FEB3rd Celebrating Bob Marley's Repetoire & Birthday

[Jay Funk Dawg]

I'm playing guitar for the Bob Marley Birthday Bash (see FEB 3rd Bob Marley Tribute show link ) and I'm going through a lot of his songs trying to learn all the parts, I've been basically working on these songs:

Keep on Movin', Three Little Birds, Pimper's Paridise, Burning and Looting, Kinky Reggae, You Could be Loved, Roots Rock Reggae, Trenchtown Rock, I Shot the Sherrif, Exodus, Simmer Down, Turn your lamp down low, Melow Mood, ... there are just so many great songs!! Bob Marley was a genius song-writer!

Through studying the music, I've learned that it was Peter Tosh, Al Anderson & Junior Marvin who played almost all the lead guitar parts on Bob's albums.

I'm looking for any resources that could help me better understand their playing, for the most part most of the melodies are very simple but rhytmically complicated. For you guitar players out there, maybe you could share some of your insights by playing this material.

thanks,

jay

Edited January 29, 2007 by Guest

[The Chameleon]

Also don't forget to check into Earl China Smith. He also played a lot of Marley's leads. (he's the guy with the telecaster in the photo you posted above)

As for Al Anderson he is an American and was brought on in the 70s to toughen up the bands sound with his wailing leads.

Edited January 16, 2007 by Guest

[edger]

Also don't forget to check into Earl China Smith. He also played a lot of Marley's leads. (he's the guy with the telecaster in the photo you posted above)

He's also playing at the Pepperjacks in March. I will definitely be going to that show!! Tis good for the soul me thinks...We don't get enough quality reggae around these parts.

[The Chameleon]

Oh that is good to hear. I know he had to cancel his last show. I may have to head to the hammer for that one too.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

EARL CHINNA SMITH

MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/earlchinnasmith

discography : http://www.chinnasmithmusic.com/discography.html

Chinna Smith IS MUSIC. His amazing career spans over 30 years.

Music comes naturally to him, like breathing. He oozes rhythm, harmony, melody and grooviness. He literally breathes new life into every rhythm he touches. When Chinna adds one of his signature guitar riffs to any piece of music, it’s sure to be a hit.

In fact, Chinna’s creative sounds can be heard on almost 50% of the grammy award winning reggae recordings. “All I want to do is play music,†Chinna said in a recent interview. “I’ve been doing it for years, but I’m falling in love with it all over again, every day.â€

Although he is most well known for his work with the legendary Soul Syndicate band and as Reggae’s most sought after lead guitarist, his musical credits reach far beyond just guitar playing. He’s composed, written, arranged, engineered, produced and played both rhythm and bass guitar. Chinna has probably had the most profound influence on the evolution Jamaican music, recording with artists like: Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Mutabaruka, Freddie Mac Greggor, Michael Rose, Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, the Heptones and Sizzla just to name a few. Chinna’s name appears on the credits of well over 500 albums. But, it’s not just reggae where you’ll see his name, he’s recorded with artists of all genres, including: Lauren Hill, Eve, Erykah Badu and Joss Stone.

Chinna often says that everything needs to be balanced. In his life and in his music, he’s constantly seeking to find the perfect balance. He’s toured all over the world, with all the greats in Reggae. He also served for many years as musical director for Grammy award winning group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Even though he’s traveled all over the world, if you ask Chinna where his favorite place is, he’ll tell you that there’s no place he’d rather be than in Kingston, Jamaica at home, in his yard.

His yard, in the notorious Half Way Tree neighborhood, is exactly where he decided to record his latest work; “Inna De Yard†on the MakaSound label. The production consists of 13 amazingly, naturally beautifultracks featuring only voices, guitar and some drumming. The CD also features a 45 minute DVD with some rare footage of Chinna and his friends hanging out in the yard making music, naturally.

He tours less now and works more with the musical youth in his Kingston community. He coaches, directs, instructs, organizes, lectures & motivates. His spiritual insights are so inspiring, so profound that many gather in his yard each day, just to hear what he’ll say.

An unabashed purest, and a musician's musician, Chinna is committed to live recording, a trait that carries over to his guitar playing style which involves a minimum use of studio gadgets.

"People have stopped working and let electronics do their work for them," Chinna told Guitar Player Magazine in a 1983 interview, "I'm not against electronics but I believe if the music I'm playing can be more natural, then it will be more spiritual."

[Jay Funk Dawg]

So I'm diggin in on this music.. just went down to She Said Boom in Roncesvales and bought myself the following Bob Marley Albums:

Uprising

Rebel Music

Babylon by Bus

African Children

Rasta Man Vibration

I already own Kaya, Natural Mystic, Soul Shake Down Party, Soul Rebel, Songs of Freedom Disc 1 and related CD Charlie Hunter's Natty Dread...

That's still just the surface of all the stuff Bob's Done, I am really surprised that he put out so much music; he died at 36, imagine what we would have today if Bob continued to make music?

[edger]

the world would be better off no doubt!

[bradm]

So I'm diggin in on this music.. just went down to She Said Boom in Roncesvales and bought myself the following Bob Marley Albums:

Uprising

Rebel Music

Babylon by Bus

African Children

Rasta Man Vibration

I already own Kaya, Natural Mystic, Soul Shake Down Party, Soul Rebel, Songs of Freedom Disc 1 and related CD Charlie Hunter's Natty Dread...

thatpatguy was telling me about the making of Marley's first album, "Catch A Fire." It was recorded in Jamaica, at what was then Jamaica's most advanced studio, with a whopping 8 tracks. The 8-track masters were then flown to London, England, where Chris Blackwell (head of Island Records) had session players lay down additional parts before it was issued. There's a deluxe edition of the record that contains the originally released version (with the session players' parts), along with the original Jamaica recordings.

