The Goods: Ziggy Marley, Alan Evans Trio
By Aaron Davis (for JHWeekly.com)The Marley for this generationJackson Hole, Wyo. - Five-time Grammy-winning songwriter, musician, actor, artist and activist, Ziggy Marley, has sustained a credible career that has extended well beyond the long shadow that has been cast 30 years after his father’s death. The artwork of his latest Don Was-produced release, Wild and Free [2011], brings to mind The Wailers’ classic Catch a Fire, while the depth of his writing tackles the need for change, revolution. On the reggae anthem title track, he swaps verses with his friend, actor Woody Harrelson: “I see hemp fields growing wild and free/I see marijuana trees blowing in the breeze”– written in support of California’s Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana, which subsequently failed. For two decades Marley was the creative force behind Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers before launching a solo career in 2002. His own soulful sound blends blues, R&B, hip-hop, pop and roots reggae. Outside of his music career, Ziggy recently reclaimed most of the publishing rights to his father’s music from EMI and is involved with a breadth of charities, including his own URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits efforts in Jamaica, Ethiopia and other developing nations. Jackson Hole Center for the Arts presents Ziggy Marley at 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Center Theater. SOLD OUT. JHCenterForTheArts.org or 733-4900. Post-Soulive with a heavy struttin’ trioThe jazz/funk/soul of Soulive brings back memories of packed rooms at The Mangy Moose and Knotty Pine circa 2005. Co-founder, writer and drummer of Soulive for more than 15 years, Alan Evans is touring a new soul organ trio featuring Beau Sasser on organ (Melvin Sparks, Akashic Record) and Danny Mayer on guitar (On The Spot Trio). Dark, super funky and a “fewer notes” attack than you’d here on a Soulive album, the trio’s debut album, Drop Hop, was released in April of this year and is steeped further into the instrumental R&B of groups like Booker T. & the MG’s and The Meters. Alan Evans Trio performs 9:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Mangy Moose Saloon in Teton Village. $5 gets you in the door. MangyMoose.com.