"Warm, summery and hypnotic like all the best roots reggae... [with] wise, slinky vocals." -Lucidculture.com Rooted in reggae rhythms and tropicália-inspired melodies, Jersey City-based Kiwi dynamically blends jazz flourishes and soulful grooves into a uniquely uplifting sound. After nearly a decade of entertaining audiences around the Northeastern US and Brazil, Kiwi has hit their stride with a new lineup featuring some of the New York City area’s finest soul and funk musicians. The band, which includes Alex Tea (vocals, guitar), Ramsey Norman (drums), Steve Capecci (bass), Ben Guadalupe (percussion), Dave Stolarz (keys), Barami Waspe (tenor sax), Curtis Taylor (trumpet), and Rob Edwards (trombone), has been invited to share the stage with veteran reggae/ska acts including the Pietasters, John Brown’s Body and Groundation. Much of Kiwi’s pan-global approach to music is inspired by the time that primary songwriter Alex Tea spent in Brazil, beginning with a trip to the ocean-side city of Fortaleza over a decade ago. It was in Fortaleza that Tea first fell in love with the Portuguese language and capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that combines exuberant dancing and singing with powerful strikes and take-down maneuvers. "What drew me into capoiera was the sense of community among everyone involved,” says Tea. “Each roda [capoeira exhibition/match] had a live soundtrack that featured instruments, melodies, and cadences that I had never heard before, but seemed so familiar." It didn’t take long for Tea, the grandson of a classical violinist, to incorporate Brazilian rhythms and instruments, as well as Portuguese lyrics, into Kiwi’s music. In addition to over a hundred club and dancehall performances, Kiwi has also performed at a variety of music festivals and community events in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. They are also proud to be an active and vibrant presence in their home base, the Jersey City arts scene. In addition to a burgeoning American following, Kiwi also has a growing fanbase in Brazil, where they have embarked on two short tours. Notable Performances: NYC Reggae Fest w/ John Brown's Body, Groundation, New Kingston in New York, NY (2013) 25th Annual Bud Light Reggae Festival at Sugarloaf Mtn in Maine (2013) Joe's Pub (headliner), New York, NY (2013) w/ The Pietasters at The Irish in Kearny, NJ (2012) The Bitter End (headliner), New York, NY (2011) w/ Natiruts in Brazil (2011) w/ John Brown's Body at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ (2011) w/ Bushman at Sullivan Hall (2011) w/ Ritchie Spice at The Haunt in Ithaca, NY (2007) Headlining the Camp Reggae festival in Isabella, TN (2005-2007) w/ Groundation in Brazil (2006) PRESS “The multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, seven-piece ensemble has established itself as a staple of the Downtown indie rock scene over the past few years, with a unique blend of reggae rhythms, 70s soul and R&B grooves, English and Portuguese lyrics and jazz-influenced improvisation.” - Jim Testa, The Jersey City Independent “...Kiwi is a sight to see and an even better sound to hear. The melody coming from the stage is exactly what reggae should sound like, both lyrically and musically. Perhaps most impressive are the expert combinations of sounds from the various instruments on stage. With three horns, two percussionists and a variety of other members, Kiwi could easily present a loud, brassy sound to compliment the jazz from which they take some of their influence. However, despite the full stage, no individual instrument is overwhelming. Instead, the mellow sound drifting into the crowd speaks directly to the idea that all instruments are absolutely necessary for the creation of this music. Even during a mid-set display of brass and wind mastery, Kiwi maintains the perfect balance of sound.” - missbananainthecity, NY Social Status (Feb 24, 2013) "...everything that’s good about roots reggae: they’re slinky and hypnotic yet constantly change shape, with light dub tinges that enhance the psychedelic factor...sonics are crisply digital, the production values are strictly oldschool. What’s interesting about this band is that everybody seems to come from either a rock or jazz background, yet they get what reggae is all about better than some of the Jamaican posse does these days.” - delarue, New York Music Daily (Feb 21, 2013)