Heart of a Punk - Soul of a Rasta

Burning Spear wins the Reggae Grammy.(Sneaky review)



In February Burning Spear won the reggae Grammy for his "Jah is Real" album beating amongst others the Lee Scratch Perry's album "Repentance" (Was "Pum-Pum" really a suitable subject for a Grammy?).

Any road up do we know what it actually means to win a Grammy over here on this side of the muddy pool? I don't think we do, but if there is an artist or an album that ever deserved an award it is Winston Rodney with the album "Jah is Real" it is strong and joyous throughout from "The Cruise" to "Grassroot".

Armed with a top notch collection of musicians including the wondrous talents Bernie Worrel (who I've not see since his Talking Head days) and the legendary Bootsy Collins who is sublime in his four cameo appearances, musically the album is never anything less than a class act.
And lyrically, well hey whippersnappers did you think it was impossible for an artist over sixty years of age, an artist who has been constantly recording and playing live for 40 years, to write songs that are still edgy, vital and full of passion, well think again.

On "Jah is Real" Mr Rodney's eyes keenly eek out his subjects, in "Run for Your Life" he sees injustice, he points the finger and castigates, but castigating with humility. Then in "One Africa" he beseechingly requests an end to the injustice he sees there, whilst he is backed beautifully in his request by the Late Show's Gospel Choir, his plea gently becomes mantra like in its intensity.

Rodney consistently comes up with something new on each album he produces but he also revisits certain personal, religious and political themes. "Step It" & "Wickedness" on "Jah is Real" are perfect examples, the lyrical and musical components are the similar to the lyrical and musical components of "Walk" & "Our Music" respectively which are found on his previous "Our Music" LP. But this hardly matters he's not repeating himself. Burning Spear is like an Icon painter in technique and style. There are no wild contrived style changes, he is always developing and improving his music album on album subtly, carefully, thoughtfully in a flowing natural progression. Always respectful, he pays reference to what has gone before with a familiar phrase in the brass section or with a deft placing old lyrics like "throw down your arms and come" at the beginning of "Grassroots", delivering the words at exactly the right moment in exactly the right place.

The album is full of so much that is good on "Jah is Real" that it seems churlish to highlight individual tracks but "Stick to the Plan" should really be listened to by anyone with an intention of making music, likewise "People in High Places" demands to be listened and adhered to.

But for me "700 Strong" is where the Spear is Burning at its brightest. Pure and succinct in both words and music it documents perfectly the day of the 700 strong charity concert at St Anne's Bay Jamaica, it is simply a joy.

Amid the mass global music business that concentrates solely on money grubbing around on the floor trying to eek out short term gain, Burning Spear stands aside continuing doggedly on the course he set himself long ago.

As a person, as an artist and as a musician he remains undeniably TRUTHFUL.

"Jah is Real" is available at: www.burningspear.net