ANDREW DIAMOND: Diamond in the Rough

Andrew Diamond

Diamond in the Rough

© 2007 SUB80 (711574619221)

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Mixes the sweetness of roots reggae with the toughness of machine-driven dancehall. Andrew has included some of Jamaica’s great artists on the album, including members of the Roots Radics, Burning Spears, and Damian Marley’s bands.

notes

Andrew Diamond’s debut album, “Diamond in the Rough”, mixes the sweetness of roots reggae with the toughness of machine driven dance hall.

Andrew has included some of Jamaica’s great recording artists on the album including members of the Roots Radics', Burning Spear's and Ziggy Marley’s bands, and singers John Junior, Queen Ifrica, and Prezident Brown.

Songs include: “Special Guest”, a cover of one of Andrew's favorite Gregory Isaacs tunes, “Run Around”, about a misbehaving fictitious female that he did as a combination with Prezident Brown. “Real Love”, a tune that just busted out; it was written in a matter of minutes from hearing the rhythm, it is also a combination with Ochi Rios singer John Junior. Other tracks on the album include: “Naturally”, a slow and relentless groove featuring Dwight Pinckney and Flabba Holt of the Roots Radics band, “Last Chance”, with the Solid Foundation Band on the Real Rock Riddim, and, “You’re Mine”, an Al Campbell cover that features lush harmonies by Jah Lu from the group Foundation.

Andrew grew up surrounded by music in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, originally a drummer; he did a short tour with the Itals before starting the reggae band Solid Foundation. Solid Foundation has since toured backing artists as: Everton Blender, Richie Spice, Norris Man, Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Foundation, and Prezident Brown.

Andrew moved to Kingston, Jamaica in 2004 to complete “Diamond in the Rough” and to work as the resident engineer at the world renown Geejam Recording Studios in Port Antonio. He stayed in Jamaica for two years before returning to the US and now resides in Washington DC.

reviews

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  • Finally a real American who gets reggae
    author: DJ_Xeo

    I totally dig this album. It's so refreshing to hear an American sing reggae without trying to sound like a Jamaican. Truly. And...the fact that he can really sing just makes it that much better. Good arrangements, sweet melodies and sophisticated topics make this CD a keeper.

  • This is a really great album from a guy who's been in the business for years.
    author: Funnyhed

    I knew about Andrew from his California days when he was playing drums with The Solid Foundation Band. You could find that band playing behind great Jamaican artists like The Itals, Tony Rebel,and Richie Spice, even The Ethiopians. When I heard that he was moving to Jamaica I knew that he'd come back with something really special and that's what this album is. Not only are the songs great but also he really took the time to select the right players. The album notes are a who's-who of the Jamaican recording industry. Great album!

  • author: Luther Sticky

    Yoh breden mi like jungle love affair fire and rain your album is very good and give me great vibes thank you jah bless and give love! - Luther Sticky, Auvergne, France

  • "Diamond In The Rough" to me is really a love letter to reggae
    author: Ras Adam Simeon

    Andrew Diamond grew in the Northern California reggae scene as a drummer from teen days. He then moved into sound engineering works and some long stints back and forth to Jamaica. All those years of sharing the stage with Jamaican reggae greats as well as his own growth really show someone who is extremely well versed in all aspects of reggae. This record "Diamond In The Rough" to me is really a love letter to reggae. It shows many styles; mainly lovers rock, but also some dancehall and roots reggae. "Special Guest" a Gregory Isaacs tune is given a nice treatment as well as "Smile" a silvertones track that Gregory made famous. The album leads off with "My Radio" a cry for real reggae music played by real players a sentiment I'm all for. Special guests include Prez Brown on "Run Around" and Queen Ifrica on "Puss N Dog war." The originals fit nicely along with covers like J.T.'.s "Fire & Rain" and Michael Rose's "Love Crisis: which includes a wicked dub version of that track as well. While not quite as strong a vocalist as his heroes, Diamond does a decent enough job and his heart is definitely in it.

  • A very interesting collection of crucial Reggae Music
    author: Messian Dread

    He worked as a sound engineer in Jamaica for two years, toured with the Itals, is the official opening act for the Prezident Brown tour of 2007/2008, now comes with an all-star list of true Reggae legends playing on his début album and even a DUB mixed by none other than the mighty Scientist himself. He calls it a "Diamond in the Rough", though... Is Andrew Diamond just humble, or are we to expect a whole lot more from this remarkable artist? Time to check out this "Diamond in the Rough", available from CD Baby for a modest price. And we'll start by the Cover Art, which is truly well worked-out. Not only does it contain all the necessary information, everything pleasantly presented on the form of a photo-collage showing the artists that worked on the album as well as Andre Diamond himself. "Diamond in the Rough", right? Right. The first thing you'll notice when you play the music, is the clean production. Not clean in the wrong sense of the word, though. This is the kind of production that incorporates digital technology without sounding like music-from-a-box if you know what I mean... The music is played and programmed by what can only be described as an all-star list of musicians: Bongo Herman, Dwight Pickney and Flabba Holt are just three names of Reggae Originators giving acte d'presence. Horns, percussion, an excellent keyboard section and some crucial guitar too. Although the album is recorded in the USA and Jamaica, and contains a wide variety of Reggae styles from Dancehall to Roots, everything is mixed into one vibe and this vibe is crucial, as I would say! Apart from guest appearances of Queen Ifrica and Prezident Brown, we'll hear Andrew Diamonds friendly and heartical voice as he sings about a wide variety of topics ranging from sharing Jah love to chanting down Babylon in a disarming way. Respectful renderings of well-known tracks like Black Uhuru's "Love Crisis" (with a skillful DUB by Scientist) only enhance the genuine and heartical vibe that will definitely appeal to the heart and soul of the true lover of Reggae Music. In the meantime, Brother Andrew definitely feels right at home, riding one crucial riddim after the other. Some are well-known yet in a different interpretation, where others are brand new. A consistent quality of word, sound and power. When you're looking for a Diamond in the Rough, search no more. And expect this Diamond to Rise and Shine, too!

  • 'Diamond In The Rough’ contains sixteen tracks of seriously high quality roots m
    author: Jumpup

    'Diamond In The Rough’ contains sixteen tracks of seriously high quality roots music, which puts to shame much of the somewhat tired modern roots sound and just goes to show that reggae is still well and truly alive and blazing!

  • What a sound man, it's reggae from your soul.
    author: Sr. Netaah, Kinky Vibez Reggae Music Radio, Spain

    Hi Andrew, I played your "Diamond in the Rough" finally. It's a long trip from Washington DC to Málaga Spain. What a sound man, it's reggae from your soul. Your music will be heard on my radio program soon!

  • Hey-- your cd is so, totally, fabulously sweet. It sounds GREAT!
    author: Catherine Seidel

    Hey-- your cd is so, totally, fabulously sweet. It sounds GREAT! I'm only on the 2nd track... but I realized that by track 2 I was shakin' my bootie in my house. And all that before 9 am. It's hard to even be awake before 9 am, much less dancing. Good job.

  • 15 titres d’un impeccable reggae.
    author: The Reggae Connection

    Avec cet album, le diamant brille de ses mille feux ! L’homme enregistre ici 15 titres d’un impeccable reggae dont ce superbe ‘Last Chance’. Un reggae classique mais pas compassé, gorgé de chansons émues, tranchantes et séduisantes.

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