Title: Nice
n' Up
Without a doubt, San Francisco's own Native Elements are one of the hardest
working bands on the Northern California reggae scene. Nominated for a Wammy
(San Francisco Weekly's Local Music Award) and a California Music Award,(formerly
known as the Bay Area Music Awards) for outstanding club band, Native Elements
continues to receive accolades for their explosive stage performance.
With a myraid of musical influences ranging from soul and R&B to the deepest
traditions of classic dub, Native Elements delivers a fresh sound that appeals
to a number of different audiences. Native Elements are collective of musicians
and singers who have been jamming together in different groups for almost
a decade. Living just miles apart from each other (in Daly City and South
San Francisco) they have grown up in the culturally diverse music scene of
San Francisco Bay Area. After individual explorations with rock, jazz, blues,
and r&b and hip-hop, members of the Native Elements have come full circle
rooting their sound firmly in the tradition of roots reggae. They combine
their many influences into an amalgamation of positive, vibrant music that
speaks from the heart. For six years now the powerful music of Native Elements
has been emanating from Bay Area clubs and outdoor festivals with Humboldt's
world renowned "Reggae on the River" festival is being the most recent. Other
venues include San Francisco's Fillmore, Slims, Maritime Hall and the DNA
lounge. Native Elements are also a constant attraction of Mountain Views Afribean
Festival, San Francisco's Carnival explosion, Reggae in the Park and the Monterey
Bay Reggae Festival. They have shared in stage with a host of international
acts such a Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Culture, Toots & the Maytals, Black
Uhuru, Pato Banton, Lucky Dube, Eek a Mouse, Yellowman, Big Mountain, Grogory
Isaacs and Lee Scratch Perry just to name a few. Their contagious harmonies
are rock solid rhythms have won-over praises from the musicians, fans and
critics alike. Even the most discriminating Jamaican ear has found Native
Elements' sound to be as authentic and genuine as their staple of music back
home. With the release of their debut album " Nice n' Up", Native Elements
has proven once again that the Bay Area is a fertile breeding ground for reggae
music. Thanks to the production assistance and wisdom of their mentors- legendary
Twinkle Brothers, (Ralston and Norman Grant) the group has been able to capture
a true rub-a-dub sound which compliments their catchy rhythms. "Nice n' Up"
features 9 original tracks with dub version mixed by England sensations Derek
Fevrier' and Dub Judah. As a result, the diversity of singing and splashes
of dub throughout the album introduces a fresh helping of native root music
to the reggae arena. "…da vibes nice, real reggae, different from other Bay
Area roots" -Ralston Grant, Twinkle Brothers "They're one of my favorite young
bands coming out of the Bay Area. I see jah workin, though dem." Jahson Jamal,
Strictly Roots "…dem youth wicked, getting stronger and stronger every time.
They're a good band with a bright future." -Rocky Bailey, Emcee reggae ambassador
"What sets these musicians apart is the powerful harmonies of Tamara Haynes
and Karen Smith which mix nicely with lead singer Jose Pangan's voice and
other male singers." -Leigh Crutchfield, Reggae Calendar Int.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
