A fresh and contemporary approach to reggae with roots in the vintage tradition.

12 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Reggae, WORLD: World Fusion



Details:
After years of giving support to many reggae artists of many styles and eras, the members of Barefoot Poets decided it was time to put forth their own ideas, words and melodies in SOUND. As the saying goes: WORD + SOUND = POWER. They have achieved a very personal sound on their debut recording, "ONE HOUSE MUSIC". The mostly original music (the only non-originals being a very different interpretation of Bob Marley's "Caution" and their adaptation to reggae of the spiritual "Wade in the Water") came about in the old-fashioned way: "we would be down in the basement jamming something while, all along (lead singer) Marie was upstairs in the kitchen, cooking up something both with the stove and with pen and paper", says one of the band's two guitarists, Doug Williams. "When she was ready, she came down with the song. So our music is home cooked! We keep our bare feet on the ground."

Although Barefoot Poets (who all reside in NYC and who originate from Jamaica, save one) are a relatively new group, each member posssesses a wealth of musical experience specifically in this style we call REGGAE, touring with and supporting a diverse group of performers. Guitarist Linford "Lennie" Carby, after paying dues backing up reggae artists from rocksteady to dancehall as a member of NYC's top backup band, the "A Team", did 3 international tours with Burning Spear. First call drummer Karl Wright has performed and toured with just about anyone and everyone, including Dennis Brown, Gregory Issacs, Maxi Priest, Junior Reid, Freddie MacGregor and Marcia Griffiths (just to name a few). Percussionist Delroy Golding has long been a stalwart of the reggae scene, touring internationally with Burning Spear and others. Bassist David Reichley performed jazz on upright bass and vowed he would "never play an electric instrument": until reggae called. Since then, he has answered the music's call - for years, backing up foundational reggae artists such as Ken Boothe, Hopeton Lewis, Phyllis Dillon, the Skatalites' Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso, Rico, Leroy Sibbles, Tony Tuff and others. The other members of the band, guitarist Doug Williams and keyboardist Ian Purrier, have also spent years in the reggae "trenches", stretching back to the early days in Jamaica and forward into the international scene.

When someone hears lead singer Marie Thomas for the first time, the ear is met with a unique and totally natural voice. Ms. Thomas never "learned" to sing: she just DOES. One is left asking the question, "Where has she been all this time?" Possessing a lovely voice and a lot of soul, Ms. Thomas also has that rare ability to connect with the listener-audience whether performing live or on record.

Barefoot Poets strive for a natural sound: don't look for any sequencers, drum machines or computers. They have respect for the vintage tradition, yet they feel their sound is contemporary and fresh.