Review: The Archives pay inspired tribute to Gil Scott-Heron

Archives, a reggae band from Washington, D.C., pay an inspired tribute to late, groundbreaking soul and jazz poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron — and his collaborator Brian Jackson — on songs from 1970s that are still powerfully relevant today.

Founded and led by keyboardist Darryl “Trane” Burke, who produced album with Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation, Archives play at a very high level. With some table guests, including Jackson himself, y’ve me a very fine album.

band’s homebase is a connection — Scott-Heron and Jackson lived in city and area for years — and reggae versions aren’t a random stylistic choice eir, as Scott-Heron’s far was a Jamaican soccer player.

Opener “Home Is Where Hatred Is” is like a first-person update of John Prine’s heartbreaking “Sam Stone.” Inste of dict’s child lamenting far’s torment, junkie himself tells tale — “Home is where I live inside my white powder dreams.” Puma Ptah’s vocals and a horn section both d degrees of drama.

Scott-Heron’s best-kwn composition, “ Revolution Will t Be Televised,” is stripped of most of its lengthy lyrics, a sensible choice as, for example, neir Spiro Agnew r John Mitchell mean today what y did during Nixon era and trying to update references may have been an unnecessary step too far.

“Who’ll Pay Reparations on My Soul?” draws power from its harsh questions and all-too-familiar life story, while “Must Be Something” features Jackson as one of three vocalists, ir singing best part of a great arrangement.

Raheem DeVaughn puts some very touching Marvin Gaye-like vocals on “A Toast to People” and Jackson plays a Grandmor Moog on “Winter in America,” ar classic he co-wrote with Scott-Heron.

“Carry Me Home” is a true labor of love that respectfully but bravely re-imagines a selection of great songs while placing a much-deserved spotlight on a pair of pioneers whose messs continue to ring too true.

Im credit: AP