Groundation
GROUNDATION HAS RELEASED 11 STUDIO ALBUMS & PERFORMED IN OVER 35 COUNTRIES ON 5 CONTINENTS – RECENTLY COMPLETED A 3 WEEK HEBRON GATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN EUROPE IN MAY 2023 & IN CALIFORNIA IN APRIL 2023 – GROUNDATION MEETS BRAIN DAMAGE, DREAMING FROM AN IRON GATE ALBUM RELEASED MAY 26, 2023 – ONE ROCK RELEASED IN MAY, 2022 – TOURED BRAZIL IN MAY, 2022 – COMPLETED A 5 WEEK EUROPEAN TOUR IN JULY, AUGUST 2022 – PERFORMED ON THE DRY DIGGINGS FESTIVAL & TOURED CALIFORNIA & HAWAII IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 2022 – COMPLETED A MAJOR 5 WEEK EUROPEAN TOUR IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 2022 – PERFORMED ON REGGAE ON THE MOUNTAIN IN SANTA BARBARA, CA IN NOVEMBER 2022 – SCHEDULED TO PERFORM ON THE DRY DIGGINGS FESTIVAL IN AUGUST 2023 & TO TOUR HAWAII & THE WESTARN US IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 2023 – AVAILABLE FOR US BOOKINGS IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 2023
GROUNDATION recently completed a 2 week Hebron Gate 20th Anniversary Tour in California and a 3 week tour in Europe. May 26 they released a new album called Dreaming From An Iron Gate. This is a reimagining of the album Hebron Gate with a complete reworking of the songs by the French dub pioneer Brain Damage who has taken the original analog master tapes and flipped the arrangements into new compositions.
GROUNDATION has released 11 studio albums and has performed in over 35 countries on 5 continents. Their album Hebron Gate, which was released in 2002, has been critically acclaimed as a reggae classic around the world. This was the album that catapulted the band to international acclaim. On their current tours they are performing the album in it’s entirety along with other classics from their catalogue.
GROUNDATION’s latest album, One Rock keeps their sound and legacy moving ever forward with 9 powerful songs featuring complex arrangements, moving melodies and lyrics that touch on the human condition, the human spirit and the state of the world. Always a group to respect their elders, on this album GROUNDATION makes history once again collaborating with the legendary reggae vocal groups Israel Vibration, The Abyssinians and The Congos.
GROUNDATION feat. The Congos – One Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
GROUNDATION feat. Israel Vibration & The Abyssinians – Original Riddim
https://youtu.be/bln3YprjQ6g
GROUNDATION – Human Race
https://youtu.be/TAN79r_ZE5A
GROUNDATION – Market Price
https://youtu.be/bs8yRBCzoO0
More than two decades into a storied career, GROUNDATION has helped define American roots reggae, while building a large and loyal following in Europe, South America and the US where they have been a consistent major headliner and festival attraction for the last 15 years.
GROUNDATION formed in 1998 when Stafford started a roots reggae/jazz fusion group with fellow students at the Jazz Performance program at Sonoma State University. Stafford’s interest and knowledge of the reggae genre led to him developing and offering a course he taught at Sonoma State called “The History of Reggae Music.” Reggae legends like Joseph Hill of Culture and historical icons like Abba Melchezadek (Haile Selassie’s private secretary) amongst others came and shared their personal experiences with the classes.
GROUNDATION’s first two albums, Young Tree and Each One Teach One, established their unique roots sound, while also commencing collaborations with foundational reggae artists. Each One Teach One features the vocalist Marcia Higgs and the Nyabinghi drumming master Ras Michael.
In 1999, while in Jamaica, Harrison met the legendary engineer Jim Fox, who did extensive production and recording for RAS Records, including their most iconic releases. This was the beginning of a longstanding relationship between GROUNDATION and Lion and Fox recording studios. Subsequently Fox re-mastered Young Tree and Each One Teach One and he recorded and mixed Hebron Gate (2002), the album that launched GROUNDATION into international acclaim. Fox has continued working with GROUNDATION on their subsequent releases helping to shape their sound on We Free Again (2004), Upon The Bridge (2006), Here I Am (2009), Building An Ark (2012) and A Miracle (2014). Together they built a catalog of genre-bending, deep, progressive roots reggae music.
GROUNDATION’s visual artwork has also had a consistent look and feel headed by Giovanni Maki, Stafford’s childhood friend. Giovanni has created the album graphics and visual designs for GROUNDATION from the group’s inception.
GROUNDATION has performed in over 35 countries on 5 continents. They have had a number of personnel changes over the years, but with Harrison Stafford at the helm, GROUNDATION continues to bring reggae into new worlds. Their album, The Next Generation (2018) opens with a full jazz big band (featuring 12 horn players). This album won Reggae.fr’s “Best Roots Reggae Album of 2018,” This award was voted on by over 16,000 media members, musicians, producers and fans.
The journey continues as GROUNDATION spreads their words and music to the four corners of the world.
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