Search - Luciano :: Jah Is My Messenger

The Captain of the Ship. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 02/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(4.5stars)

Although reggae time is said to be longer than twine, there will come a point even in this day and age when we shall see a full on changing of the guard in reggae music. Where the artists currently ruling the scene will take their roles, just as the era before them did, as the elders in the business, who maintain CONSIDERABLY more time performing and touring and only occasionally reach the studio to voice new material. At the same time, the emerging group of young artists (at least some of them) will rise to the status of stars and superstars and will dominate the charts and the plays on the stations and the albums throughout the world. Just as it has always happened before. The dancehall side of the music seems to have been very prepared for the change for quite awhile, with the emergence of both Vybz Kartel and Assassin, then, just a couple of years later, Busy Signal and Aidonia, dancehall seems to be well ready for the day when Beenie Man and Bounty Killer abdicate their thrones. Even female talents such as Ce'cile, Spice and Danielle are ready for their places when Lady Saw, Tanya Stephens and Macka Diamond walk away from theirs. The roots side, however, isn't moving exactly just as easy as its dancehall counterpart (SHOCKINGLY) and the passing of the torch would appear to be a much more rougher transition in roots reggae than in dancehall. While the quantity of bonafide roots talent is certainly far from being short, when thinking of artists who could legitimately replace the Sizzla's, Capleton's and Luciano's of the world as reggae STARS, it is very very difficult. In roots there seems to be much more faces than in dancehall, so much more in fact that the young artists create somewhat of a jam and some are EASILY lost in the shuffle who are not currently recording or releasing big tracks (remember Warrior King? Remember Gyptian? Remember Fantan Mojah?) or are getting prepared to (such is the case for all three of those well mighty artists, all of whom should have hits and probably even albums in 2008).And while there are standouts, such as I-Wayne, Jah Cure and Turbulence, there doesn't seem to be one or two who just standout as a definitive choice. One man definitely doing his part to usher in the next wave of big top notch roots artists is Dean `Cannon' Fraser. The legendary saxman/producer/arranger/engineer/director/artist/musical genius over the past two years has seemed to have the midas touch when it comes to pushing YOUNG talents, of course in Duane Stephenson and the burgeoning Tarrus Riley. HOWEVER, while sticking with Fraser may ultimately take both Stephenson and Riley to the reggae mountaintop, one of the current occupants of the house on that hill isn't exactly ready to move out yet.



Remember Luciano? Having served a role once occupied by late and great reggae KINGS, the Crown Prince Dennis Emmanuel Brown, Hugh Mundell and most recently Garnet Silk, as the UNDISPUTED roots reggae singer of this era for more than a decade. Luciano's place in reggae is so solid in fact (and its not like they're haven't been any other contenders with names like Everton Blender, Yami Bolo and Bushman being ever-present and I-Wayne and Jah Cure emerging more recently) and even more so than his top notch peers (I.e. Sizzla, Capleton and Anthony B) that in my opinion it is his career which defined the current era of the music. When the day comes that Luciano passes the torch to a deserving youth and slows down to enjoy things, an era will have essentially ended on that very same day. Until then, we still have a very active legendary singer making some of the best roots reggae available CONSISTENTLY. We also have him back with the same youth developing producer, Dean Fraser, who seems to be so well at bringing out the best Luciano available. The duo comes forth with a VERY strong release, Jah Is My Navigator for reggae giant VP following a very successful streak of combinations between the two. Fraser was once (and still is at times) the music director at the legendary Xterminator Records which is where the Messenjah got his start, and all these years later, the two have still refused to cut back on a winning formula. Previously the duo has worked together on what are two of the most high profile releases of the baritone voiced Manchester native's career both Serve Jah and Serious. Both of those albums came to big acclaim for Luciano (and VP Records) and helped further his name and eventual legend in the international reggae community. Since then, Luciano, on the album side, has continued to frequently release albums (in his standard very active way) for a variety of producers and much to his own credit, ALL of them have been of a certain quality level as, ever since he has entered his prime, Luciano has proven himself virtually incapable of producing bad material; however, in my opinion, he has yet to produce an album which reached the heights of the WONDERFUL Serious Times album. Most notably between then and now was one VP album, the very big Child of a King, for producer Byron Murray, which, although didn't reach Serious Times' level, didn't trail too far behind. Fraser himself, has kept himself busy in performing and introducing (and reintroducing) both Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson, one of whom (or both) may someday vie for the role of roots' dominant singer once Luciano steps away. In the meantime, in case you haven't paying attention, Luciano hasn't gone anywhere and his steal grip on the vibes of this era hasn't slackened a bit, as his very new release from VP Records for 2008, Jah Is My Navigator, produced by Dean Fraser, verifies (as if he needed to) the Messenjah's vibes (and he didn't) are as strong as ever.



