Groundation: Valentine's Day Finale

I had a hot date with ten incredible people on Valentine's Day at the Groundation concert at the Independent in San Francisco, CA. It was a bittersweet ending to an amazing tour, but more sweet than bitter. My energy was off balance from a couple of days of mishaps and trials, so I needed the upliftment I would receive from this conscious group singing Bob Marley's conscious music. I hadn't had plans for Valentine's Day in quite a while, so this was a treat. I see love as love, not divided into categories, so I feel this day can be celebrated with anyone you love, not just a romantic interest. And let's face it, I love Groundation.

Some of the group's friends and family filed in, enhancing the atmosphere of love which is appropriate for the day and Bob Marley's music. Of course I made a new friend from my World Music Lovers group and she was primed to dance to some reggae...my kind of lady. I was a little sad when I greeted the group as I was cognizant of the fact that this may be the last time I see them for a while. But, they are like family to me, and just as with family, the love never evaporates, it just simmers until the next meeting.

Everyone in the band was on fire, playing their hearts out for their loved ones and fans on this final leg of the tour. I'm always in awe of their musicianship and cohesiveness as a group. They played two sets, and the second set was an inferno. Everyone in this group is so talented that I know their union was divinely made.  Marcus Urani burns up the keyboards, David Chachare tells intricate and emotional stories on the trumpet, Ryan Newman seduces you with his bass, Kelsey Howard adds flavor on the trombone, Te Kanawa "Rufus" Haereiti drives the music and puts the umf in your groove, Mingo "Star" Lewis Jr. awakens your tribal spirit on the timbales and congas, Kim Pommell and Kerry Ann Morgan stir your soul with their sweet voices and spirited dance moves, and then there's Harrison "The Professor" Stafford. With his unique voice, both audibly and stylistically, he tells the story of the oppressed and downtrodden, spreads the message of love, peace, equality, and hope, and educates the masses (thus the name Professor)...all the while giving you rhythm on the guitar.

I will never run out of good things to say about this group, but the best way to understand what I mean is to see them live. Yes, I'm making it my mission to get this conscious music to the masses in America...Europe, South America, and Oceania are already dialed in to this consciousness. This country is at a crossroads...one path leads to destruction, the other to redemption. You will know which path is which by the music. Groundation's music, and all conscious music will lead you to redemption. The president may be able to change policy and laws (though not without a fight from congress) but musicians can change minds, hearts, and spirits. I am grateful to have music in my life, and I give special thanks to and for Groundation for bringing me so much joy and hope. Peace, blessings, and music.

Video: Song, "Daniel" from "Building an Ark" new Groundation album due out March 2012

The King, the Queen, and Groundation

What better place to celebrate the king of reggae than at the El Rey (which means "the king" in Spanish) Theatre in Los Angeles? I tell you the place was pulsating with "positive vibrations" from the moment I walked in the door.  I knew I had to stake out my front stage spot early because the crowd had encircled the floor. I, again, made new friends in my front stage spot...actually, we recognized that we stood next to each other the last time Groundation played the El Rey in August. With no Raggamuffin festival this year, L.A. was ready for a Bob Marley tribute...and they were going to get a great one.

Roger Steffens

I was a little nervous because sometimes at L.A. events, some people are "too cool" to let loose and enjoy themselves. But L.A.'s truly "cool" were at the El Rey that night. When renowned reggae archivist Roger Steffens came out on stage to introduce Groundation, the electricity in the air intensified, and I knew we were in for an exciting ride. This crowd recognized each Bob Marley and Groundation tune in two notes or less and went crazy each time they started a song. I knew I was amongst die hard fans because they (we) were singing every lyric to every song, both Bob's and Groundation's.

This tour has made me realize that one of the things I love about Groundation is their similarity to Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Bob Marley and the Wailers' music was made for the bass and horns, and Ryan Newman (bass), Kelsey Howard (trombone) and David Chachare (trumpet) definitely accentuated that fact.  I mean really, who doesn't know "Sun is Shining" from the first three notes which come from the bass? Ryan Newman put the stank (technical term for so funky it's smells...ok, not really) on the crowd.

The roof was bouncing at the El Rey that night and I could literally feel the crowd reverberating behind me. It was no surprise then when an over exuberant fan jumped on stage during Mingo Lewis Jr.'s conga drum solo. I told you he calls out queen Nyahbinghi herself, and this young lady must have been possessed by her. Thank goodness for my brother the tour manager/bouncer Hossein Attar who acted with the swiftness and power of a lion on an antelope and swooped her off stage before Mingo and Harrison got caught up in her frolicking.  I can't blame her though. I've wanted to jump on stage and dance with them many times.

Groundation does the best Bob Marley tribute other than the Marley offspring themselves that I've ever seen or heard. I'm a purist and very particular about how Bob Marley's songs are played and sung. If I felt Groundation didn't do Bob's music justice, trust me, I'd tell them. But they do, and this is why I keep recommending you see them.  I love this group and each individual in it. That's why I'm spending Valentine's Day with them at The Independent in San Francisco, CA. It's the last show of the tour, so if you can make it, you should. Bob Marley + Groundation=LOVE. Peace, blessings, and music.