Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Jah Roots returns as strong as ever, but if you wanna hear 'em this time out, you'll have to pay, you deadbeats (see cdbaby.com). People have families to feed, y'know. After releasing their first two albums to the masses free of charge, the band understandably has decided to go the standard retail route with Crucial. It continues in the same vein as their previous efforts -- invigorating roots with a free-flowing, "jamming" vibe that at times samples past classic cuts (like Israel Vibration's "Same Song" riddim on "Secrets" and Barrington Levy's "Murderer" on "Don't You See the Problem") and that just makes you want to boogie. As with Babylon Weak Heart, they hook up with DJ SkillinJah (for one cut) and add another two sing-jays to the mix, I-Ron and Badda Skat. These guests represent admirably and throw a jolt of party energy into songs like "Good Highs" and "Chant Down Babylon," but it's Ras Josh who continues to be one of the most engaging singers in reggae today. He combines a Marley-esque wail with Ali Campbell-esque soul and throws in a blues singer's calculatedly ragged edge and a jazz singer's vocal improvisation to craft a style that would make "Mary Had a Little Lamb" listenable. From up-tempo jams like "One to One," "Poverty," the anti-babylon rant "Don't You See the Problem," and the title track to more mellow grooves like "Roll Up the Spliff," "System a Dread," "Secrets," and the anthemic "Fight Down We Chalwa," Crucial soars. Hopefully, its mainstream distribution will draw more fans into the Jah Roots sound. - Reggae-Reviews.com
Discography
Crucial
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Roots reggae with a danceHall flare. Jah Roots are so unique when it comes to their style. The music is definitely reggae although their influences are diverse add a little bit of dancehall, roots rock, and jam band.
To sum up their 2005/2006 bio quickly, Jah Roots started the year 2005 by opening for reggae legends Luciano and Dean Frazier, then they toured with Triple Grammy Award winning artists Damian and Stephen Marley for the "Welcome to Jamrock Tour" as the only opening band on the Missouri leg of the tour. Also they provided opening act and backing band duties for Prezident Browns "State of the Union" tour last November through the mid-west, to add were again the only opening act for Sublime tribute band Badfish on their tour of Missouri. Also releasing 2 full length albums "More Herbs For Tha Youth" and "Babylon Weak Heart featuring SkillinJah" in 2005. Both are professionally reviewed at http://reggae-reviews.com/jahroots.html . They also recorded a compilation album featuring JAH ROOTS riddims with other artists providing different vocal tracks.Nicco, Mister Kali, Carlos Jones, Mystic Vision, Lorna Bennet, IsoulJahs, Ras Matthew, Baddaskat, Highah Seekah, Ras Tree and many others were featured on the project.They have just released their 3rd album "CRUCIAL" and are getting ready to play shows with another up and coming reggae artist Joseph Israel in late March and early April, then on to Wakarusa where the band has a slot secured as well as FULL U.S. tour in support of the new album."CRUCIAL" is now available at certain retail stores across the U.S. as well as www.cdbaby.com, I-Tunes,Napster,Yahoo Music,etc... -B.M. 2006-
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