'The unearthed Holy Grail of reggae.' That's what DJs, reviewers and music lovers worldwide are calling the rediscovery of roots reggae founder Claudius 'Kingman' Linton and the justreleased CD collection of his essential 1970's reggae hits, Roots Master: The Vintage Roots Reggae Singles Vol. 1 (Sun King Records). But no critic has reviewed that reissue CD without an eager mention that the best is yet to come: Along with his legendary backing band, the reggae master has prepared an album of new songs with a skill, charm and potency to match his classic recordings. A new band: Kingman & Jonah. A new full-length CD: Sign Time. Kingman's comeback was born from his chance meeting on the beach in Negril, Jamaica, with American indie-rock musician/producer Ian 'Jonah' Jones. 'Can you tune this thing, sire'' the old Rasta called out to the visitor, and a musical friendship was born. Kingman & Jonah made their first recordings - the mellow groove 'In The Street' and the elegiac 'Baghdad' - while cramped into a tiny tin-roof studio on a Jamaican mountainside. Then they continued their songwriting partnership and harmony rehearsals over the phone between Negril and Baltimore, Maryland. Soon, an album's worth of new material was ready to be tracked, complete with the irresistible melodies, infectious rhythms and conscious message familiar to fans of Claudius's earlier work. Kingman & Jonah gathered to record the Sign Time CD with a backing band of legendary Jamaica reggae players in Tuff Gong, the Kingston, JA, studio of Claudius' old friend Bob Marley. Until he met Jonah, Claudius' voice had been lost to the music world for more than 20 years - and his old bandmates hadn't seen him for decades either. A New York documentary film crew was on hand to capture the moment, and the sessions were quickly dubbed 'the Buena Vista Social Club of reggae.' But this is no nostalgia trip. Kingman & Jonah may draw on the history of reggae that Claudius helped create, but the songs on the Sign Time CD are injected with a modern musical feel and the lyrics speak directly to today's troubled times, from 'Baghdad' to 'World War III.' The album offers positive vibes with reggae roots tracks like 'Draw My Sword' but transcends the genre with the R&B-tinged 'Lonely Nights' and more. The musical blend on Sign Time offers listeners the best of both worlds: The craftsmanship of classic artists with passionate new sounds to thrill 21st Century ears.

Additional Details

Label: Morphius Records

Genre: Reggae

Release Date: 01/01/01

UPC: 613285917729