The reggae landscape almost IMMEDIATELY becomes a much better place when Luciano releases a new album and on this occasion, things are definitely not any different. Jah Is My Navigator is a big big vibes and Fraser spares absolutely no expense in bringing the future with the current vibes. And it is definitely an album which has no `lag time', as it grows on you very quickly (the only Luciano album I remember which took awhile for me to enjoy was actually the Serve Jah album). I always point to the Serious Times album as an EXCELLENT way to open an album as it began with the MASSIVE Give Praise (and I do it for almost ANY artist not just Luciano) and Jah Is My Navigator follows suit. The song which begins it all here, the AMAZING For I, is definitely the album's best track altogether (and there are some strong strong contenders along the way). The song finds Luciano, just as he done throughout his career, singing the praises of Rastafari and His Imperial Majesty and is just a lovely piece, so much so that should you have any doubts about whether Luciano is still on his game and haven't heard much new from the singer in quite awhile, For I is strong enough to dispel any such thoughts AT ALL. And I love the very simple play on words with the song actually being called FOR I and the punch line in the song being `Rastafari' or `Rasta For I', over the wonderfully Fraser produced one drop (which includes Fraser playing a typical very nice sax, as well as the legendary Sly Dunbar also). It was quite interesting to see exactly which song was picked to follow the can't miss opener and Fraser did a very nice job in choosing a song which is sure to attract much attention and not be overlooked, Jah Is My Navigator's title track. Jah Is My Navigator, the song, is the first case where Fraser blends current and future vibes as the song is actually written by Tarrus Riley. Riley has been on quite a roll for two years now and his gift to Luciano is a track which sounds like something the Messenjah might have written himself. Lyrically, however, it does have more of a story telling vibe to it, as is Riley's style, but it works PERFECTLY for Luciano. Musically, Fraser (and Dunbar again) lay a HUGE sounding one drop with a wonderful horn arrangement, the result is something sounding like it came straight out of Marley's Tuff Gong (where it was actually partly recorded) and Luciano shows a very strong part of his ever strong voice as well. Fittingly, completing the opening of Jah Is My Navigator is Darkness, which is written by Fraser's other young star, Duane Stephenson. Stephenson actually made his name as a songwriter, being the author of Jah Cure's breathtaking Reflections record (he also takes co-production credit for the tune) and several other strong pieces for other artists as well. Darkness is a song which sounds like a creation of the young roots balladeer, but Luciano melds to it with the proficiency one would expect befitting an artist of his stature.



Jah Is My Navigator takes its fair share of twists and turns throughout which is a very nice touch for Luciano, whose style is usually much more straight forward. One of the most interesting twists is definitely the two cover tunes on the album. The first comes as a cover of Peter Tosh's I'm the Tuffest. Not only does he cover the track, but joining him on the first of the album's two official combinations is Andrew Tosh, son of the legendary Tosh. The younger Tosh's voice is a bit better toned version of his wicked wicked father's and Luciano's version of the song is far more jovial and large sounding than the original (which wasn't Peter Tosh's style, but his version was very high tempo for himself), though it would definitely please the Red X (who himself, was actually the tuffest). Sticking within the same group, Luciano's also covers Nesta's underplayed Jah Live track and does so perhaps even better than the celebrated King of Reggae music himself. While covers aren't exactly my favourite thing, if Luciano decided he wanted to redo Marley's ENTIRE catalogue, I wouldn't complain at all.



Back on original pieces, there is a song which comes very late in the album which is definitely my second favourite piece here altogether (and actually I listened to the album backwards, as I usually do and it was my absolute favourite for quite awhile), the song Jah Canopy is complete brilliance! The song pushes a wonderful message about being secure in life, under the guide and protection of His Majesty and really picks up to a very nice piece (and its one of the rare times I literally notice a bass on a song, big respect to veteran bassist Michael Fletcher) in the end and one I hope receives a bit of push (it also features everyone's favourite backing group, the Daffodils). Another very interesting tune here and one which is receiving a push from VP is Sweet Jamaica. Sweet Jamaica actually flows over a very lax version of the `Pass the Koutchie' riddim (its actually called the Full Up). The tune is a call, which all need to take into account as it calls back for a far less violent Jamaica, one where reggae music was TRULY, the call of the day. Check Wish You Were Mine, one of the strongest of the lover's pieces on the album. Actually the riddim more caught my attention, reggae fans will recognize it as the riddim which backed Riley's Something Strong tune (reggae heads will, likewise, recognize it as the riddim for Beres Hammond's Groovy Little Thing). Paradise Last is the other official combination here features veteran backup singer Rochelle (Bradshaw) over a very nice and simple acoustic track, its t he type of track, a simple female duet, that I would love to see Luciano do more of the in the future (perhaps one with ALAINE! again) but Paradise Last is a strong song on its own merits as well, and the album's definite changeup. African Liberty is almost vintage Luciano singing for the freedom of HOME, Africa. The song is one definitely where, although the music is very strong, you really want to pay attention to and focus on the MESSAGE. Lastly, it would not very well be a Luciano album without a strong herbalist anthem as is his trademark, and closing Jah Is My Navigator is a downright MOVING (albeit too short) track. Perhaps NEVER before have I heard anyone sing such an emotional and spiritual piece for ganja, as he sings, "As precious as the breath, bone to my flesh, like the word to my intellect!". Flowing quietly powerful over a very nice piano arrangement, Hard Herbs absolutely left me speechless and is one of the strongest pieces Jah Is My Navigator has to offer at the end of the day!



Overall, you pretty much know (or at least you should know) what you're getting when you go into a Luciano release and Jah Is My Navigator is absolutely no different: Very strong roots reggae music from one of the greatest champions the music has ever seen. What individualizes this one amongst the rest is the album's willingness to go in different routes and explore different vibes without actually leaving the roots spectrum. It definitely lives up to the status set by Luciano's previous efforts with Dean Fraser helming the boards (and in my opinion tops both Serve Jah (slightly) and Child of a King, Serious Times remains probably my favourite Luciano release of all-time). This one is equally useful for both established fans as well as the new ones also, with its straight forward approach, but ever-developing vibes. A Luciano release is always a welcome addition to any reggae fans collection. Jah Is My Navigator receives a big seal of approval as the DOMINANT roots reggae singer of this era once again shows who exactly is guiding this ship."