The Mighty Rootsmen - The Mighty Rootsmen (Bulletproof Recording Company)

The brainchild of American producer Ralph Sall, the project took shape at Kingston’s Anchor Studios, where Sall surrounded himself with some of reggae’s most seasoned voices, Toots Hibbert, Gregory Isaacs and Michael Rose, and a crack team of instrumentalists including Sly & Robbie, Robbie Lyn, Cat Coore, Mikey Chung and Sticky Thompson. When Gregory Isaacs had to step back due to health issues, Luciano was brought in to lend his golden voice.

The track list features reggae-fied renditions of classics like ‘I Won’t Back Down’ (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with original guitarist Mike Campbell returning for a guest appearance), ‘Fly Like An Eagle’ (Steve Miller Band, with Miller himself contributing), ‘Take It Easy’ (The Eagles) and ‘Don’t Stop’ (Fleetwood Mac). But the standout track for us? Without a doubt, their lush take on ‘Summer Breeze’,  originally by Seals and Crofts, though many will know it through the soulful reinterpretation by the Isley Brothers.

Sall didn’t go for the obvious route of assigning each track to a single vocalist. Instead, Hibbert, Isaacs, Rose, and Luciano can be heard together throughout the album, layered, complementing, and uplifting one another. As Sall himself puts it: “This record is a celebration of life, legacy, and the unifying force of reggae. It’s not just about honouring musical legends, it’s about bringing people together through the universal language of rhythm and soul. Each track is shaped by the distinctive voices of the featured singers and the organic, collaborative energy of the band, like the Traveling Wilburys of reggae.”

Purists may choose to sit this one out, but we have a real soft spot for projects like this. And what a beautiful musical testament to both Toots and Gregory!

Is that a Grammy nomination we see glimmering on the horizon?