Since the music was granted Grammy status in 1984, only two non-Jamaicans have won the Best Reggae Album category. They are Steel Pulse of Great Britain for ‘Babylon the Bandit’ in 1987 and ‘Beauty in the Silence’ by American band SOJA in 2022.
Jahman from St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands is looking to join that club. But first, his album, ‘Alive’, has to make the final five albums which will be announced on November 16 by The Recording Academy.
Approximately 119 albums are being considered.
Jahman worked with some of Jamaica’s top musicians on ‘Alive’ including bassist Donald Dennis and guitarist Mitchum Chin of The Firehouse Crew. Saxophonist Dean Fraser and drummer Kirk Bennett also played on the album.
“I’m elated; it feels great. Just the acceptance and the consideration from a musical entity like the Grammys is phenomenal,” said Jahman. “Getting nominated would mean that greatness has gotten the opportunity to enter the musical home of excellence.”
‘Alive’ is produced by Masai Harris for Splatter House Records. It was partly recorded in Kingston, Jamaica at Tuff Gong International Studio. Some of the songs on the album are ‘Jah Sun’, ‘Strangely’ and ‘Reality’.
Jahman, whose real name is Jabari Carrington, grew up on the music of Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, Aswad and The Roots Radics Band. On ‘A Purpose’, his 2023 album, he collaborated with reggae heavyweights such as Junior Reid and Sizzla.
