Groundation

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Groundation

Groundation performing at the 2006 Jamaican Reggae Festival in Kandel, Germany
Background information
Origin California, United States
Genres Reggae
Years active 1998–present
Labels Young Tree
Associated acts Don Carlos
Israel Vibration
Website www.groundation.com
Members
Harrison Stafford
Marcus Urani
Ryan Newman
David "Diesel" Chachere
Kelsey Howard
Te Kanawa Haereiti
Mingo Lewis Junior
Kim Pommell
Stephanie Wallace
Former members
Paul "Papa" Spina
Jason Robinson
James Stafford
Shawna Anderson
Adaria Armstrong
Jeannine Guillory
Ekua Impraim
Kerry-Ann Morgan
Ikesha Johnson
Benjamin Krames

Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences from Sonoma County in Northern California.

Contents

[edit] History

Formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani, and Ryan Newman, Groundation began on the campus of Sonoma State University's Jazz Program. (Between 1999 and 2001, Harrison Stafford taught the first course on the History of Reggae Music at Sonoma State University.) In 1999, Stafford teamed up with Kris Dilbeck to found Young Tree Records and release Groundation's debut album of the same name.

In 2000 they added to the line up David Chachere, a San Francisco based jazz trumpeter, and Kelsey Howard, a North Bay trombone player. Saxophonist Jason Robinson was a member of the band for a time, and has since gone on to become the head of the jazz program at UC San Diego. Drummer Paul Spina (Les Claypool, Will Bernard's Mother Bug) has been with the group since taking over for James Stafford in December 2001; he left the group in summer 2008. Kim Pommell and Stephanie Wallace (both graduates of Kingston's Ashe performing arts school) joined in 2006 and 2008 respectively, and are featured lead vocalists on Groundation's 2009 release Here I Am.

The 9-piece band creates an altogether new Reggae sound, featuring swirling, jazz/funk inspired horns, stout Latin and African based poly-rhythmics, and soulful harmony vocals. Their concerts utilize live improvisation, in classic jazz fashion, and are renowned for their high energy, communion-type atmosphere. Having gained international notoriety for their progressive fusion style, Groundation regularly headlines major international festivals (Nice Jazz Fest, Summerjam, Sunsplash) and play to huge crowds the world over.

“Groundation” comes from the Rasta term "Grounation." Grounations were gatherings based on using music to attain common vibration, with the focus on manifesting positive energy to affect social change. Groundation embodies the 21st Century version of this ideal.

[edit] Lineup

[edit] Members

[edit] Former members

  • Paul Spina - drums (from December 2001 to July 2008)
  • Jason Robinson - saxophone (on all albums but he has only occasionally on stage with the band during U.S. tours)
  • James Stafford - drums (on the first two albums)
  • Shawna Anderson - chorus (from 1999 to 2004)
  • Adaria Armstrong - chorus (2004)
  • Jeannine Guillory - chorus (2005)
  • Ekua Impraim - chorus (2005)
  • Kerry-Ann Morgan - chorus (from 2006 to August 2008)
  • Ikesha Johnson - chorus (2006)
  • Benjamin Krames - congas, timbales, percussion (in 2007, during Mingo's break)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Rockamovya - A Groundation side project

The three founding members of Groundation (Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani and Ryan Newman) join forces with the legendary Jamaican drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and the grammy nominated Jazz guitarist Will Bernard to form Rockamovya. The name comes from Leroy Horsemouth Wallace, Jamaican patios style and is meant to show the unity and power of the music. The sound is fresh and very different from the Groundation works, but it remains deeply rooted in Reggae and Jamaican popular music. The release has been scheduled for June 17, 2008.

---> Rockamovya's official website

[edit] External links


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