Ziggy breaks from his musical past

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Ziggy Marley's "Dragonfly" is a departure from the reggae for which he's best known. Kevin Westenberg Ziggy Marley 7 p.m. Wednesday Pipeline Cafe $30 (877) 750-4400 Also: Sunday at Maui Arts & Cultural Center; and Tuesday at Kukui Pavillion on Kaua'i. Both shows at 7 p.m.; $25.

The first? Cutting ties with his longtime sibling accompanying group The Melody Makers — sisters Cedella and Sharon, and brother Stephen — for his first solo recording, "Dragonfly." Only Cedella sings on one track.

Together since 1979, the Ziggy-led Melody Makers — all offspring of reggae legend Bob Marley — collected modest late-1980s hits with sun-kissed, radio-friendly roots originals such as "Tomorrow People," "Look Who's Dancing" and "Tumblin' Down." The Melody Makers also won a trio of Best Reggae Album Grammys for 1988's "Conscious Party," 1989's "One Bright Day" and 1997's "Fallen Is Babylon."

Ziggy's second risk this year? Slip a copy of "Dragonfly" into your CD player and you'll hear bits of R&B, rock, pop, funk and even some nicely parceled hip-hop beats. Bits and beats that become harder to ignore once you figure out what else is largely missing from the disc besides the Melody Makers: Uh-huh, Ziggy's tried-and-true roots reggae.

If Ziggy's recent shows elsewhere are any indication, expect the eldest of the Marley offspring to serve up a large helping of his new musical identity when he returns to Hawai'i this week for a trio of solo shows on O'ahu, Maui and Kaua'i.

The music and lyrics for "Dragonfly" were written in Jamaica, where Marley, 34, still lives. But the singer opted for rented homes in Miami and Los Angeles for recording sessions.

"I left Jamaica for a while, because as an artist I need to experience different things, to see the world and have different energies," Marley writes on his official Web site. "Living in one place is not good for me and I was tired of making music in a studio setting. I wanted it to be more like everyday life; a part of me. ... (It's) good for me not to be in my secure domain."

Guest musicians on "Dragonfly" include world music guitarist David Lindley, Incubus' Chris Kilmore and Michael Einzinger, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante. Scott Litt (R.E.M.) co-produced.

Sadly, Marley's "Dragonfly" risk-taking barely paid off critically or commercially. Like much of his '90s output, the CD peaked in the lower half of the Billboard Top 200 album chart shortly after its April release.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.