Soul of Anbessa Records
The Soul of Anbessa record label - "anbessa" meaning "lion" in the ethiopian amharic language - is a small and totally independent label I started in 2006. It was created with one aim : releasing roots music with a conscious message, played by live musicians, as well as trying and finding back the lost sound of the golden era of the genre. That philosophy might sound very conservative, I'd rather call it very nostalgic...
For this purpose, I decided to work with the very people who created this music, for who better than them would know how it should sound ? It allowed to spend unforgettable hours in Kingston studios with these musical giants. Watching these amazing artists playing the music I had been "composing" for months on my guitar is a feeling I really can't describe.
I could already record many artists that were amongst my favourite. But there still are many more I am dreaming of adding to that list... I also wish to help and promote lesser known talents, like nigerian singer Ras Ob i.
I released all my productions on vinyl 7" singles, for it's the classic format for jamaican music, and my favourite one as a collector. I am also planning to release some various artists CD compilation in the future, for the people who don't own a turntable any more. And are kind enough to actually pay for the music...
My records are being sold in shops all over the world. The list can be found in the below.
In this adventure, I had the great luck to be able to count on the priceless help of my musical mentor Mr Harris "BB" Seaton. He opened his address book for me, and was always ready to help and advise me, with his musical knowledge and experience. I can never thank him enough for that.
And of course my great friend Prince Alla, whom I met ten years ago in Geneva thanks to Asher Selector, and has since become a very important person to me. I spent literally hundreds of hours singing and reasoning with Prince in his home in Greenwich Town, moments I could never have dreamt of when I discovered this wonderful artist's music many years ago. This is why Prince's song is always the first release on a new riddim. Dwight Pinkney also played a very important part in the adventure, always helpful and a real pleasure to work with.
I also want to thank my friend Adrien Oesch, who spent countless nights working on the mixes and dubs of my songs, and Inyaki, whose work with BDF is very inspirational for me, for his precious collaboration. Thanks to Litelet, who not only is one of the wickedest vintage deep roots selector, but designed the "Tizita" labels for me. And finally thanks to my brother Florian, who coproduced some ot the songs, when the finances were down low...
I hope this is only a start. I have many plans and projects in mind, and I'll do my best to make them become a reality. So please keep your ears open...
Artists who recorded for Soul of Anbessa :
Ansel Collins, BB Seaton, Boris Gardiner, Bunny Brown, Danny Culture, Dennis Alcapone, Derrick Stewart, Dwight Pinkney, Errol Brown, Everol Wray, Flabba Holt, Gaylads (BB Seaton, Maurice Roberts, Randell Thaxter) Glen Adams, Inyaki, Jazzmine Black, Johnny Osbourne, Keith Francis, Leroy Sibbles, Nambo Robinson, Patrick Andy, Prince Alla, Ras Obi, Robbie Lyn, Sly Dunbar, Stranger Cole, Style Scott, Tamlins (Carlton Smith, Derek Lara, Junior Moore), Vernon Buckley, ...
Where to find Soul of Anbessa singles...
For this purpose, I decided to work with the very people who created this music, for who better than them would know how it should sound ? It allowed to spend unforgettable hours in Kingston studios with these musical giants. Watching these amazing artists playing the music I had been "composing" for months on my guitar is a feeling I really can't describe.
I could already record many artists that were amongst my favourite. But there still are many more I am dreaming of adding to that list... I also wish to help and promote lesser known talents, like nigerian singer Ras Ob i.
I released all my productions on vinyl 7" singles, for it's the classic format for jamaican music, and my favourite one as a collector. I am also planning to release some various artists CD compilation in the future, for the people who don't own a turntable any more. And are kind enough to actually pay for the music...
My records are being sold in shops all over the world. The list can be found in the below.
In this adventure, I had the great luck to be able to count on the priceless help of my musical mentor Mr Harris "BB" Seaton. He opened his address book for me, and was always ready to help and advise me, with his musical knowledge and experience. I can never thank him enough for that.
And of course my great friend Prince Alla, whom I met ten years ago in Geneva thanks to Asher Selector, and has since become a very important person to me. I spent literally hundreds of hours singing and reasoning with Prince in his home in Greenwich Town, moments I could never have dreamt of when I discovered this wonderful artist's music many years ago. This is why Prince's song is always the first release on a new riddim. Dwight Pinkney also played a very important part in the adventure, always helpful and a real pleasure to work with.
I also want to thank my friend Adrien Oesch, who spent countless nights working on the mixes and dubs of my songs, and Inyaki, whose work with BDF is very inspirational for me, for his precious collaboration. Thanks to Litelet, who not only is one of the wickedest vintage deep roots selector, but designed the "Tizita" labels for me. And finally thanks to my brother Florian, who coproduced some ot the songs, when the finances were down low...
