Gary "Nesta" Pine at the Canal Room

Jamaican-born Gary “Nesta” Pine began singing professionally in 1989 as the lead singer for City Heat and, after emigrating to the U.S., became part of New York’s reggae scene. Pine then sang with the Wailers for eight years beginning in 1998. He has had some success as a solo artist since 2006. Tonight he offered his fans a free concert at the Canal Room in support of his new CD, From Jahmaica to de World.

Backed by a seven-piece band, Pine was the main attraction, no longer one member of an ensemble. His 50-minute set was a showcase of pure reggae, with no hyphens or hybrids. Pine’s songs sounded ready for reggae radio, slick and commercial with easily sing-able hooks. Singing in a soulful and slightly raspy voice, his thin figure working the small stage, Pine crooned love songs and commanded justice on political songs. To his credit, Pine did not perform Bob Marley-era Wailers songs, though they would have been crowd-pleasers. His own songs stood on their own and were pleasing enough.