ZONA REGGAE - PORTUGAL

Review by: I Rick

Weekly highlight presents a 2008 release, really worth of checking out! Taj Weekes & Adowa's latest album, Deidem!

Born and raised on St. Lucia, Taj Weekes grew up breathing music and by age 12, he regularly performed wid his own Calypso band, organized musical venues and was a live & radio DJ! His desire to grow stronger in the music business brought him to Toronto and finally to New York, where he formed the group Taj Weekes & Adowa. His 2005 debut album, Hope & Doubt, was at the time reviewed as one of the best debut releases from a US based artist. Release in May 2008, by his own Jatta Records, Deidem, meaning “All of Us”, confirms that we are watching an artist wid refreshing new perspectives. All over eleven original tunes of classic reggae music, Taj Weekes brings a lot of information through his soft, somehow melancholic, but yet inspiring melodies. Social Justice and intellectual debate are the main aims of Taj Weekes’ music and lyrics. Plenty of present day issues and problems are the themes chosen from dis GodWill Ambassador to the Caribbean to bring awareness to crucial matters affecting our world. Voice to all and to all problems in our world is Deidem’s musical purpose as Taj Weekes states in his own words: “Whether it’s Darfur, the Middle East, global warming… there’s something going on in every part of the world and we’re trying to bring it all together on one album. No one is talking to each other; the album is designed to create conversation where people can come together.”