Lincoln Center's Festival 2000 celebrates Caribbean music, poetry and

culture July 24–29 at the "Caribbean Roots: Caribbean Routes"

concert series. Dub poetry, reggae, jazz, calypso and Nyabinghi drumming

will be proffered at two alternating venues in New York City.

The series opens July 24 at the New York Society for Ethical Culture,

with a performance of Rastafarian roots music titled "Nyabinghi Spirit

and the Heartbeat of Reggae." The evening features the

COLOR="#003163">Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, pioneers of

Rastafarian drum and chant, making their first U.S. appearance in 25

years; premier Jamaican dub poet

COLOR="#003163">Mutabaruka will also perform.

Haitian rara ensemble Boukman

Eksperyans performs its vodou carnival music during "Mizik

Racine and the Rhythm of Vodou," at the same venue July 26.

The series then moves to Avery Fisher Hall on July 27 for "Griots of the

West Indies: Dub Poetry and Calypso." British dub poet

COLOR="#003163">Linton Kwesi Johnson chants his politically

oriented verses with the Dennis Bovell Dub

Band, and renowned soca singer David

Rudder and his Charlie's

Roots band join forces with Afro-Caribbean griot poets

Composer and the

COLOR="#003163">Mighty Power. The program will include a

tribute to the late calypso artist Lord

Kitchener.

"Tradewinds of Trinidad: Parang and Indo-Calypso Jazz" reflects the

Indian and other Eastern influences on Caribbean music. The evening

presents the U.S. debut of Indi-jazz fusion sitarist

COLOR="#003163">Mungal Patasar and his band,

COLOR="#003163">Pantar, who blend jazz, steel pan, reggae,

Indian, electronic and classical influences. Acclaimed Trinidadian

parang (holiday music) ensemble the San Jose

Serenaders fill out the bill July 28 at the Society for

Ethical Culture.

The series' final performance, "The French Connection: Rising Stars of

Creole Song," July 29 at Avery Fisher Hall, features Martinican banjo

maestro Jean-Marc "Kali"

Monnerville, his former sideman

COLOR="#003163">Chris Combette and the Brazilian-influenced

Beethova Obas.