Jamelody

Review by Stan Evan Smith

Trinidadian reggae singer Michael Williams calls himself “JAMELODY” because he sings God’s melodies. JAMELODY is a magnificent and fresh new voice in reggae music whose passion runs deep and true. Elbowing his way into the reggae landscape and placing his music’s lexicon Jamelody shows his musical talents with his Smokey, ruff hewn honey-dipped vocals with strong roots and culture Rasta message music, affirming endearing love song lyricism and magnificent vocals. He’s a rare artiste with the unique sound; like Jah Cure before him he’s a find. JAMELODY’s magnificent voice is soul stirring and evocative, with slow tremolo, a achy vibrato, that conjures shades of Sam Cooke’s soulful groove, echoes of Stevie Wonder’s vocal urgency, Dennis Brown’s pitch and the grit of Garnet Silk/Jah Cure. Yet JAMELODY is clearly his own. His breathy notes, tone, perfect pitch, and timing is amply adaptable reggae’s bounce as it does to. JAMELODY couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate name.

On ‘Be Prepared’ JAMELODY'S 15 track debut CD on VP Records (April 29^th) Melody showcase his serpentine vocal range, with its mellifious enriching melodies, lush and beautiful angelic harmonies and sweet melodies. The variety of depth in songwriting (covers and all) especially Carl James penned tunes makes BE PREPARED more than just Reggae music. There is certain pristine quality to his lyrical content they have heart, soul, and far more important deep passion. He is not preachy. It is not unusual for its incorporation of Gospel, Rock, Jazz, Pop and R&B but contains something for many different discriminating ears

On "No Substitute Love" he croons about no longer accepting being a side fling. When Jamelody shines brightest is when he pushes the songs out of his diaphragm where his obviously great vocal timber compliments the music. On cameos Capleton, w/ his booming DJ vocals steal Jamelody's shine by overshooting his vocals, the collabo that works while Natural Blacks, compliments Jamelody's singing as they feed of each others vibe.

The CD opens with a classic Niabinghi reggae rhythmic track “I-thiopia."   Lyrically it is JAMELODY'S s heart felt conversation, the cry and hunger of his alienated/guilty soul to return Africa and his ancestral home. His vocal, pained beseeching is punctuated with choral harmonies. Mama Africa I hear you calling/I-thiopia, the land of our father/ I have been calling out to you/ I need an answer/ how can I be to blame/when I don’t know want I have done/ have taken you for granted/ you don’t think I don’t wanna come.

He warns all sinners on "Be Prepared" the title track, that   “you’d better be ready/ ready for when Jah comes/’ keeping steady so Babylon can’t throw you/ Be Prepared, is one of the hardcore reggae track produced by the legendary Bobby “Digital” Dixon. A song I first heard in 2006 on Jamelody’s Myspace page and I was sufficiently impressed to immediately to reach out to him. The horns driven intro to this roots-rocking track vibrates with swaying vocals and harmonies. Lyrically he announces listeners exactly what he is all about as conscious Rasta. On "Pressure" he continues his theme of alienation and the plight of sufferers yearning to for a place of Africa. ‘I can hear the whole world cry, (so hard so hard) I can hear the voice of the ghetto youth bawl (so hard so hard) saying oh what a pressure. In a de ghettos, struggle man a struggle Jah we fight to survive like a warrior. The rhythm guitar subtle strums and picks as an underbelly undergrids his message

The self-penned Digital-B-produced tune “Give Thanks" speaks of his humility and his Rasta convictions and conversion. Take it one step at a time, a lot of steep mountains to climb Give thank for every little thing Jah has done for us…without him I am nothing/ to me my god he is everything/its not too late get to know.

The next track designed to appeal to lovers of gospel music, ‘When the Saints Go to Worship' w/ the Bethesda, traditional gospel penned by Donald Lawrence, is a praise and worship choir gospel track. On it Jamelody demonstrates the depth of his spiritual conviction. He’s Christian soldier blending a breathy accapella vocal arrangement enveloped by a classical piano rhythm and gospel harmonies. When the saint go up to worship/ that’s when the king of kings will come in/ When the saint go up in praise/ that’s when the spirit shall inhabit this place/ When the saint get on one accord and begin to bless the lord/  This one reminds me of Sam Cook’s “ ‘Change Gonna Come’

The self-penned “Want to be There,” is a straight-no chaser R&B cut, on it he continues the spiritual-religious theme. It seems to be quintessentially JAMELODY. Reading his bio its clear his mother’s religious influence left its mark. I wanna be there for the master roll call to see the great mystery Babylon fall.

The rock-infused “Since You’ve been Away”; ala Prince. Reminder that each of us has our God-given place in life. With contemporary R&B, rock, and pop in order to reinvigorate reggae’s vintage call for “truth, rights, justice, and One Love.

A gorgeous Bobby Ditigal-produced cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky” Jazz scat roots and a stunning revamp of Boys II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye.” with JAMELODY’s vocal.

On 'High Grade' Peter Tosh would love listening to this one. Guyanese DJ Natural Black, fire ‘Rastafari lives/ herbs is for the meditation. JAMELODY reedy vocals picks the theme as he intones “Rasta man a ablaze/ Selassie we praise/  thru we high grade’ as the melodic harmonies, floats in with  “ high grade/lambs bread”  Melody vocal throughout bounces rhythmically in the breath and pace of the one drop baseline and drum beat.  Jamelody's favorite song from the album is 'Joy'; he thinks everyone should have a little joy in their lives.  And Jamelody got his inspiration for this album from the almighty, his friends, family and even enemies.

Two major producers worked on the successful completion of this album: Bobby Dixon and Carl James. Bobby Dixon was responsible for the R&B songs while Carl James was responsible for the roots reggae songs. While Carl James is the professional producer focusing on getting the sound right, Bobby Dixon is more concerned with getting the right mood and feeling.

Fans can look out for the single "Love Crazy" Number 1 in the Virgin Islands. Jamelody hopes to do collaborations with Sizzla, Jay Z and Whitney Houston. Jamelody's advise for any artiste trying to make it international is "do songs and perform for the love of it. Whether working out over or the CD’s “New Roots” rock/pop/R&B hybrids, orchestrated by Carl James, this genre-busting talent is a sure shot for international stardom!