An organic mix of Funk/Soul/Blues/Jazz with an African Caribbean twist, performed by some of the UK's finest exponents of this genre.

13 MP3 Songs in this album (65:25) !
Related styles: JAZZ: Acid Jazz, BLUES: Funky Blues

People who are interested in Taj Mahal Unfinished Business should consider this download.


Details:
UFBI
ROOT JACKSON
Director of Congo music

A bombastic cult figure and without a doubt, the GODFATHER of British funk. Those who have sited him as an inspiration, include OMAR, MICA PARIS, JAMIROQUAI, INCOGNITO, BRAND NEW HEAVIES, SOUL II SOUL... the list goes on.

Born, Faithman Simon and raised in Carricou, an island off the coast of Grenada in the Caribbean, Root is vociferously proud of his roots ( hence the name ). An Ambassador for the Islands and also a director for their annual jazz festival, he takes the red carpet treatment he receives from national media in his stride.

He was one of the first soul singers/musicians to sign a record deal in Britain in the early 60s, and receive notoriety with his band(s) of soul mates BLCK DIAMOND, ROOT AND JENNY JACKSON and the HIGHTIMERS, FBI and UFBI. IN their heyday, Root and his 60s and 70s group of gritty funksters tour ed alongside the likes of the late-great PERCY SLEDGE, BEN E. KING and EDDIE FLOYD.

Today, £100 will help you purchase vintage ROOT JACKSON material, if you're lucky enough to locate a copy that wasn't snapped up and revived by rare group pundits, such as FAMILY FUNKTIONS and SHAKE'N'FINGERPOP DJ's NORMAN JAY, BROTHER MARCO, FEMI, GILLES PETERSON et al in the late 80s and early 90s.

For the uninitiated, UFBI's inimitable jazz-funk-soca fusion is the perfect rhythm for Root's gravely voice, a voice, many agree is not dissimilar in tone to a pumped up RAY CHARLES. Don't just take our word for it however, check out the band's latest fine works 'FEEL THE HEAT' and 'FUNKIN WID DA BLUES' on the newly released album, recorded completely live for Congo.

Root has been very generous with his musical legacy, all of his offspring have inherited his musicality. His eldest daughter VANNESSA SIMON has been acclaimed as one of the most accomplished female soul singers the country has to offer. His biblically moniker sons, OJAH and DJ KANE recording artists in their own right. OJAH is a prolific songwriter, whilst DJ KANE is one of the pioneers of the drum and bass movement.

Having scored success with his cousin JENNY as a well toured Northern soul duo on BEACON RECORDS in the 60s, ROOT JACKSON landed his big break when agent DANNY O'DONNELL needed a UK backing band for touring US artists. Calling on members of session band the Q-SET, Root formed BATIK with HERSHELL HOLDER, LLOYD SMITH, RAPHAEL PEREIRA and JOHN PLOTELL. O'DONNELL landed them a gig with STAX legend EDDIE FLOYD and the band were thrown at the deep end with just 5 hours to rehearse for their first tour date. Subsequent slots backing soul heavyweights BEN E. KING, JIMI HELMS and PERCY SLEDGE followed. After the SLEDGE tour Root encouraged the band to stay together. They wrote and rehearsed for six months, took on his side-kick ALAN FEALDMAN on keyboards bassist LENNY MEAD and singer COLETTE 'BONNY' WILKINSON from Ireland. FBI ( Funky Bands Inc ) were formed.

The band's first gig was in 1975, Upstairs At Ronnie's. The gig received good press, they played another night at the Hope and Anchor in Islington and even appeared live twice on a TV programme Magpie. As a direct result of the coverage, ten years after rock guitarist Alvin Lee, who had reported Root and Jenny back in the 60s, signed them up.

Lee took FBI to his Hook End Manor studios ( now Sarm west ) near Reading where the band jammed, relaxed and deliberated on a producer. A lot of bands were using U.S producers and Stewart Levine was considered, but Lee brought in new blood CHRIS KIMSEY ( later producer for PETER TOSH, ROLLING STONES and more). Since Lee owned the studios there was no clockwatching and no pressure. Everyone was relaxed. Jackson remembers, " We were happy. We signed to Lee's Space songs but it materialised that he was asking too much money from the major labels for the album". By the time the album finally appeared on Good Earth / RCA in 1977, despite support slots for Kool and the Gang, the Temptations and more, a mooted U.S tour had not happened, the band members had started to get frustrated and many had started to leave. Jackson has remained a professional musician ever since, setting up the pioneering Black Music Association and managing his Congo label, responsible for OMAR'S debut, ' THERES NOTHING LIKE THIS'