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All Aboard the Black Xpress '96

Father Figure: Azeem of Rebel So-o
Rebel So-o highlights SJ City College's reggae festival
By Nicky Baxter
Although four of the five members of the reggae band Rebel So-o live in the Bay Area, the group has appeared only infrequently in the valley. Rebel So-o's head dread, Azeem, splits his time between Seattle and Jamaica, his birthplace. For tours, Azeem either flies the band out to Seattle or makes his way here. According to Azeem, Rebel So-o last played in the area as opening act for Bunny Wailer in Berkeley a couple of months ago.
Musically, the group proffers Diasporan roots reggae with a faint nod to the future. Says Azeem, "The sound is roots music with a little 'techno' as they say. It's got a North American twist, but you can call it roots." The band's genesis can be traced back to an early '90s Bob Marley commemorative performance in Jamaica. Azeem made up his mind there and then to form a group. Ironically, it was not until he re-located to the U.S. that he finally accomplished his cherished mission. "Y'know, reggae got a lot of influence from North America," he explains with a Jamaican accent. "We would listen to Nat Cole, James Brown, all-a dem."
San Jose City College's Black Xpress '96 concert, the culmination of African Awareness Month events at the school, has special significance for Azeem. "We are going to try to put everything we can into the performance," he says earnestly. "We need more events like this to spread the culture, y'know?" In addition to Azeem's unit, a myriad of performers have hooked up with the Black Xpress's soul train, including Majestic and Dread, I-Live, Unda P. and Ras Kidus.

Black Xpress '96 takes place Friday (Mar. 1) at 7:30pm at San Jose City College Theater, 2100 Moorpark Ave., San Jose. TIckets are $5/$8. (408/298-2181, ext 3602)