Jah is Real - Burning Spear
Self reflection doesn’t happen too often in Reggae. Most careers in music don’t afford the ability to produce an album which helps address how one might look back upon their journey. However, after 40 years producing possibly the greatest body of works reggae will ever see, Burning Spear, aka Winston Rodney, has come out with an album uniquely variant from his normal driving chants towards justice, righteousness and Rastafarianism.
Rodney was born in Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica, as were Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey |
; who both had a great influence on Rodney's life: Garvey in his philosophy, which Burning Spear greatly took to, and Marley in directly helping Burning Spear get started in the music industry by introducing him to Clement Dodd. Burning Spear was originally Rodney's group, named after Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister and President of an independent Kenya, and initially including bass singer Rupert Willington, later expanding to include tenor Delroy Hinds. As fame took hold the name of the group gradually became synonymous with Rodney.Burning Spear has been one of the strongest proponents of Marcus Garvey's self-determination and self-reliance for all African descendants, thus leading to several album releases in commemoration of the Jamaican activist.
Appropriately, Mr. Rodney’s autobiography is through song in Jah is Real. Who wants to read when they can listen to it from the man himself? As if the feelings from his first Jam Cruise could be applied throughout his own career, which is provided on the surprisingly joyous first track, Mr. Rodney gives a satisfied look back upon what he has seen and experience, subdued consistently has he has been the past 40 years.
Having put out countless albums and known as the undisputed best live reggae show there might ever be, Mr. Rodney has done alright for himself. Navigating through the sharks of the music industry, the false friends, and simply fraudulent dealings, he can embrace his faith that “Jah is Real” as he looks back with a justified sense of satisfaction at the satisfaction he’s brought to his legion of dedicated fans.
With legendary bassist Bootsy Collins peppered throughout and the Late Show’s Gospel Choir providing back up singers, Jah is Real will be a lasting testament to Burning Spear’s remarkable career. Despite the obvious antipathy he may feel towards producers (there is a song called wickedness which addresses such thoughts,) and others he has run across along the way, it is a joy to be able to look back with The Spear and feel the genuine satisfaction that shines through when he reminisces. Always a bonus, the reggae beats are always top notch, and there might not be a reggae singer with a more perfectly timed stoic delivery.
KEEP THE SPEAR BURNING!
Reviewed by
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for the Reggae Movement