Never Forget
Bambú Station

Article and Photography by Diane "Livonn" Adam © 2004

The West Coast reggae music scene has been bombarded by shows from artists from the Virgin Islands like the group Midnite, whose truth-seeking lyrics, though strikingly profound, can often be elusive to the uninitiated listener. This is not true of the more mature and polished sound of St. Croix’s Bambú Station, who offer the listener an intense and thoroughly penetrating delivery of compelling, intelligent and crystal clear lyrics that are further beautified by a powerful reggae rhythm. They eloquently expound on the inhuman agony endured by African people by the hands of the unjust. During their performance on Sunday, September 5, 2004 at Monterey Bay Reggae Festival, Bambú Station’s lead singer/songwriter and studio producer Jalani Horton’s soulful and emotional vocals cut through the air and landed with pitch perfect perfection for all to hear.

Horton says, "We come to expose them who deceive the people and hurt the people." Blazed across his shirt is the picture of the belly of a slave ship and scattered human shackle. Intensifying this image are words that immediately grab your attention, "The African Hellacaust". Words that are much more than a mere reggae slogan or catchy cliché telling the world that everything is irie. These words touch on a subject that begs to be remembered by the world and most importantly by the descendents of the victims of slavery who still cry out of the past to never forget. "Over 100 million innocent, peaceful African men, women and children packed like sardines in slave ship holes died during the Middle Passage, victims of the white man’s unprovoked barbaric aggression. The survivors arrived on the shores of the Americas and the West Indies, only to be sold into inhuman system of chattel slavery." This is the critical mindset of the incredibly talented reggae group, Bambú Station, a stunning musical collective that also includes Andy Llanos on bass and the legendary Tuff Lion on rhythm guitar.

To the delight of all their fans, Bambú Station will be back in Northern California this month. They will be performing at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on November 18; Vet’s Hall in Santa Cruz on November 19; The Opera House in San Francisco on November 21 and Golden Phoenix Hotel & Casino in Reno, Nevada on November 22.
After their California stint, the group will head to the Hawaiian Islands to perform through December 2004. Opening the shows will be the equally talented singer Iba, who will perform songs from his splendid 2003 CD release, Jah Lion – Children of The Nile. If you love crucial roots, reggae music that encompasses spiritual insight, cultural truth, intelligent lyrics, driving rhythms, this is the group to see. Even jazz lovers will find something special about Bambú Station. This is a group that most certainly will find a place in the hearts and minds of all music lovers.	Iba