by Justine Ketola
07/08/2009
UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival 2009, Los Angeles, California
The largest student-run festival event in the United States, the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Jazz Reggae Festival took off over the course of two days - May 24 & 25, 1009 and is held annually during the Memorial Day weekend. With President Obama in office for just under six months, the festival organizers chose the Culture of Change as their annual theme for 2009.
A solar-powered LED screen helped to get the close-ups on a stage that presents to upwards of 30,000 capacity size crowds. Day one known as "Jam Day" featured De La Soul and Erykah Badu and day two, "Reggae Day" featured Mavado,Peetah & Mojo Morgan of Morgan Heritage on their current solo excursions, Machel Montano soca king of Trinidad, and dancehall chart toppers, Assasin, Tanto Metro & Devonte and Cherine Anderson.
Tanto Metro and Devonte brought a batch of their hits backed by the LA-based group Detour Posse. From the start of the set with their smokin' single "Everyone Falls In Love" the duo had the crowd. As they moved into "Gal Say Wooee" they showed the massive how the veterans stay. And once "Watchin' Me" began it became clear why this duo have been a mainstay in the dancehall for so many years. As Devonte pointed out during a one-on-one in the press area, "Presently we on an anniversary tour, of ten years of hit making between me and Tonto Metro as a duo, so we are taking this tour around the world."
Look for a new compilation on VP Records that features these gems from the past called Tanto Metro & Devonte: "Most Wanted." The duo have released new singles "Are You Ready", "Anytime" and "Hit the Gas, " as Devonte tells it "to warm up the new album that is coming soon."
And as Tanto Metro reflected on the theme of the festival and its college setting, he said "It is history that made Obama win and it is a pleasure when you come onto the festivities here and where college is concerned and the university. You know we Jamaicans when we get the privelege to perform at these kind of events it is always a pleasure. We don' t get to do that many of these events because we are busy in the studio doing tours here and there."
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After a breezy, bright afternoon of several sets of great music, the organizers were brought on stage and recognized by Bernice Shaw, executive director of the event highlighting the hard work not only behind the stage but with the multitude of food and craft vendors to be coordinated, and the publicity and advertising outlets involved to make the 2009 Jazz Reggae event a success. 
To read the entire article click the following link: http://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/artist/mavado/news/review-ucla-jazz-reggae-festival-5252009/ac/news.html