The Maroons are a Minneapolis musical trio that performs the popular music of the English-speaking Caribbean Islands, including reggae, nyabinghi, mento, rock steady, ska, calypso and soca. The Maroons take their name from the Jamaican Maroons who were originally African slaves and Arawak Caribbean indigenous who escaped to form mountainous communities of freedom fighters around 1655, when the British took Jamaica from the Spanish. There is much speculation about the origin of the Maroons name. The word may have been derived from the Arawak root símara (meaning an arrow missing its mark or a wild animal) and influenced by the Spanish suffix -arrón. The Maroons have earned lavish praise from schools throughout Minnesota for their colorful and informative presentations.
mick laBriola, a well-known Twin Cities musician and music historian, leads the Maroons. He has opened for such international Caribbean music acts as Ziggy Marley, The Wailers, Yellowman, Black Uhuru, The Mystic Revealers and Third World. mick has been working in schools and teaching workshops since 1986 and was co-music director for the international children’s project, Songs of Hope, based in Saint Paul, from 1991-2010. mick also visited four Maroon communities in Jamaica i.e. Accompong, Moore Town, Charles Town and Scotts Hall.
Program Offerings
Performance
Caribbean Music of Trinidad and Jamaica
Students will discover the musical and social history of the Caribbean-African diaspora through the music of Trinidad and Jamaica. This energetic and educational program, with its Jamaican drums (fonde (keta) & kumina, sometimes the buff bass drum), conga drums, rhumba box, banjo, steel pans, electric guitar, bass guitar & drum sets, will bring the islands of the Caribbean to your classroom and illustrate the African influence on the Americas.
Note: A sound rental fee normally is needed. Prices vary for community and business bookings. Please contact staff for more information.
