A Review - Jahmark & The Soulshakers - Vigilance
Jahmark & The Soulshakers band follows up 2018's critically acclaimed "Happiness Album" with a body of work that could surely make a worthy Grammy submission.
- The Reggaeologist
An understated veteran in Reggae music, Jahmark & The Soulshakers band follows up 2018's critically acclaimed "Happiness Album" with a body of work that could surely make a worthy Grammy submission.
"Vigilance" kicks off with the heavy-hitting social commentary "City Of Angels", and rolls into the unity call "Selassie I Train", a big spark in the album's traditional approach to its soundscape.
"Still A Suffer" is a whimsical and witty delivery reminiscent of Pluto Shervington and Ernie Smith, and Jahmark uses the opportunity to showcase his Jamaican musical palette across the face of "Vigilance".
The sunny serenade "Angel Eyes" gives way to the militant outcry "Fire Burning".
"Spread My Wings" is a skippable track, and rolls into the horn driven "Feed The Starving Children", before the title track "Vigilance" brings back the album full center, with a freedom call that is not only relevant, but well executed.
The album at this point feels vintage and warmingly opens into the nyabinghi hymnal and ode, "Rastafari Come".
"Live & Direct" speaks to his passion to deliver his music "live and direct" and over the last 3 decades he has mastered that output.
The romantic affirmation "African Queenwoman" grants the listener a welcomed breather that is like a sip of lyrical cool, but Jahmark warms up back like a hot kettle with "Tallawah". After which the album feels a bit disjointed, but ends on an admirable note with the acoustica "This Love..Jah Love''.
"Vigilance" is a robust body of work with 15 tracks to the tape and rather than fuse or blend, Jahmark maintains a musical palette that is authentically traditional to the Reggae soundscape, though the album feels a bit disjointed at certain points Jahmark & The Soulshakers undersold and over delivered and managed to compensate with the depth of work and detail that continues to push the boundaries of his homegrown Reggae music.
