Once upon a time, there was a provincial governor (or “ras”) in Ethiopia whose last name was Tafari. Ras Tafari became Emperor Haile Selassie, whose many titles included Conquering Lion of Judah. Meanwhile, in Jamaica, a group of introspective Selassie devotees arose, believing that Ras Tafari was the Messiah. They became known as Rastafarians. They believed that the Scriptures forbade the cutting of one’s hair so they grew dreadlocks, literally locks of hair that were meant to cause dread in the hearts of infidels. Rastafarians also believed that they were stranded in Babylon, as they considered the material world of commerce, and that one day, they would return to Ethiopia although not exactly the actual place in Africa known as Ethiopia. Through meditation and smoking marijuana (as mandated in their interpretation of the Scriptures), they discovered a mental version of Ethiopia.

The Rastafarians didn’t have actual churches or temples. They would gather in the Jamaican mountains, where they would smoke and drum. This was called a grounation, hence the title of this CD. The music on this album does not consist of actual grounation recordings but rather music evocative of Rastafarianism, including the pre-reggae pioneer Count Ossie and his ensemble, known as the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, and the contemporary Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus. Among the glorious oddities (Jamaica being a gloriously odd realm) are Nora Dean’s “Ay Ay Ay” (Ms. Dean’s most famous work is the “rude” anthem “Barbwire (In His Underpants)”) and the Margarita/Don Drummond collaboration, “Woman-A-Come.” Brilliant trombonist Drummond, like jazz god Buddy Bolden, assaulted a woman and ended his days in an insane asylum. If you’re having difficulty coping with the opposite sex or your employer or Babylon in general, Grounation will provide some relief although not quite as much as an extended, meditative stay in Jamaica.