Record of 2005
JAH CURE
REFLECTION
(DOWN SOUND)
One of the most distinctive singers associated with the roots and
culture renaissance of the 1990s, Jah Cure (born Siccaturie Alcock,
1978) first came to notice with a stunning series of singles for a
number of different producers. Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, Syl
Gordon, Stuart Brown, Gordon ‘Flash’ Lee, the Firehouse Crew and
Colin Levy all caught him on top form. None, though, furthered
his progress more than Beres Hammond, for whom he recorded “Dung In
Dweh,” “Zion Way,”“Hanging Slowly,” “Zion Await” and the Jamaican-chart
topping combination disc with Sizzla, “King In This
Jungle.”
An indication of Jah Cure’s talent was the comparison some commentators
at the time drew between his work and that of Burning Spear from a
couple of decades earlier. But the upward trajectory of his career came
to a sudden and unexpected halt in November, 1998, when he was arrested
in the Montego Bay area for gun possession, robbery and rape.
A couple of months later he appeared in court and was given a
prison sentence totalling fifteen years, of which he served
eight. Fortunately the facilities at the Tower Street Adult
Correctional Centre to which he was sent included a recording studio,
enabling him to continue voicing music for labels such as Danger Zone,
5th Element, Don Corleon, Roaring Lion and Abijazz Music. He has always
maintained his innocence of the offences for which he was jailed, and
they certainly seem belied by the spiritual feel of the tunes he
recorded both before and after his arrest, none more so that this
scintillating semi-acoustic affair for Down Sound, the imprint
responsible for his nyahbingi-flavoured “Congo Man” classic the
previous year.
Given his protestations of innocence, the lyrics of “Reflection,” cut
while incarcerated, are of particular interest. Lines like “Cause
I swear/That I can be a better man” and “I’m all so sorry I am/Deeply I
am hurting/The price ordained to be mine” seem ambivalent to say the
least, while “Don’t judge me wrong/Cause now I am stronger than I was
before/I was young and unwise” might suggest he was simply foolish
enough to have put himself in a position when the accusations could be
lodged and made to appear credible.
What is indisputable remains the depth of feeling evident throughout
the tune, and perhaps it is best considered as another in the long line
of Jamaican records about how tough life is inside the country’s penal
system, and the unshaken faith in Rastafarianism that sustained him
while serving his time. Interestingly enough, several of the
strongest singles he’s put out since his release – “Searching” (Danger
Zone), “Mama Hold On” (IM Music) and “Never Find” (Don Corleon) among
them - have been tender love songs, delivered with considerable
sensitivity.
Peter Dalton
HOME PAGE
FEATURES
REVIEWS
BULLETIN BOARD
LINKS