track was over it was time to reemerge on the stage as Ill. Sub.; a righteous rebel like rapper with graceful poetic skills that's smooth and intensely performed. "Illegal Poetry" is a unique blend of conscious entertainment that escapes all boundaries and restrictions. There is no telling what style of music you might witness. But there is one thing that is consistent, and that is that it will be from the heart. "I represent the bridge between old and new school and the only the illegal about this substance is the positivity in the poetry".
Jolibá has been a vocalist as well as a cellist since the age of 6. Blessed with a hauntingly smooth voice, she started singing opera at age 10 and has had many offers to sing with university, rock, and reggae bands. Her voice and diversity has taken her to Canada, Guatemala, France, England, and now Kalamazoo. She brings the welcoming highs to Jah Kings' harmony. With the voice of water, Jolibá swims on the ripples and waves of the reggae vibration.
Lee Cooke is an accomplished and award-winning musician. While he plays the trumpet and keyboard, his instrument of choice, is the drums He has toured with Reggae artists Aaron Silk and Fred Locks and played with Reggae artists Mad Cobra, Ken Booth, Hopton Lewis, Ritchie Stevens and other local talent. In 2002 Lee came to the United States to play and record a CD with Chicago rock band “Wall of Trees”, concurrently, he also played with a NeoSoul band known as Tanique. Mr. Cooke currently plays for Jah Kings Reggae band.
Links