I hope this is only a start. I have many plans and projects in mind, and I'll do my best to make them become a reality. So please keep your ears open...
Artists who recorded for Soul of Anbessa :
Ansel Collins, BB Seaton, Boris Gardiner, Bunny Brown, Danny Culture, Dennis Alcapone, Derrick Stewart, Dwight Pinkney, Errol Brown, Everol Wray, Flabba Holt, Gaylads (BB Seaton, Maurice Roberts, Randell Thaxter) Glen Adams, Inyaki, Jazzmine Black, Johnny Osbourne, Keith Francis, Leroy Sibbles, Nambo Robinson, Patrick Andy, Prince Alla, Ras Obi, Robbie Lyn, Sly Dunbar, Stranger Cole, Style Scott, Tamlins (Carlton Smith, Derek Lara, Junior Moore), Vernon Buckley, ...
Where to find Soul of Anbessa singles...
Together again
This is very special project for me. An excursion in the rocksteady days, to celebrate the reunion of the fabulous Gaylads, 40 years after BB Seaton had left the group. Both musically and on a human level, the recording sessions of "Together again" were a real delight. Being at Tuff Gong with all these legends, all happy to meet each other again, was an amazing experience. I spent days with the Gaylads in Kingston, and watching them rehearse with such an enthusiasm almost 50 years of their debut, will remain a very particular memory for me.
The song will be more or less the soundtrack of their reunion, and their first ever international tour. This is a great pride and joy for me.
Initially, the music was meant to be used only for this particular song. But I love it so much, I might record a couple instrumentals later...
Recorded at Tuff Gong studio, Kingston, feb 2011
Musicians :
Derrick Stewart - drums
Boris Gardiner - bass
Dwight Pinkney - guitar
Robbie Lyn - piano
Chris Brewer - sax
Engineers :
Roland McDermott - recording
Errol Brown - mixing
SOA011 Gaylads - Together again
Gaylads - Dubbing again
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, feb 2011
Vocals by Harris "BB" Seaton, Maurice Roberts, and Randall Thaxter
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Sound studio
Gaylads - Dubbing again
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, feb 2011
Vocals by Harris "BB" Seaton, Maurice Roberts, and Randall Thaxter
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Sound studio
The Tizita riddim (2009-2012)
The Tizita (the word means "nostalgy" in amharic) is the second riddim to be released on my label. After the late 70's feeling of the Shuttle, I wanted to explore an early 80's, heavy dancehall style riddim for this new adventure. Of course, a name came to my mind for this aim : the one and only Roots Radics. After Dwight Pinkey helped me to gather the members, we went back to Mixing Lab, in october 2009. The first vocal, it's a rule on this label, was for Prince Alla, backed by the great original Tamlins, for a song called "Maybe (one day)".
As they're surely one of the toughest harmony trio still in business today, I asked the Tamlins to record their own version, led by Junior Moore. It's called "World crisis".
The horns were played by Everol Wray, and a trombonist whose name I'm still searching today. I am hoping to finding it soon, as he deserves the recognition for his great work.
More versions will follow during the winter : the wonderful Vernon "Maytone" Buckley, Danny Culture, and a young great jamaican talent, Dwight Pinkney's protégée Jazzmine Black. Stay tuned...
The two first records will be out before winter, the following early next year.
Musicians :
Style Scott - drums
Flabba Holt - bass
Dwight Pinkney - guitar
Robbie Lyn - keyboards
Everol Wray - trumpet
? - trombone
Engineers :
? - recording (Mixing Lab)
Fatta Marshall - mixing (Tree Top)
Chris Hanson - mastering (Music House)
As they're surely one of the toughest harmony trio still in business today, I asked the Tamlins to record their own version, led by Junior Moore. It's called "World crisis".
The horns were played by Everol Wray, and a trombonist whose name I'm still searching today. I am hoping to finding it soon, as he deserves the recognition for his great work.
More versions will follow during the winter : the wonderful Vernon "Maytone" Buckley, Danny Culture, and a young great jamaican talent, Dwight Pinkney's protégée Jazzmine Black. Stay tuned...
The two first records will be out before winter, the following early next year.
Musicians :
Style Scott - drums
Flabba Holt - bass
Dwight Pinkney - guitar
Robbie Lyn - keyboards
Everol Wray - trumpet
? - trombone
Engineers :
? - recording (Mixing Lab)
Fatta Marshall - mixing (Tree Top)
Chris Hanson - mastering (Music House)
OUT NOW ! And more coming soon...
