Noted mixologist and aspiring travel agent Elijah Minnelli has teamed up with four vocalists from the world of reggae to breathe new life into traditional and folk songs. Veteran Jamaican singer songwriter Little Roy lends his finely honed tone to ‘Vine And Fig Tree’, an explicitly anti-war song originating from the Old Testament, infusing it with warmth and yearning. Contemporary dancehall titan Shumba Youth enlivens the old traditional ballad ‘A’ Soulin’’, a song about a Souls’ Day winter ritual where the poor would knock on the doors of farm owners and the rich in a tradition that is believed to have influenced both carolling and trick or treating. Shumba’s rhythmic dexterity refreshes the song with a unique energy. Peggy Seeger’s ‘Lifeboat Mona’ is the next rendition, telling the story of a lifeboat disaster in 1959, where an entire lifeboat crew perished while seeking to save an adrift boat on St. Andrews Bay. Roots reggae heavyweight Earl Sixteen imparts this folk ballad with great emotion and fine storytelling ability. The work of lifeboat crews is ever pertinent, as the vilification of ‘small boat’ seeks to dehumanise the most vulnerable in society. We’ve even seen attempts to vilify those who are simply doing their duty to save humans in need. The final reinterpretation comes from Bristol’s Joe Yorke, who sings ‘Wind & The Rain’. His sleek, haunting falsetto matches perfectly with this tale of weather and weariness from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Joe has carved quite a path for himself in recent years, injecting a new voice into the world of contemporary reggae. Each track is paired with a live dub version that shines a light on the instrumental adaptations of these traditional melodies. This record from Elijah Minnelli is a cultural exchange, providing reggae singers with new, and perhaps never considered, source material, while giving basslines to inherited songs. “[This new rendition of] ‘Lifeboat Mona’ is truly excellent. It is a moving mixture of percussion, harmony and vocal(s) that know how to tell a story. The main singer does it JUST RIGHT. All the elements of the song, as I wrote it back in December 1959, are still there. Thanks to all for doing it so well.” – Peggy Seeger

LP pressed on purple vinyl.