Staff WriterTake the heavy drum and bass sound of Caribbean music, add a dash of Soul, a pinch of Pop, a spoonful of Jazz, a splash of Hip Hop, a bit of Jewish culture, and some Asian drumming, and you have the kind of uniquely funky musical stew that can only be found in heart of New York City’s multi-ethnic melting-pot. The Brooklyn Music Festival, slated for Floyd Bennett Field on June 21st, celebrates Caribbean-American Heritage Month with an eclectic line-up of Caribbean and Caribbean-inspired artists for a tasty musical soufflé that is bound to delight the taste buds of Brooklyn’s multi-cultural communities.
Officially recognized by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President in 2006, the month of June marks a 30-day celebration of the cultural impact and influence of Caribbean immigrants and Caribbean-Americans in United States. Famed Caribbean music promoter George Crooks has initiated the annual Brooklyn Music Festival as a day-long cultural celebration featuring the best of Caribbean music, food, arts and crafts, and entertainment for Brooklyn and New York City residents.
With Reggae-fusion acts like Asian band Brown Rice Family, the ‘original Jew-maican’ BennyBwoy, acclaimed actor Leon and his Reggae-Soul band The Peoples, ‘Skragga’ musicians The Rudie Crew, Ska musician King Django, and the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Crooks has taken the Brooklyn Music Festival beyond the typical Reggae/Dancehall staging to present local artists heavily inspired by New York’s vibrant Caribbean community.
“This music festival brings together the best in Caribbean music-not just from the Caribbean, but from the Caribbean – influenced neighborhoods right here in New York,” states Crooks. “Caribbean music isn’t just island music. We purposely scheduled the concert in June — Caribbean Heritage Month; we want New Yorkers as a whole to celebrate Caribbean music and culture.”
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