Ky-Mani Marley
Nectar Lounge, Fremont, WA
07.09.15
Ky-Mani Marley brought roots-reggae music into Nectar Lounge this past Thursday night. With a name meaning ‘adventurous traveler,’ and a stage venue that opens up onto an outdoor patio, Ky-Mani’s Jamaican music with a pop-orientated feel created the right atmosphere for the warm summer night.
Some of his most well-known songs were played, but the spotlight was on tracks from his June 30th album release, Maestro. This is his sixth studio set after an 8 year hiatus. His voice was resilient and fell in line with the conscientious, poetic lyrics he exhibits without falter in his music. Yes, he is the son of legend Bob Marley… but he is not just an artist because his last name is Marley. Ky-Mani shares the same soul of reggae, but he is his own, and backed up the depth of his lyrics with a passionate performance.
Maestro landed number one on Billboard’s Reggae Chart this last Friday. With collaborations from his brother Damien, Matisyahu, Gentleman, Gramps Morgan, and Kreesha Turner, the album mixes elements of hip-hop, R&B, dub, pop, gospel, and soft rock. He gave a worldly feel in his Seattle performance, and his new tracks ranged from topics of social and political issues, to love and unity, to party songs. Opening for Ky-Mani were reggae locals Selecta Element, The Lights, Mystic Arrows, and traveling band Majah Myjah.
Review by Liz Castro
Photos by Mike Deal
Ky-Mani Marley
