One of the founding fathers of reggae,
Joe Higgs was a major influence on
Bob Marley,
Peter Tosh,
Jimmy Cliff,
Desmond Dekker and countless others. In that genre,
Higgs commands the type of reverence that
Marvin Gaye and
Sam Cooke enjoyed in soul. Entering the '90s with
Blackman Know Yourself, the prolific Jamaican singer/composer hadn't changed his style much. When other reggae artists were going for high-tech productions and incorporating hip-hop or urban contemporary elements,
Higgs stuck with the type of simplicity that had characterized him since the '60s. Joined by
the Wailers,
Higgs is highly convincing on such gems as "Wave of War," "Small Axe" and "Sons of Garvey." Another one of this CD's high points is a remake of "Stepping Razor," a major hit for
Tosh. While
Higgs' recordings of the '60s and '70s would be a better introduction to his legacy,
Blackman is a most welcome addition to his catalog. ~ Alex Henderson