cj solomon plays or has played with the following NO artists:
JOHN LISI & DELTA FUNK (drums/guitar/vox): Great tunes and lyrics from one of my own guitar heroes.
THE REVEALERS (guitar/drums): Veteran Nola reggae/funk outfit blending Caribbean, New Orleans, and other grooves.
THE SWAMPLIFIERS (guitar, mostly): New project playing originals and swamplified covers, with John Lisi and Sam Price.
THE UPPRESSORS (guitar/drums): Rockin' reggae with Rudog and his gang of SE LA players.
ED BARRETT TRIO/THE PAYCHECKS (drums): Traditional and very nontraditional jazz led by brilliant Berklee-trained guitarist.
MARGIE PEREZ (drums/guitar): Funk 'n' soul covers and originals by this stylish vocalist originally from D.C.
RAS TREE & 3rd COAST REGGAE ALL-STARS (guitar): Rising star from MO to NO & talented LA performers.
HIGHER HEIGHTS (drums): Roots reggae and dancehall outfit led by the talented Cheryl McCay.
BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX (guitar): A privilege to occasionally back the Big Chief.
AMBUSH (guitar): Strictly roots reggae riddims 'n' dub from di local dreads.
JESSE MOORE BAND (drums/guitar): Singer/songwriter with talented full band of performers, and my first NO gig.
DAVE GREGG (drums): Occasionally doin' the duo thing with the madman dat plays one guitar with each hand and bass with his feet while he sings. Messed up.
Influences
Marley(s), Tosh, Sly & Robbie, Police, Clash, Keith Richards, Talking Heads, The Tubes, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Ernest Ranglin, Neville Bros, Meters, Carlton Barrett, Stewart Copeland, Prairie Prince, Prince...
Sounds Like
Hmmm... a drummer playing guitar, or a guitarist playing drums?
"A rhythm guitar that’ll keep the squarest of squares on track!" - neworleansbands.net
I was born in Buffalo, NY, into a family that traveled (and moved) a great deal and valued it as education. My father's work took the family to Kingston, Jamaica in the mid-70's, a short time after I started studying drums. The 'inside-out' drum grooves in reggae fascinated me immediately. My Dad had an an apartment opposite a club with live reggae, and the music of Marley and others was exploding all over Jamaican radio.
Music took a backseat to studies at Cornell and my early NYC advertising career, but a marketing job with Pearce Amplifiers brought me back to Buffalo after 20 years (and closer to music as I handled artist relations and demo'd amps a lot), and to a lifestyle where playing music while holding a day job was a lot more feasible.
By then I'd taught myself some bass and then guitar (drums too loud for apartment settings) and one day I walked in on a reggae open mic with my Tele. Despite never really having gigged much even on drums I was suddenly hired to play guitar in a very busy reggae showband led by 5-time Appolo Theater winner Tanya Diona where much of the music was over my head. I learned fast.
So eventually I wound up gigging a lot of reggae 'n' such all over Western New York, playing drums and later guitar for the Dreadbeats ("reggae, ska and mardi gras" - my first intro to 2nd Line grooves and Nola funk), and co-founding (with Neville Francis) and drumming in the regionally successful Strictly Riddim for almost a decade.
A first visit to New Orleans (aside from coming here for Mardi Gras at 8) got me fascinated. The next led to a very sudden move down here, not long before Katrina. I was back the first day they'd let me return and I could not be happier to be here!
These days I'm still playing a lot of reggae, but enjoy the funky gigs as well. I'm playing drums or guitar with the Revealers (happy to have lost my "Jazzfest virginity" on stage), playing drums with John Lisi & Delta Funk and Higher Heights, and pinch-hitting on drums or guitar with Rueben Williams' Uppressors, Margie Perez, Big Chiefs Doucette & Monk Boudreaux, and just sittin' in with anyone on Frenchmen St. who'll let me crash their party...
There's nothing like being a musician in New Orleans, and no way to describe it.
"We dance when there is no music. We drink at funerals. We talk too much, and live too large and, frankly, we’re suspicious of others who don’t…" - Chris Rose
"We got grace and mercy all over us." - Chuck Perkins
Twoz blessed hanging' out, even though my time was limited. Don't know what's up with the po-po though... but that's B-loe these days. When pressure drop it cannot conquer dread ;-) Anyway, must repay with a visit to the Big sometime in the new year... hope to see you soon.
Bro'! You absolutely KILLED at the Zombiebop gig on Halloween. I really dug your spontaneous creativity, and your ability to create music/sounds on your guitar without sounding like every other guitarist out there . Pretty damn unique guitar work my friend! Mike Binet
Good news, CJ! The study book ONE DROP DRUMMING is out now. It gives transcriptions of Carlton Barrett's original drum sheets, many exercises to study Carly's great reggae drumming and tons of Carly's original patterns recorded. For drum samples and further information go to ONE DROP DRUMMING. One Heart, Dengue Félix
Greetings of Peace and Love CJ. Hope things are going good for you. Whatever your situation endeavour to be happy. Life is too good to be distressed. One Love and stand firm.
NUFF RESPECT MR DUBWISER....NICE TRACKS' My Father STRNGEJAH COLE.....Sing The first Reggae Song called...BANGARANG.......did you know that I played on ziggy marley 1988 CONCIOUS PARTY album DEMO,s....tumlin down...have ever bin to hell.....concious party...new love...whats true.... did u know... im the drumer for the marleys for almost 20 years?? did u know.... that my mother brother is the lead vocalist for the Mighty diamonds.......did u know that i took jnr gong to record the track...ME NAME JNR GONG..in the 90,s........did u know that i made the track for LAURYN HILL & BOB MARLEY remix turn yur light down low.....did you know i played drums on MIND CONTROL the grammy album..? did you know...i played drums on AMY WINEHOUSE...WHAT IS IT ABOUT MEN......did u know....i played on kymani marley.....IM A HUSTLER ......... GOT IT RIGHT HERE......by SIZZLA?....BABY YUR ALL I WANT...by DAVILLE....did you know ive worked on 8 GRAMMY ALBUMS... this all i got.......FROM MY FATHERS BACK BONE TRENCH TOWN MUSIC......now i know i not Alone NOW I SHOW you.......WHO I AM'
SELA..... Energy Life hIGHLY Bless yur a very special family member need yur support... stay true love the vibes... for this union.......SUPPORT MY CD THANKS TO U AND THE WORLD
