Join the Positive Vibrations of The Blockley with John Browns Body and Groundation

The Blockley is proud to present John Brown’s Body & Groundation on October 3rd.  West Philly’s home for live reggae shows, The Blockley has played host to Toots & the Maytals, Barrington Levy, Stephen Marley, and many other famed acts in recent months and the performance of John Brown’s Body and Groundation is another highly anticipated concert.  Do not miss both of these bands classically inspired yet renovated; fresh takes on US reggae in respect to the Rastafar back roots. 

John Brown’s Body

After almost two decades of playing music, John Brown’s Body has created a long-awaited studio album entitled “Kings and Queens.”  The album captures the bane of their career and paints a beautiful picture of their ultimate statement as a band.  In the mid-1990s in Boston, during a severe drought of reggae music in the U.S., John Brown’s Body arrived on the scene, bringing with it a storm of distinct American reggae. A sound steeped in the traditional Rasta reggae vibes, but with a splash of elements from other genres.  The band wrote songs that were quite different from the typical reggae themes, telling stories of their own experiences and infusing them with the vocabulary of reggae.  The works of classic UK reggae artists such as Aswad, Steel Pulse, and Dennis Bovell has inspired John Brown’s Body.  This style has become more common within the U.S. reggae scene, which has grown tremendously due, in large part, to the influence that John Brown’s Body has had on the American reggae movement.

The band’s full-length record, Amplify, which was infused with electronic effects, reached #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart in 2008.  The album has been described as being “forward thinking.”  Meanwhile, the band’s EP, JBB IN DUB, simplified the music, bringing it back to the staple bedrock elements of reggae.  Their newest release, Kings and Queens, successfully combines elements of both of their prior albums while staying true to the Classic JBB sound in the mix and production.  Singer/songwriter Elliot Martin has been called both self-reflective and a visionary.  The bass and drums are front and center in his songwriting, which illustrates the magnificent relationship between Martin and Tommy Bendetti, the band’s founder and drummer.   John Brown’s Body’s horn section is a vital ingredient in the band’s musicianship, as some of their strongest songs are coupled with incredible horn lines.  The talent among the band’s horn section is quite evident when you consider that past members have gone on to play with the likes of Slightly Stoopid and Rubblebucket.

Groundation

The music of Groundation takes the essence of Roots Reggae to a whole new level by blending in elements of Jazz, Funk and transcendental dub into what some would call Progressive Reggae.  The band’s name is derived from the Rastafarian ceremony “Grounation”.  These ceremonies are ancestral Rastafarian gatherings that aim at reaching a common vibration using the positive power of prayer and music for the chosen vessel, and one on which listeners will board at each Groundation concert.  There’s an old adage that goes something like “”If you don’t know your past, you can’t know your future,” This same phrase explains the message put forth in Groundation’s music and, although based on ancient tradition, it is an idea that should be applied and cherished even in this day and age.

Founded in 1998, the band started as a three-piece unit with Marcus Urani on the organ/keys/piano, Ryan Newman on the bass and Harrison Stratford on the guitar/lead vocals. Groundation has since grown into a 9-piece band that incorporates a Jazz horn section, several percussion players, and Jamaican background singers.  The band released their newest album, “Building An Ark” on March 27, 2012, through Dub Rockers; Reggae Giant VP Records.  Lead singer, Harrison Stafford, uses this album to depict how he develops his dream and vision to build an ark for the purpose of preserving knowledge and positive consciousness.  The album serves as an example of the band’s  eclectic sound, masterfully fusing the sounds of jazz, reggae and impressionistic dub to create their own unique “Progressive Reggae” style.
John Brown’s Body and Groundation will each bring their own interpretation of Reggae to The Blockley on Thursday, October 3rd.  Get ready for some Root Rocks, Rasta, dub and jazz infused in West Philadelphia. . . Jah don’t want to miss this musical grounation at the premier live music venue in Philly.

The Blockley is West Philadelphia’s premier venue for live music, and is located at 38^th and Chestnut Streets. Visit The Blockley’s website at www.TheBlockley.com for info.