Groundation

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Groundation‘s name is inspired by the ancient Rastafarian
ceremony of using communion through music as a means of connecting with
each other in order to achieve a higher vibration. Though the ritual is
as old as music itself, the concept is ripe for the modern age. With
this in mind, the just announced “Come Together Tour” serves as a
celebration of the power of music to bridge differences between
cultures and bring people together from all over the world.

In 2013 alone the band has played in over twenty countries on four
continents, playing to hundreds of thousands of fans from Argentina to
Israel, from Peru to Greece, from NYC to Paris and all points in
between. Now turning their sights to their home country, Groundation looks to bring this collective, world-wide energy to some of their favorite cities and venues. 

The “Come Together Tour” also marks the release of
Groundation’s cover of The Beatles classic track “Come Together,” penned
by John Lennon as a rallying cry for his own generation. Though a rare
“deep-cut” cover that Groundation has been slipping into periodic live
shows for some time, the release of this song comes with the release of
the South American Beatles Tribute album “Hemp!”—which features other
luminaries such as Sly & Robbie, Cultura Profetica, Ali Campbell
& Rebelution to name a few.  

Spanning seven studio albums and countless side projects, Groundation has become a world-wide phenomenon.  Formed at the Jazz program at Sonoma State University in California in 1998Groundation,
possibly more than any of their contemporaries, has expanded the sound
and possibilities of what Reggae music can be. Their singular sound
blends elements of straight-ahead Jazz, Funk-Soul fusion and
transcendental Dub with hard hitting Roots Reggae that has become the
soundtrack of a movement.

Though their albums have become modern benchmarks in production quality and story telling, the true power of Groundation,
like their namesake ceremonies, really comes through in the live
setting. Though sometimes likened to a Reggae “jam band,” due to their
epic shows featuring constantly changing set lists and extended
improvisations, the band is more firmly rooted in the Jazz tradition. 
Whether through their uniquely gifted musicianship or visionary
lyricism,Groundation pulls off the singular feat long mastered by
true Roots Reggae—-rough and revolutionary messages draped in appealing
and soothing music. And the results speak for themselves.

December 11, 2013 8:00 pm

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