ZU' LUCIANO BAND  'Rastafari Lives !' & 'Hot Plaja'

The sicilian  Zu’ Luciano Band has a crucial importance in the Italian reggae scene for different reasons.  Above all for its ‘heart’ constituted by Zu’ Luciano (voice), respected and well known in the Italian underground  reality , and by Jahro’ (voice and guitar ), one of the first italian rasta musicians to have appeared  on the stage as well as founding member of the historic and seminal Italian roots group, the ‘Jah Children’, that participated to the first Italian reggae sunsplash hold in the now very distant 1985.  But the ‘heart’ to that I referenced has also another meaning, the passion and the love that these conscious musicians – joined by other sicilian talented  musicians like  Franko (keyboards and programming), Giuseppe Giuliano (bass) and Francesco Castellana (sax) - infuse into their music, according to the lesson of the edutainement and that is to say to educate while entertaining.  Undeniable quality of the band is so their capacity to arrive right to the ‘heart’, note, and to establish immediately a direct and sincere link with the listener, thing that often does not succeed to groups of the local reggae supported by richer labels and richer productions .  For these reasons the Zu’ Luciano Band succeeded to obtain an enviable attention abroad, for that sun in the music that comes often snubbed like an obvious and banal concept for the reggae but of whom then the practice is not at the course of everyone.  These qualities are evident in the new single of the band ‘Rastafari Lives’ a moving and exciting declaration of devotion to Rasta that has become the flag of the group, thanks to international-appeal since it’s sung both in English, Italian and Sicilian dialect.  The delicate soul voice of Jahro’ and the passionate Sicilian ragga of Zu’ Luciano gained me like very other reggae lover in Italy and in Europe who listened to this  piece.  Much the same can be said about their album entitled ‘Hot Plaja’ that showcase the tendency of the group to mix up the styles and the sounds (also thanks to the contribution of Ras Dedo, protagonist together with  Franko of the electric dub parallel project of the ‘2 Dreads Hymn Jungle’), like in the calypso-jungle-reggae of ’40 Gradi’ and in the ragga-jungle of ‘Legalize It/Falla Una’,.  Absolutely captivating it is also ‘Roots Sicilian’, sung on a riddim  ‘old reggae’ in eminent company of hosts like the Italian reggae exponents Jahka and Il Generale.  In conclusion I can only say  that I stay eager in wait of further steps in the musical travel of this band and of further their productions, givened that of true and genuine reggae there is always more need. RasWalter

RasWalter

Label  TERRE HARSE CULTURE PROMOTION

guests Jahka and Il Generale