Megawatt Ft. Adam Deitch, Borahm Lee, Weedie Braimah, Raja Kassis, Bajah & More

Jazz Fest is a celebration of all kinds of music from across the spectrum. People assume that jazz is the focus, but these days, the festival and the city’s related after-parties are a melting pot of styles and genres. Sure, there’s jazz, but also gospel, funk, jam and a healthy dose of world music. A few years ago, Luke Quaranta of Toubab Krewe decided that it was time to put the spotlight on West African music, and from that seed, JuJu Fest was born. JuJu Fest is a world music mini-festival-within-a-festival concept that takes place across the city of New Orleans during the ten days.

This year, one show in particular tops the bill with a killer lineup and an awesome theme. Raja Kassis, guitar player of modern Afrobeat legends Antibalas (and co-founder of JuJu Fest) reached out to Borahm Lee (Break Science, Pretty Lights) and Josh Werner (Original Matisyahu band, Lee Scratch Perry, Wu-Tang Clan), two long time friends who all share a storied history playing Dub and Reggae music together, to create Megawatt: Afro-Dub Soundclash. This will certainly be an incredible night of dub, reggae and afro vibes that will hit The Maison on Wednesday, May 3rd. Joining them will be modern jazz/funk legend Adam Deitch (Lettuce, Break Science), master percussionist Weedie Braimah, local sax hero Khris Royal, and trumpet master Maurice “Mobetta” Brown.  As if it couldn’t get any better, Megawatt will be fronted on vocals by none other than Bajah, a superstar in Sierra Leone affectionately know back home as the “Lyrical Bomber.” Bajah has been a frequent guest in years past of such acts as Break Science, Talib Kweli and The Roots, to name a few.