When Jamaican guitarist Ivan Christie released his first album in May 2020, a mystery pandemic called Covid-19 had triggered global panic. Because of the ensuing confusion, ‘Cool Reggae’, that instrumental set, never got proper promotion.
The London-based guitarist has revived marketing for the 12-song set which contains interpretations of Bob Marley’s ‘Concrete Jungle’ (as ‘Concrete Vibration’), Brook Benton’s ‘Rainy Night in Georgia’ and originals like ‘Jamaica Sunset’.
Christie is determined to do justice to the months of toil he and his team put in to produce ‘Cool Reggae’.
“I want to re-release it because due to COVID, I was unable to do a public album launch and proper marketing was not done for the album to get heard properly, although it did get some very positive reviews,” he disclosed.
‘Cool Reggae’ is produced by Stingray Records, a British independent company known for working with reggae acts like Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Spanish band, The Emeterians. As a session musician, Christie has worked extensively with that company.
Christie is from rural St. Ann parish in northeastern Jamaica. He has recorded or toured with Max Romeo, Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, Mykal Rose, Junior Delgado, The Ethiopians, Little Roy and Jimmy Cliff. On ‘Cool Reggae’, he expresses his eclectic influences.
“My lead playing sound is very influenced by blues. I would say as far as lead guitar is concerned; I have a blues-rock sound. In terms of rhythm guitar, I have an authentic reggae sound,” said Christie. “It was important to have a different feeling for each song so that I could appeal to everybody.”
