'No more glory days'

If there are reggae fans who believe the music will one day return to its classic period of the 1970s, Ziggy Marley is not one of them.

In an interview for the latest issue of Spinner magazine, Marley said it is foolhardy to think the music his father Bob Marley and contemporaries like Jimmy Cliff made 30-odd years ago can be replicated.

"When you look at his and my father's generation, that whole generation, when reggae music was something new for the rest of the world, it will not compete ever again in history. It's been done," said Marley.

He told the magazine that he sees little talent coming out of Jamaica to suggest another reggae boom is on the way.

Twenty years ago, Marley and his siblings launched the Ghetto Youths International label which recorded Jamaican roots-reggae acts.

The label is active but has not released many titles in recent years.

The 43-year-old released his Ziggy Marley in Concert album digitally yesterday. It will be available on compact disc from his Tuff Gong Worldwide label in January.

Most of the songs on 'In Concert' are from Marley's 2011 album Wild and Free. He said his band was at its peak during the year-long trek, so he thought it fitting to record his first solo live album.

"All the time touring we just keep getting better in my opinion. There is still room to get better but the music live, we're emphasising a spirituality in the music, an improvisation and jamming — feeling good with the music and that continual process. Musically, it's a good place," Marley explained.

Though there are covers War and Is This Love on his new album, Marley says he fuses his father's music with his to reach a new generation.

"I connect the dots with my music to his music. From my song Justice, I would go into Get Up Stand Up and Is this Love from Love Is My Religion (title of Ziggy's previous album). I like to make a song that is a connection from my songs to his songs," he explained. "What we feel also is that you can overdo it and then it's not special. We keep it as some specialty, people appreciate it more rather than a whole slew of my father's songs."

According to sales tracker SoundScan, Wild and Free has sold 24,194 copies in the United States.

(from Jamaica Observer)