Sixteen years after his first album came out, singer Eric Smith is preparing to release his second full-length set of songs. Titled ‘I Am the Lion in The Concrete Jungle’, it will be out on September 15.
Based in Connecticut, Smith blamed lack of funds for the yawning gap between albums. ‘I Am the Lion in The Concrete Jungle’ contains new versions of ‘Tour the World’, ‘Wolf’ and ‘Jah Jah Bless’, which are on ‘Rocky Road’, his debut album.
“Sly and Robbie and the other musicians put it on another level. Instrumentally and vocally, they (the songs) are on another level,” said Smith. The ‘Riddim Twins’ had formidable backup for the recording sessions. Saxophonist Dean Fraser, drummers Carlton “Santa” Davis and Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, guitarists Andy Bassford and Earl “Chinna” Smith and keyboardist Robbie Lyn, also played on ‘I Am the Lion in The Concrete Jungle’.
Born in Kingston, Smith has lived in Connecticut for over 35 years. He has established himself on that state’s vibrant reggae scene, performing and recording songs. In the last two years, Smith has released songs such as ‘Alien’ and ‘Police Brutality’.
