The musical world of Lucky Dub calls for several players to make what they call “a signature sound that is best described as the fusing of funk, jazz and world beats while holding fast to a rock-steady reggae vibe.” Nine members of the band’s core group, plus two guest artists bring that distinct, award-winning, sound to the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on Saturday evening. The program features some original songs, a few from their yet-to-be released album, “Mindset,” and one or two arrangements of popular cuts from the likes of Snoop Dog, Rolling Stones and Bob Marley.
“I started the band almost four years ago, but this is definitely the best group of guys we’ve had so far,” said bass player John Baker.
No doubt that group superlative originates out of the diversity of its players that hail from D.C., California, New York and the Virgin Islands, as well as West Africa and Russia.
| IF YOU GO |
| Lucky Dub |
| » Where: Millennium Stage, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW |
| » When: 6 p.m. Saturday |
| » Info: Free; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org; LuckyDub.com |
To understand the music is to appreciate the origins of the band’s name.
“‘Lucky’ highlights the upbeat positivity that we try to bring through in our style of music,” said Gordon Daniels, the group’s vocalist. “‘Dub’ is a nod to the old-school reggae style that came out of the mid-60s — reggae roots.”
Like the right sauce that enhances a recipe, the group’s horns, drums, strings and keyboards add to the diversity of musical genres, such as jazz and world beats. There is even the presence of a cuica, a Brazilian drum often heard in samba music. The tone it produces has a high-pitched timbre that gives it the nickname of “laughing gourd.”
In addition to John Baker and Gordon Daniels, Lucky Dub includes individual performers on drums, ukulele, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and a melodica, a small, wind-powered keyboard.
“We do bring in multiple players [to appear] on stage with us from time to time,” Baker continued. “We brought a Brazilian drum troupe up onetime. Then we had twenty people on stage.”
For the sake of the shows and mainly the integrity of their music, the more performers, the merrier.
“Our music is a reflection of the world we want to see, where people from all different walks of life are working together, moving to one beat and creating a positive sound for all,” said Daniels.
