ALBUM DESCRIPTION

Along with Yabby You, Solomon Jabby, and the Israelites, J Bonner of Dub Street Rockers must be credited with being one of the purveyors of classic roots reggae music of Christian inspiration. When I say vintage, I mean vintage. These guys mostly, if not entirely, shun the use of drum machines, sequencers, synthesizers and programmed beats in favor of authentic instrumentation and vintage recording equipment.

On their first release, Soul Winner, Dub Street Rockers released an album packed with quality (mostly) instrumental reggae reminiscent of Studio One's golden era. What is clear is that J Bonner is a devout student of authentic reggae music as he plays nearly every instrument on the group's two recordings and is credited with producing them as well.

Zion Ready continues the tradition of creating sweet reggae music seasoned with percolating percussion, rumbling bass, snappy drums, classic Hammond-sounding organ, rootical horn arrangements (absent on Soul Winner) and tastefully textured guitar. But that's not all - there are vocals on every track. Enter the mysterious Asherman, a singer and deejay whose vocal tone and style are much like pivotal figures such as U Roy, Big Youth and Charlie Chaplin. With the combination of the Dub Street Rockers instrumentation and Asherman's vocals, it may be hard to convince you that Zion Ready isn't a long lost project recently found among the unreleased recordings of King Tubby or Scratch Perry.

This is an album that doesn't simply sound rootsy--it is roots. Among the offerings on Zion Ready is a reading of Ephesians 6 over a nyabinghi-inspired beat. Also included is the sweet lovers rock of "Wake Me Up," tracks geared towards those that love dance inna dancehall ("Keep Steady" & "Steady As She Goes") and lots of inspirational, conscious tunes like "Stop Fighting," "Jah Seed," and "Zion Ready." As you listen to this album, you'll no doubt marvel at the inspired drumming of Jason Castillo whose style perfectly compliments J Bonner's bass, guitar, and organ sounds. In addition, saxaphonist Joel D'Amico contributes some really nice horn charts which provide a crucial counterpoint to the solid rhythms tracks.

The album is compiled in such a way that the listener is treated to a singer's track followed by a deejay version on the same rhythm. Pure roots lovers will be thrilled! Tracks 3 to 11 are all put together in this back-to-back manner which hearkens back to the 70's and early 80's. From a spiritual perspective, virtually all music of this style I have heard before was from a Rasta perspective. Zion Ready is clearly from a Christian perspective although Asherman topically addresses Africa and repatriation, topics more common to Rasta-influenced reggae. With Zion Ready, it is clear that Jesus Christ is Lord, Savior, King of Kings, and Lion of the Tribe of Judah. However, this is not gospel reggae but roots reggae created from a Christian perspective and inspiration.

I am thoroughly impressed with Zion Ready and if you enjoy roots reggae and long for classic production, you'll definitely not want to be without this outstanding album from Asherman and the Dub Street Rockers.

Review by Mike Roots