ALBUM DESCRIPTION

Last year Christafari brought you "Reggae Sunday School", an album aimed towards young children and their selective parents. This year, straight from Trinidad and Tobago comes a CD that takes the listener one more step back--Songs for the Womb. But don't be fooled by the cover, this album is by no means limited to expectant mothers. If you read the fine print, you will realize that the complete title is "Songs for the Womb AND BEYOND." Though its initial attraction may be limited by it's name and cover, this is a brilliant album that deserves everyone's attention.

Though she is not pictured on the front cover, on "Songs For the Womb", we find Marge Blackman-Mohammed on lead vocals for all but three of the dynamic tracks inside. Her radiant voice has been compared to the likes of Tracy Chapman and her Jamoo/folk sound bleeds of maturity and sophistication. Perhaps you have heard Marge's distinct sound before on Christafari's "My Sustenance", The Gathering's "Like a Flower," or her various songs recorded with her family band The Love Circle including the golden hit, "Oshay".

She is one of the last of her siblings to come out with a solo project and the anticipation has been brimming for years. But in the past the time was simply not right. Instead, Marge chose to focus on being a mother to her two beautiful (and very musical) boys Mosiah and Mattias (pictured on the cover). And who knows how long she would have waited as she watched her brothers (Sheldon, Eldon and Isaac) and sister (Avion) release their own solo material over the last few years. It must have been hard for her to stand silent--especially since it is common knowledge that Marge is one of the most prolific songwriters of the bunch.

Thankfully this silence was broken in late 2005 when author Frank Porter approached the Blackmans with the concept of "Songs for the Womb". Porter said God gave him the idea for the prenatal thrust four years ago while he spent 21 days praying and fasting in Balandra. Frank is an old family friend of the Blackmans. As a writer of many of the popular text books in Trinidad, he used to lead field trips to the Blackman's family property back when they lived in the remote village of Piparo. During his visits, the intellectual Frank would reason with Ras Shorty I about Christianity and he eventually became an evangelical Christian through these discussions.

So when he wanted to record his first concept album full of "Songs for the Womb and Beyond", he had to look no further than the legacy of his good friend. This was the impetus necessary to get Marge back in the studio. It was fitting that Marge Blackman Mohammed be asked to take charge of this project, since apart from being a talented musician and gifted songwriter, she is also a mother of two. And what a blessing it is to hear Marge's voice grace the microphone once again.

On this collection Marge lends her formidable talents as an arranger and composer to the lyrics of Franklin Porter and also sings on the majority of this set as well, breathing emotion and sincerity into each song. While recording someone else's songs may not have been her first choice, Frank is a peotic writer and there is no one more equipped for the task than Marge with a guitar in hand and a multitude of melodies floating in her mind. Other artists featured on this album include Isaac Blackman, Eldon Blackman and Ancil Valley.

Isaac is the youngest child in the Blackman Family and leader of the family band The Love Circle. He dons many hats for this project. He is the producer of the album and it's his best production to date. He also plays most of the instruments, and along with this sister Marge, Isaac arranged most of the music on the CD. Additionally, he delivers a powerful vocal performance on the song "Wise Like Solomon".

Eldon Blackman is another member of The Love Circle (percussion and vocals). On this album he shares his relaxed and laid-back vocal styling on one extremely beautiful piece entitled, "I Love You Baby". This song is sung from the perspective of a father to his baby daughter and art imitates life on this number masterfully delivered by Eldon.

Ancil Valley is another young entertainer whose talent was utilized on this project for the roots reggae, "My Privilege". A talented singer songwriter, Ancil is currently working on completing an album with his own group the Broadway Boys International.

Many of the tracks on "Songs for the Womb and Beyond" are in the soulful, kaiso-tinged Jamoo style that the Blackman clan is so well known for. And believe me, this album takes us far beyond the womb. It is an enduring Jamoo/folk/soca/reggae album with twelve sophisticated classics that is sure to endure for years. Pick up your copy today and find out what all-the-buzz is about in Trinidad and Tobago!

Review by Mark Mohr