The Jazz Reggae Festival hits UCLA on Memorial Day Weekend

JazzReggae Festival at UCLA

May 12, 2012 by Kris

Photo/Editorial Review of the 2012 JazzReggae Festival at UCLA

Dated May 28, 2012

The 26th Annual JazzReggae Festival went smoothly at UCLA’s intramural field on May 27, 2012, with top-notch performances from some great bands for the event’s Jam Day. Check out our pics below.

Headlining the Jam Day were The Roots, the hip-hop jam band hailing from Philadelphia. They’re also the in-house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In fact, singer Black Thought said onstage that it was three years ago when they were performing at the JazzReggae Festival where they first met Jimmy Fallon.

The Roots kicked off their set with a cover of the Beastie Boys’ hit “Paul Revere” in memoriam of now deceased Beastie Boy MCA. They also performed their guitar-driven hit “The Seed” and a rendition of the Guns-N-Roses song “Sweet Child of Mine.”

Before The Roots was Booker T. Jones, who quipped that he almost attended UCLA during his college years. “I couldn’t afford the plane ticket,” he said. He later received his honorary doctorate degree from Indiana University, which led him to jokingly tell attending students that he may be teaching them someday.

His set included an encore song with The Roots’ drummer Questlove, and his uber hit “Green Onion,” his organ-driven song that’s featured in many a’ motion picture soundtrack. Jones replaced Bobby Womack at the JazzReggae Festival, who canceled his appearance due to health reasons.

Jamming out the crowd before Booker T. Jones was Gary Clark Jr., whose long, guitar-driven blues-infused songs gave attendees an entertaining set of songs to kick back to.

The red, green and yellow color set of Rastafarianism was in no short supply as an eclectic crowd feasted on Jamaican food from local vendors, and shopped the multiple tents hawking reggae music, summer garb and rasta gear. Live art was also on hand, giving event goers food for their eyes, as well as their ears.

Original article, dated May 14, 2012.

**UPDATE: Due to health reasons, Bobby Womack has cancelled his appearance at the JazzReggae Festival’s Jam Day on May 27. Performing as his replacement is soul singer Booker T. Jones.**

If you’re looking to kick off the summer season with some good vibes and some good music then the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA is up your alley.

It’s in its 26th year and offers two long days of Jam and Reggae music, dreadlocks, live art, and red, yellow, and green stripes. Headlining the festival’s Jam Day on May 27 are The Roots. Also performing are Bobby Womack (think of the Gorillaz song “Stylo”), Gary Clark, Jr., Thundercat, Selah Sue and Sonnymoon.

Shaggy is headlining the event’s Reggae Day on Memorial Day, May 28. Also performing that day are Tarrus Riley, Collie Buddz, Alison Hinds, Don Carlos and Cris Cab.

The JazzReggae Festival takes place at UCLA’s Intramural Field. Tickets can be bought for one or both days, at about $30 a day (you can save some coin buying pre-sale). Organizers are also offering deluxe passes at $65 a day that include free meals and a shaded, primo location to enjoy the music. With The Roots and Shaggy headlining, don’t be surprised if the event draws a sell out crowd.