Article Posted: Apr 15, 2004

Audiences at this year’s Congaline Music Festival can expect a performance that ignites the spirit and moves the soul as legendary reggae artiste Luciano leads a glittering lineup of artistes on Friday, April 30th – Reggae Night in Congaline Village, Dover Playing Field, Christ Church. The National Cultural Foundation has streamlined this year’s festival to concentrate strictly on the music - from Barbados, the region and the world - and the presence of Luciano bears testament to this effort.
Born Jepther Washington Mc. Clymond, Luciano making firm strides towards being a legend and now inspires, motivates and moves the spirits of audiences around the world. The 40 year old Jamaican has racked up testimony after testimony from people, who, upon hearing his performances are moved to think and live above the physical and the material. Discovered in the dancehall working with sounds systems like Earthquake and Earth Ruler, Luciano attracted the attention of Chris Blackwell’s Island records in 1994 and, having signed the singer, went on the produce the internationally successful album “Where is the Love”. The album’s title track and singles like “It’s me Again Jah” and “Lord Give Me Strength” charted number one in Jamaica and on international reggae charts. After much success under his own label, Messenjah and Qabalah Music, Luciano successfully toured North America and Europe annually.

His latest release “Serve Jah” has been described by many as one of the artiste’s finest works to date, under the musical directorship of Dean Fraser.

Fraser, a musical treasure in his own right will join Luciano on stage on Friday night, bringing his legendary skills as a Jamaica’s premiere saxophonist to the audience. He’s contributed over 1000 albums in the past 25 years as a musician and arranger with credits for working live or in the studio with virtually every major name in reggae and some beyond.

With beginnings on the clarinet as a member of a local community club, Fraser moved on to co-found the super-group “809” in 1985, along with trombonist Nambo Robinson. The group spent the next ten years dominating the band landscape, backing every major concert and overseas tour in reggae during the period.

Dean’s unmistakable musical touch is present in artistes from Bob Marley to Black Uhuru, Freddy Mc Gregor to Luciano.

Also performing on Reggae Night are Dean Fraser, Mikey General, Jah Messenjah Band, Third Stone, Tribal Roots, Shakey Ranks and Biggie Irie. Showtime is 7:00 p.m. Tickets are BDS $20.00 and are available at C.S. Pharmacy, Ticket Town Sheraton Centre and the National Cultural Foundation West Terrace, St. James.

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