SOA006 Prince Alla - Maybe (one day)
Roots Radics - Maybe one dub
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, october 2009
Backing vocals by the Tamlins
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Inyaki & Darren Jamtone at Jamtone studio, London
Roots Radics - Maybe one dub
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, october 2009
Backing vocals by the Tamlins
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Inyaki & Darren Jamtone at Jamtone studio, London
.
SOA007 Tamlins - World crisis
Roots Radics - Dub crisis
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, october 2009
Lead vocal by Junior Moore, backing vocals by Carlton Smith, Junior Moore and Derrick Lara
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Fatta Marshall and Adrien Oesch, dub by Adrien Oesch
Roots Radics - Dub crisis
Recorded at Tree Top studio, Kingston, october 2009
Lead vocal by Junior Moore, backing vocals by Carlton Smith, Junior Moore and Derrick Lara
Recording engineer Ancel "Junior" Edwards
Mixed by Fatta Marshall and Adrien Oesch, dub by Adrien Oesch
The Shuttle riddim (2006-2010)
The Shuttle riddim is the first production on the Soul of Anbessa label. It's a late 70's rockers style riddim, that was recorded at Mixing Lab studio in Kingston in may 2006. It was called "Shuttle" by the musicians themselves, after Anthony Red Rose, who was present at the recording session, said it "took off like a space shuttle". I didn't dare to change its name afterwards...
As the trombone is my favourite horn instrument, I asked Nambo to play three hornlines, to get a three trombones horns section.
Musicians :
Sly Dunbar - drums
Keith Francis - bass
Dwight Pinkney - guitar
Ansel Collins - keyboards
Nambo Robinson - trombone
Engineers :
Fatta Marshall - recording (Mixing Lab studio)
Errol Brown - mixing (Anchor studio)
Chris Hanson - mastering (Music House studio)
As the trombone is my favourite horn instrument, I asked Nambo to play three hornlines, to get a three trombones horns section.
Musicians :
Sly Dunbar - drums
Keith Francis - bass
Dwight Pinkney - guitar
Ansel Collins - keyboards
Nambo Robinson - trombone
Engineers :
Fatta Marshall - recording (Mixing Lab studio)
Errol Brown - mixing (Anchor studio)
Chris Hanson - mastering (Music House studio)
SOA001 Prince Alla - Forward
Dwight Pinkney All Stars - Dubward
Recorded at Abeng Studio, Kingston, may 2006
Backing vocals by Bunny Brown and Jazzmine Black
Mixed by Errol Brown, dub by Adrien Oesch
Dwight Pinkney All Stars - Dubward
Recorded at Abeng Studio, Kingston, may 2006
Backing vocals by Bunny Brown and Jazzmine Black
Mixed by Errol Brown, dub by Adrien Oesch
SOA002 BB Seaton - Life goes on
Dennis Alcapone - It goes like that
Recorded at JA13 studio, London, june 2007
Mixed by Harris Seaton and K Finch
Dennis Alcapone - It goes like that
Recorded at JA13 studio, London, june 2007
Mixed by Harris Seaton and K Finch
SOA003 Stranger Cole - Don't play
Dwight Pinkney All Stars - Don't play with dub
Recorded at Leggo Studio, Kingston, in october 2007
Backing vocals by BB Seaton
Mixed by Adrien Oesch
Dwight Pinkney All Stars - Don't play with dub
Recorded at Leggo Studio, Kingston, in october 2007
Backing vocals by BB Seaton
Mixed by Adrien Oesch
SOA004 Johnny Osbourne - Hotta fyah what a fyah
Ras Obi - Touch my hand (Kwem naka)
Recorded at Glen Adams' studio in New York, june 2008, and London, march 2008
Backing vocals by Johnny Osbourne, BB Seaton and Ras Obi
Mixed by Glen Adams and Adrien Oesch
Ras Obi - Touch my hand (Kwem naka)
Recorded at Glen Adams' studio in New York, june 2008, and London, march 2008
Backing vocals by Johnny Osbourne, BB Seaton and Ras Obi
Mixed by Glen Adams and Adrien Oesch
SOA005 Leroy Sibbles - Why did you go
Inyaki - La Linea crossing
Recorded at Leroy Sibbles' studio, Kingston, in july 2009, and Jamtone studio, London, in october 2009
Backing vocals by BB Seaton
Mixed by Inyaki and Darren Jamtone
Inyaki - La Linea crossing
Recorded at Leroy Sibbles' studio, Kingston, in july 2009, and Jamtone studio, London, in october 2009
Backing vocals by BB Seaton
Mixed by Inyaki and Darren Jamtone