Aloha,

Brad

[livingstoned]

So I'm diggin in on this music.. just went down to She Said Boom in Roncesvales and bought myself the following Bob Marley Albums:

Uprising

Rebel Music

Babylon by Bus

African Children

Rasta Man Vibration

I already own Kaya, Natural Mystic, Soul Shake Down Party, Soul Rebel, Songs of Freedom Disc 1 and related CD Charlie Hunter's Natty Dread...

That's still just the surface of all the stuff Bob's Done, I am really surprised that he put out so much music; he died at 36, imagine what we would have today if Bob continued to make music?

Jay - you rock!

[jay sanislo]

I belive burnin was his first album and not catch a fire. Funny because these two are by far the best marley albums ever IMHO. Catch a fire is just great.

ps: i find burnin is one of the harder marley albums to track down in stores. But definetly grab it if ya come across it. You will thank me later!

Edited January 24, 2007 by Guest
add

[Jay Funk Dawg]

here's my updated song list:

Roots Rock Reggae

War

Rat Race

Jah LIve

Keep on Movin'

Pimper's Paridise

Burning and Looting

So mmch Thing to say

Is This Love

Exodus

Kingky Reggae

Get Up Stand Up

I Shot the Sherrif

Mellow Mood

No Woman No Cry

Jammin'

Stirr it Up

You Could be Loved

Three LIettle Birds

Livey up Yourself

Heathen

Redeption Song

I really love the guitar work of Al Anderson

Chameleon wrote:

As for Al Anderson he is an American and was brought on in the 70s to toughen up the bands sound with his wailing leads.

He's like Jimi Hendrix, dripping with electric energy! He absolutely tears it up on the "Babylon By Bus" album.

[Booche]

Three LIettle Birds

All I have to do is see the title for Three Little Birds and my eyes well. Especially that one.

[M.G.C.]

See you on the 3rd Jay.. I'll tell you about my 89' Sunsplash adventure in Montego Bay..

Then we'll be burnin' and a lootin' tonite.

As for the art of playing the music,,

just try to mix the traditional down stroke of country/bluegrass music with a mellow game of ping pong and you'll be on your way... OH and close your eyes....

[Jay Funk Dawg]

So for those songs I am trying to fill the space of two guitarists... so some of the time I'm playing second bass, that is the guitar line in unison with the bass, Steven the other guitarist plays mostly rhythm guitar, so I'm learing all the guitar intro melodies and getting to stretch out on solos.

Studying the reggae sound over the years, I've found that there are so many layers to Bob's Music, for example the typical band on his later recordings are

Bob Marley Lead Vocals

3 Female Back up Singers

2-3 Guitars

- 1 guitar doubling the bass

- 1 guitar playing the skank

- 1 guitar doing flourishes. lead melodies & solo

1 bass

2 keyboardist

- 1 keyboard with piano sound doing the same skanks as the rhythm guitar

- 1 keyboard with organ sound doing the "buble" a syncopated rhthym that works against the skank of keyboard and guitar.

1-3 percussionists

1 drums

plus bass & percussion also do back up vocal parts.

The reggae sound that he pioneered is very thick the 3 guitars / bass / drums & 2 keyboards fill out a thick driving wall of sound.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

new ones...

Caution

One Love

Easy Skankin'

.... whoa.. this is like rasta boot camp! MARLEE!!!

[meggo]

phew! i'm glad you added easy skankin' in there. love that one.

[boiler]

Jay, I have quite a bit of live Marley, if you're interested I can rip you off a few shows for your research. Let me know I'm only in town a couple of days.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

I've been diggin' on Bob's Babylon by Bus live album and he really put on a great live show, the music is impecable... the show is this week, and I've got only one or two more rehearsals.. whoa!!

Chris - I'd love to get some live Marley!!

here's some pictures of the last rehersal:

[boiler]

I'll put some on CD tomorrow and make sure it gets to you. I have a remastered edition of burnin' which came with a bonus CD, The Wailers live in Leeds (Nov 73), that is absolutley brilliant. I have their first American performance, I have the Wailers last performance. I have a show in Zimbabwe that ended with riots five songs in (and I have the make up show a few days later). The list goes on. I know Bob was the main driving force, but I try to refer to them as The Wailers, rather than Bob Marley. You can really hear in their live performances the family atmosphere of The Wailers.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

Wikked Chris.. !!

Thanks also to Kanada Kev who hooked me up with some more Marley... thanks!!

[Jay Funk Dawg]

So last night's vibez were awesome.. I am really looking forward to Saturday's show.. I hope some of you will come out (and bring some food donations!) A wicked line up of music & fun is in store!! I mentioned that they are putting me through reggae boot camp and we all got a good chuckle out of it.

Pictures of last night's Practice...

add one more new song:

Sun is Shining (dub version)

[edger]

I wish you guys would do something like this in Hamilton. Unfortunately I am not going to be able to make it out on Saturday. A friend of ours is turning the big 4-0!!! I hope you get a good, groovy turnout!

[Deeps]

Good on ya Jay for taking this challenge.

My recent hip hop bootcamp was not an easy one, but a rewarding path no doubt.

Have fun.

Deeps

[Jay Funk Dawg]

Hey Deeps Thanks for the big ups!

We really are looking to bring the Irie Band to Toronto. Right now we really haven't had the right offer/bill. Hopefully soon Edger!

here's another picture for you all:

This taken by The (self proclaimed!) Jamband princess Dara Klug:

This is Bob's Tombstone in Nine Mile Jamaica.

Bless you Bob Marley!!