Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari - Grounation (Remastered) (1973/2022) [Official Digital Download]

An unimpeachable classic considered to be the pinnacle of Rastafarian inspired music. Master drummer Count Ossie's band, including the incomparable tenor saxophonist Cedric 'I'm' Brooks, recreate a Rasta grounation, or gathering, playing and chanting a sublime supplication, including Bible readings, in praise of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari is a fusion of the Mystics, led by gifted saxophonist and spiritual seeker Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks and the Count Ossie Rastafarian Drummers. In the past these two groups were responsible for some of the most colourful and creative music that has emerged from the island of Jamaica. The horns and bass of the Mystics met and understood the drums of the Count Ossie drummers at the African Cultural Centre in the autumn of 1970. A few months later they were together and have remained so through tough and trying days (a.o. Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks left to form the Divine Light/Light of Saba in 1974, while Count Ossie was killed in a road accident in 1976). These days, The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari still gathers every Sunday at their Rockfort home base.

Originally released in Jamaica as a triple LP set on the New Dimension imprint in 1973 (and then on the Ashanti & Vulcan labels in the UK), this groundbreaking work has always captured the imagination of those seeking the origins of Reggae music and Rastafari. Count Ossie, figurehead master drummer and leader of the Rastafarian drummers, was highly involved in the creation of the former, and was of course a well-respected Rastafarian. He and his drummers played on the original version of “Oh Caroline” by the Folk Brothers, a tune that caused a musical sensation and one of the records that changed Jamaican Rhythm & Blues into Ska.

This tune, “Oh Caroline”, is actually on this set. It’s not the original, but it is still a powerful piece, performed in true Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari style. Of the fifteen tracks spread over the two CD’s, four are traditional Rasta chants including “Bongo Man” (4:50), “Four Hundred Years” (4:34), which is later repeated in a longer form, “Oh Caroline” (3:31) and “So Long” (4:48). “Narration”/”Narration Continued” (12:44) is an excellent example of Rastafari reasoning, while tracks 4 and 6 are listed as ‘Poems’ and are exactly that. “Mabrat (Passing Thru)” (3:26) “Lumba” (7:07), a beautiful version of Jackie Mittoo & The Soul Vendors’ “Drum Song” from 1968, “Ethiopian Serenade” (4:10) and the incredible “Grounation/”Grounation Continued”” (30:13) are more instrumental in their nature and feature the full range of Rasta drumming.

Horns are also a big part of this set and feature Nambo Robinson on trombone, Ras Sam II on baritone sax & clarinet and Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks, who is also credited as musical director, on tenor sax, flute & clarinet. These arrangements are strongly influenced by Jazz. Produced by Arnold Wedderburn this set is essential listening for anyone interested in Reggae’s past, present and its future.

Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari together with Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus are two of the foundation stones that the music is built on.

Like Sun Ra's Arkestra and John Coltrane are to jazz, the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari are to reggae - the ultimate expression of roots music and Rastafarian ideology in reggae music, music functioning at a high level of spiritual consciousness combined with an equally avant-garde and forward-looking approach to sound.

The group's stunning, unique and groundbreaking 1972 album ‘Grounation’, a mighty conceptual triple-album (the first ever reggae triple!) is, similar to Marvin Gaye's 'What's Goin' On', a definitive all-encompassing cultural statement of its time and place. A sprawling album of raw and unique cultural expression that combined Rastafari consciousness with deep spiritual jazz music - an absolute and essential classic of Reggae music.

The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari group came into existence at the start of 1970s, the union of two artists of equal repute – Count Ossie and his African Drums and saxophonist Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks’ and his group, The Mystics. Both Ossie and Brooks were alumni from the great Studio One Records.

Master drummer Count Ossie and his collective of Rastafarian drummers performed for Haile Selassie on his momentous visit to Jamaica in 1966. Cedric Brooks came out of the Alpha Boys School – the fertile breeding ground of musicians who dominated the Jamaican music scene from the 1960s onwards; Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Johnny Moore, Headley Bennett, Johnny Osbourne, Yellowman, Leroy Smart, Bobby Ellis, Joe Harriott, Eddie Thornton, Vin Gordon, Rico Rodriguez, Owen Gray, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace and more.

The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari’s ‘Grounation’ is a massive opus, a work of profound musical genius that tells the story of Jamaica through music and words. The album is a cornerstone in the history of reggae, a unique and other-worldly album the like of which has never been made since.

Tracklist:
01. Bongo Man
02. Narration
03. Narration (Continued)
04. Mabrat (Passin Thru)
05. Poem I
06. Four Hundred Years
07. Poem II
08. Song
09. Lumba
10. Way Back Home
11. Ethiopian Serenade
12. Oh Carolina
13. So Long
14. Grounation
15. Grounation (Continued)


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