INTERNATIONAL REGGAE & WORLD MUSIC AWARDS
NEW ALBUM
Jah Words
Just Released April 26th
Exclusive Interview and Feature Pick Article soon come at REGGAE.com
Fresh from his sweep of the 24th annual International Reggae & World Music Awards where he took home more honors than anyone else, reggae dancehall crooner Luciano returns to the road early next month to kick off the final leg of his latest tour. After a recent performance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Luciano is currently scheduled to appear at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and Reggae Carifest at New York City's Randall's Island, as well as headlining a number of shows along the way. At the IRWMA, held last weekend in New York, Luciano won four awards in the categories of Best Male Vocalist, Best Album, Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer and the coveted Emperor Haile Selassie I Award for Spiritual Service Through Music.
Amidst the recent controversy surrounding reggae's dancehall subgenre came the new album from Luciano, signaling a promising return to the origin and core message of reggae. One of the genre's most soulful and spiritual singers, Luciano's Jah Words (released to stores on April 26th via RAS/Sanctuary) is steeped in lyrical messages that are always positive, peppered with themes of hope, devotion and fortification - a far cry from some of his more extremist, negative counterparts.
Bob Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door" is seen from a new perspective, "Feed The World" and "Cry For Justice" beg for change, and Luciano's mix of soul, gospel and reggae shine on "Angel" and "In God Or Man." And a video for the dancehall driven single "Why Should I" has just been shot in Jamaica. His early years spent singing in a Jamaican church choir are felt throughout the album, both in the lyrical content of his songs as well as the deeply heartfelt delivery. Always pushing the creative boundaries of dancehall and reggae, Luciano has spent his critically-acclaimed career seamlessly weaving elements of doo-wop, gospel and r&b into his songs.
Luciano "Jah Words" Tour Dates:
06/05 WESTCHESTER, NY REGGAE FEST
06/06 CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES
06/07 GRAND RAPIDS, MI THE INTERSECTION
06/08 ANN ARBOR, MI BLIND PIG
06/09 COLUMBUS, OH ALROSA VILLAGE
06/10 CHICAGO, IL JOE'S PUB
06/11 ST. LOUIS, MO KIENER PLAZA PARK
06/12 KANSAS CITY, MO WESTPORT BEACH CLUB
06/14 BOULDER, CO FOX THEATER
06/15 PARK CITY, UT SUEDE
06/17 LAKE TAHOE, NV BILTMORE / BREEZE CLUB
06/18 ANGELS CAMP, CA SIERRA NEVADA WORLD
MUSIC FESTIVAL
06/19 LONG BEACH, CA QUEEN MARY PARK
06/21 SAN DIEGO, CA HOUSE OF BLUES
06/23 ALBUQUERUE, NM SUNSHINE THEATRE
06/24 HOUSTON, TX CLUB RIDDIM
06/24 AUSTIN, TX FLAMINGO CANTINA
06/26 NEW ORLEANS, LA HOUSE OF BLUES
06/29 JACKSONVILLEL, FL DA REAL THING CAFÉ
06/30 TAMPA, FL JANNUS LANDING
07/01 ATLANTA, GA CLUB LEGACY
07/02 RALEIGH, NC LINCOLN THEATER
07/03 CHARLOTTE, NC AMO'S
07/04 NORFOLK, VA NORVA THEATRE
07/06 NEW YORK, NY SOB's
07/07 TRENTON, NJ MAXINES 11
07/08 MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA HOT TIN ROOF
07/09 BOSTON, MA SUFFOLKS DOWNS
07/10 RANDALLS ISLAND, NY DOWNING STADIUM/REGGAE CARIFEST
07/11 MATUNUCK, RI OCEAN MIST
07/12 NEW HAVEN, CT TOAD'S PLACE
07/13 BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND
07/14 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY THE CHANCE
07/15 NEW ROCHELLE, NY CLUB CARIB
07/16 WASHINGTON, DC H2O
07/17 WILMINGTON, DE BIG KAHUNA
