Hometown: St. Croix
Artist: Jai Roots (vocals, percussion)
Lineup: Drums, Percussion, Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Accessories
Genres: World Music Fusion / Reggae / Latin / Jazz / Urban / Roots / Hip Hop
Jai Roots & the Herb-n-Cafe Project was formed by its singer/songwriter/percussionist, Jai Roots, as a result of his passion for the world and music.
His desire to inspire and encourage truth, consciousness, unity, and love around the world partnered with a captivating worldly sound uplifts and
ignites people to dance. His Afro-Indio-Latino background has given him the inspiration to write an impressive collection of original genre-twisting music. The music and messages cut through the humdrum live acts and mainstream music of today with arrangements and lyrical styling that is as
rare as it is potent. It's Simple. I do music for musicÔÇÖs sake, not for ÔÇ£radioÔÇÖs sake.ÔÇØ Through his music he hopes to contribute to inspire a more
conscious world. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs all about love, respect, and tolerance. Let your spirit brand fly higher. Find what youÔÇÖre about, be about that something, live
for that something, write for that something, design for that something, fight for that something.ÔÇØ, he says. Jai Roots Herb-n-Cafe Project is a
musical fusion of Latin grooves mixed with hints of Reggae, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Roots music with "In The Pocket" grooves, perpetuating a creative,
unique, feel good sound, you can't help but want more. The birth of this undeniably rhythmic sound filled with great musical arrangements, life,
inspiration, and lyrical creativity began at venues such as the Jazz Annex & Carmen's De La Calle Cafe where people would come eager to hear
something different than the norm. Those that hear Jai Roots & the Herb-n-Cafe Project for the first time quickly become fans and look forward to
future shows. Each show is filled with great vibes, energy, and dancing for those that bring their dancing shoes! The music is worldly and different
yet uniquely familiar to all. Throughout his performance, he groves to the beat heÔÇÖs playing, shaking his head of curls, releasing a positive vibe
thatÔÇÖs infectious to all that hear his music. Inspired by his prior professional dancing, he often takes the mic offstage and moves to the music in a
way that sends people to the dance floor fast. ÔÇ£I try to bring fire to the stage,ÔÇØ he says ÔÇ£I wish to inspire and ignite the light in people to do whatever
it is youÔÇÖre meant to do, just let your spirit go.ÔÇØ
For the past several years listeners have been exposed to his music in a variety of incarnations, most notably with the groups: Root 1, Coyote
Dreams, Maya & Magali, and Jemaya.He tours internationally with Mono Blanco and regularly sits in with a number of local acts, and has
shared the stage with: ManÔö£├¡, Gypsy Kings, CafÔö£┬« Tacuba, CesÔö£├¡ria Ôö£├½vora, Lila Downs, Ziggy Marley, and Manu Chao.
The name, Herb-n-Cafe, he says, describes the style of music: it's urban roots-ragga music. Certain parts are chill, like when you're kickin' it on the
beach with your feet in the sand. Other parts are amped up like when you're out in the city. In June 2010 he released the Herb-n-Cafe Shuffle EP.
The cd features a sample of studio tracks and live tracks. Currently, he is working on releasing a live cd with his Eclectric Herb-n-Cafe Project along
with a studio cd featuring the HOT latin single, "Buena". "Buena" was co-produced by Jai and San Antonio based Production Company, McCumba
Music. Jai anticipates touring with the band that he says has been playing in his head for years.
When Jai Roots & the Herb-n-Cafe Project take the stage, Jai Roots & the band deliver it all. They provide comfort and positive vibrations
along with a captivating feel good globetrottinÔÇÖ sound in a time of uncertainty and confusion, and let people take solace in the fact that
someone out there understands their predicament, and more importantly, knows that they are not alone in this happiest of worlds.