Roots veteran Prezident Brown is back with a new album, Hook, Line And Sinker, on Axx Records. The 10-song set was scheduled for release on 30 October.

Songs from the vault

This one has been a long time coming. “All the songs were recorded in Jamaica between 2006 and 2009,” Prezident Brown said. He co-produced the album with bass player Devon Bradshaw of The Jahpostles Band, and he says it covers more ground than usual, “from roots-reggae to dancehall to ska”.

The musicians on the record:

• Devon Bradshaw: bass (and co-producer)
• Nelson Miller: drums
• Ian Coleman: guitar
• Ackeen Johnson: keyboards
• Everald Gayle: trombone
• Everton Gayle: saxophone

The message

The title track sets the tone. “The message behind the title song is for us to use our musical talent for liberation of the mind,” he said, and the song draws on Bob Marley’s famous call to free the mind.

The Jahpostles connection runs deep. Founded by Devon Bradshaw and his brother Anthony, the band was a go-to roots unit in the 1990s; some members played in Burning Spear’s band, and they were Garnet Silk’s backing band at the time of his death in December 1994.

Clarendon-born and now based on the US West Coast, Prezident Brown follows up Roots Hop Reggae (In Your Box), released about two years ago with mostly West Coast session players. This time, it’s straight from Jamaica.

Source: Jamaica Observer