Doors at 9pm
On September 12 2020 the reggae community lost one of its pioneering voices. As the legendary lead singer and namesake of the Maytals, Toots Hibbert was a leading voice in the evolution of Jamaican Music from the early days of Ska through the rise of Roots Reggae. He did so with a unique voice that seamlessly connected Reggae to its influences in American Soul Blues and Funk.
In the shadow of the pandemic, his legacy was not celebrated with events at the time of his death, but as we reenter public life his legacy cannot be forgotten. With the help of his son and a lineup of standout talent, Ashkenaz takes the opportunity to honor the great Toots Hibbert with a special Saturday night reggae event.
Performances by Junior Toots, Kulcha Knox, Kava Jah, and Kurrency King
Junior Toots
Acclaimed international roots-reggae crooner, Junior Toots, the son of the legendary Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals has been a mainstay in the recorded and live music scene for decades and with an ever-growing fanbase. He’s managed to captivate audiences worldwide with his electrifying high-energy stage performance, soul-filled vocals and socially charged lyricism, along with catchy, singalong Jamaican-rooted original tracks.In the midst of social turmoil, Junior Toots stays positive and focused on being the change he wishes to see. From 1997 until 2004, Junior Toots toured with Toots and the Maytals, opening shows with his “Holding Firm,” “Jah Give Us Victory,” and other tunes. He continued touring on and off with Toots and the Maytals, as well as working on compilations with various musicians in California and recording Reggae/Hip Hop singles with Toots in Jamaica
Kulcha Knox
nox Dixon, AKA ‘Kulcha Knox’, was born on the 15th of April on the high tropical mountains of Manchester, Jamaica. He is the son of the late great music/reggae pioneer, radio DJ, producer and educator Jeff “Free I” Dixon.
Kulcha Knox has traveled, toured, and performed in the African countries of Rwanda (1996), Ethiopia (1997), Malawi, Ivory Coast, and Gambia to name a few; across many countries in Europe including France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, and more; Israel, South America, North America, and the Caribbean.
When he was young, Kulcha Knox began fashioning his career as a DJ in his home town with the Dancehall sound system, “King Majesty”, owned by his uncle. He later began working with “Destiny Outernational” which consisted of Garnett “Bimbo” Silk, Tony Rebel, Everton Blender, and more. Throughout his career, there have been many notable collaborations including but not limited to “Anything for You” with Snow & friends, “Let My People Go” with Jack Radics, “Punch Line” with Capleton, “Reload My Cup” with Toussaint, and “Place In Your Heart” with Garnet Silk. Kulcha Knox has also been featured on Remixes including “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” ft. Charlie Pride, and “King of Sorrow” with Sade. He has recorded with reputable labels such as King Jammys, Penthouse, Bobby Digital, Xterminator, and many more.
Kava Jah
In 2007 Kava Jah entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Popular Song competition where he received an award for most disciplined artist, thus creating momentum towards his first international performance in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he performed for the Military in observance of Jamaica’s Independence Day. The show was successful, so in 2008 he returning again to Cuba for a second time.
In 2005 Kava Jah began working with Gumption Music Production out of Kingston, Jamaica writing, recording and building his career as a solo artist. In 2012 Kava Jah joined the Jamaican roots reggae band I-Kronik as their lead vocalist. With I- Kronik, Kava Jah toured the US extensively sharing the stage with artists such as Romain Virgo, Luciano, Protoje, David Hines of Steel Pulse, Junior Reid, I-Wayne, and others.