ALBUMS

JAHMALI
El Shaddai
Germain Records
 Jahmaliīs album El Shaddai is a strong contender for this years best reggae album. It is a both political and spiritual album in the same way as Sizzlaīs Black Woman and Child were. Jahmali has worked with Buju Banton on Inna Heights and he has collaborated with the Firehouse Crew, who incidently is producing Sizzlaīs new album. Jahmali isnīt as heavy as Sizzla, he is closer to Lucianoīs or Morgan Heritageīs lyricism, like as if his music builds on a strong melody rather than a deep beat.

The title of the album - El Shaddai - is Hebrew and means The Almighty or Yahweh. Jahmali have had a difficult life in Clarendon in Jamaica and has a deep and profound belief in Jah and the healing power of music.

El Shaddai is an album vibrant with love for Jah, love and optimism in general and at the same time itīs a political statement on the situation in the world today. In the angry Real Issues with stabs of classic soul horns played by Dean Frazer, Jahmali gives us a lesson in how the economic system treats the poor people of the world. On songs like Hungry People and Time and Space he is indeed convincing and the message is crystal clear:

    Hungry people are angry people
    And for food they will fight
    Against injustice and for their equal rights

In the sharp focused Politics Jahmali sings over a deep and dubby beat: "Youths dem inna ghetto, Dem a suffer".

The other side of Jahmali is softer and in the lovers tradition. On songs like Conscious Lover and Donīt Blame It on Me he is certainly aiming for comparison with singers like Freddie MacGregor, Garnett Silk and Cocoa Tea.

Jahmali is a singer who sounds like he really loves to sing, and he reaches the high tones without effort. My first impression of El Shaddai was: OK, itīs okay, but a shade to soft for my liking. But the infectious title track El Shaddai hooked me and I spinned the album again. After a while I realised that I had played the album a number of times. And every time I slipped it into the cd-player another cut stood out as a new favourite. Jahmali is gifted with a divine voice and this album is well worth to investigate for anyone interested in good music.

2000

    LAMBHOP     CALEXICO     DAVID HOLMES


    MARLENA SHAW     ISOLÉE     MAE BAD BOY


    NOW PLAYING 1     NOW PLAYING 2     NOW PLAYING 3


    NOW PLAYING 4     NOW PLAYING 5

1999

    ANTONIO     NEXT EVIDENCE     JOYCE     NITIN SAHWNEY


    PRESENCE     NINA SIMONE


    NOW PLAYING 1     NOW PLAYING 2     NOW PLAYING 3


    NOW PLAYING 4     NOW PLAYING 5     NOW PLAYING 6

1998

    PHOTEK     JAHMALI     MICA PARIS     OZOMATLI


    SMITH & MIGHTY     KID LOCO


    SIZZLA     MAJOR FORCE WEST     BRIGETTE McWILLIAMS


    YO-YO MA


    IN THE BOX     IN THE BOX     IN THE BOX


    IN THE BOX     IN THE BOX     IN THE BOX

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