Jah Children by Glen Washington & The Zion I Kings

"Jah Children" by Glen Washington [Zion High Productions]

There are certain names in music of whom I have no question, for better or for worse. These are individuals/entities that have established a certain level of output which they so very rarely do not fulfill that whenever I come across their work, I generally know what to expect. When that is good (and not because someone has shown themselves to be frequent providers of absolute trash) then we're dealing with someone who I ALWAYS look forward to hearing from. 

Want an example??? I'll give you two of them. Veteran Clarendon born singer, Glen Washington, has spent the better part of the past half century making music of a certain quality and while it took me awhile to hop on (I was busy... being born and stuff), over the past decade and a half or so, Washington has become someone who, regardless of who he's working alongside, has been sure to get my attention. Just a few months ago, earlier this year, the vocalist would release a brand new studio set via one of my personal favourite channels Love Injection Productions, "Mr. Washington". LIP has also shown themselves to be of a certain ability and style and "Mr. Washington" was quality: It checked both of those boxes. Something even more substantial might be if Glen Washington were to work with..... ohhhh, I don't know, let's say the Zion I Kings, just for a quick comparison. 

2012

Way back in 2012, Washington would give us all a "Masterpiece" and do so with Zion High Productions and the ZIK ["There is a JOY that Jah blessing brings. HE's righteous and holy, Royal Majesty"] on board and though I was late to his party, I think that a significant case could be made that "Masterpiece" was at least in the conversation of being one of Washington's finest albums to date from any source. Although a potentially shattering full sequel remains elusive, what we do have is an abbreviated followup as artist and label/s reunite to deliver "Jah Children". The eight track EP release features four original tunes alongside their dub versions. If you have not been paying attention in recent times, the ZIK has been amongst Dub's most active creators (if not THE most active) and are, far and away, my favourites when it comes to the genre. So today we take a look at a set which You and I both know is of extremely high quality: "Jah Children" by Glen Washington. 

'Power Hungry People' & 'Power Hungry People Dub'

'Power Hungry People' is a tune that I've had quite a bit of fun working my way through over the past week or so as of this writing. If you give it more of a cursory listen, not only will not receive all (or... any of it, for that matter) of what it has to offer, you may actually even come away confused. There isn't a very distinct connection here between verse and chorus in terms of how it is written, instead, Washington leaves it to the listener to bridge the lyrical gap and he does that largely with HUMILITY. If you listen to how the verses are built, they're all about the value of putting others ahead of yourself and the JOY it can bring it to you. He never fully connects that to:

"Power hungry people trying to fight the youths down

Power hungry people, I see them all around

Power hungry people, their intentions are not sound

Power hungry people, they must get trampled down"

That's your job! Things are situated in a way in which the veteran vocalist seems to be saying during the verses that if you live like this.... you are sure not to be included in this disgusting, woeful lot of individuals. As for the sound and subsequent dub version of the song. It requires no bridge whatsoever. If your ears are functioning or you have some other way of interpreting sound, you'll be just fine with it. 'Power Hungry Dub', with an inclination towards more of the old school sound in my opinion (or even without, who cares?!) DAZZLES; and it does so in such a cool and laidback way (you listen to how that thing FLATTENS at around 3:42! It literally DIES for a second.. but it is not done with you and you will sit there and listen to the rest of it!). 

'No Limit' & 'No Limit Dub'

PROBLEMS! BIG BIG PROBLEMS!! Let me tell you something; From the very first time I heard 'No Limit' it not only became my likely favourite from "Jah Children", but it IMMEDIATELY became a recent (at least) favourite of mine from Washington's entire catalogue. This tune.... DAMN! First of all is this very easy and downright serene backing which the veteran amplifies to its greatest possible levels with.... stuff like this:

"There's no limit to Jah love

Come to tell of His glory

There's no limit to Jah love

I COULD WRITE YOU A STORY!

Once I was lost, now found

Was blind but now I see

Jah made a way for me

HE gave me victory

Men tried to put me down, but I'm standing on solid ground

After all is said and done and all our hopes are gone

There's no limit to Jah love

Come to tell of His glory

There's no limit to Jah love

I COULD WRITE YOU A STORY!

Many will doubt HIM

Can't live without HIM

Jah is my shield and buckler -

My shelter in times of storm 

Still only the other love of my Father

Blessings and peace my brother

Never a need for a loud alarm"

It is ALL POWERFUL, ALL CONQUERING and ALL COMFORTING! You could specify this one, as Washington does, or generalize it. Love is a fantastic thing and is the sentiment behind 'No Limit', easily one of the best tunes that I've heard in 2023 from anyone! I was quite curious as to how 'No Limit' might progress into a dubbed version given how cool it is initially and they went in the direction that I thought they might in taking a more laidback and lifting up that peaceful vibe even higher. There're moments here where you truly wish it would go on and on almost endlessly as a straight instrumental but the effects which're added do not diminish it at all to my opinion as it heads into its second phase, highlighted by a sweet guitar. 

'Jah Children' featuring Chet Samuel & 'Jah Children Dub'

"Jah children wasn't born to suffer"

The project's eponymous piece does not stray too far from the nature of the tune which precedes it on "Jah Children" and to help drive the point even further, Glen Washington enlists the help of another esteemed and faithful servant of Reggae music, Chet Samuel. Though somewhat unlikely of a pairing (I hadn't heard Samuel's name in quite some time before he appeared here), unsurprisingly, the two work very well together. What brings them together is tune, perhaps, best noted because of its endearing simplicity. There is no smoke and no mirrors on 'Jah Children', it just a very basic, LOVELY piece of work and although its dub is a bit bigger than I would expected initially, eventually it too descends (or ascends, I should probably say) gloriously SETTLED vibes that I had hoped for. EXCELLENT.

'Good Ole Days' & 'Good Ole Days Dub'

Finally, "Jah Children" sends out with a bit of sweetness in the form of Washington sitting around reliving the glory of the 'Good Ole Days'. I do have to say that I was just a bit by the vibes on this tune because, for the most part, they're very nice and easy, but at the chorus.... they seem to get a bit more rigid, which makes for a very nice touch (it almost seems like the actual PACE of the tune changes a little during it). It also made me look forward to how that moment might be reflected in the dub. Aside from its beginnings, you don't really get that sterner sound out of 'Good Ole Days Dub' which is just fine because what you do get is rapturous. It is a simply GORGEOUS composition and, again, another piece which I just wished.... could play on.... for a few days.

The name GLEN WASHINGTON is attached to "Jah Children" so you know what to expect, in general. Add to it to Zion High Productions & the Zion I Kings and it goes even higher. Though only a quick taste, what "Jah Children" does manage to do in its time its time is enhance the ever growing reputations of its creator as one DELICIOUS release.