The hardcore roots rhythms that made Black Uhuru songs like Plastic Smile and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner classics, are revived for I Am The Lion in The Concrete Jungle, singer Eric Smith’s second album which is due for release on September 15.
Those legendary beats drive refreshed versions of several of the roots singer’s songs. Like the originals, these updated rhythms are played by Sly and Robbie.
“Wi work on the songs for some time and they sound great. Yuh can’t go wrong when yuh working with Sly and Robbie,” said Smith, who is based in Connecticut.
The vaunted beats from The Taxi Gang give new life to Wolf, Tour The World and Jah Jah, songs which Smith wrote a number of years ago. He said, “Sly and Robbie and the other musicians put it on another level.”
Saxophonist Dean Fraser and keyboardist Robbie Lyn, longtime members of The Taxi Gang, played on I Am The Lion in The Concrete Jungle. So did drummers Carlton “Santa” Davis and Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, and guitarists Andy Bassford and Earl “Chinna” Smith.
Interestingly, one of Smiths biggest influences is Mykal Rose, the lead singer of Black Uhuru which won the first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985 with the Sly and Robbie-produced Anthem.
The upcoming set is Smith’s second album. His first, Rocky Road, was released in 2007.
You must log in to post a comment.