RAS T ASHEBER (pronounced Ash-e-bah)

The year 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock happening, the concert that shook the musical world, setting a trend that is still resounding to date.                                                                                               In light of this ongoing phemomenon, the inevitable occurred - a truly “home grown” crop sprung from this fertile soil when ONE WORD was brought together by its founder Ras T Asheber over three decades ago and took roots in Woodstock, NY. 

As the group grew, personnel changed until the evolution called itself RAS T ASHEBER POSSE (aka Ras T and Asheber Posse,) establishing the makings of a new sound in Reggae music, as it showcased a fresh amalgam of tunes and well-travelled players from Woodstock, the Hudson Valley and NYC. Their diverse backgrounds complement each other and help concoct a truly “spicy” sound. 

The music - most of which is composed, written and arranged by Jamaican born singer/ songwriter Ras T - has its roots in traditional reggae, cultural Rastafarian riddims and hardcore “rockers” spiced with various crossover sounds ranging from Hip-Hop/ R&B, Funk Rock and Jazz - a mature fusion which refleck Asheber's well-listened ear and his tenure with Jimson, Spunky, Simeon, Defiant Ones, Mass Driver and The Apple Pickers Union. His vast musical experience has taken him through time from choir boy, to frontman, to recording artist having recorded and worked with various artists/ bands/ groups with widely diverse repertoires, which explains his appeal to the different ears in the spectrum of reggae music listeners. Music for the mind, soul and body, influenced and inspired by the every day runnin's. 

RAS T ASHEBER has appeared on the same bill with several class international acts such as The Wailers, NRBQ, Third World, Joan Jett, Spin Doctors, P-Funk, Dave Mathews Band, Steel Pulse, Doctor John, Israel Vibration, Meditations... and have toured internationally, nationwide and played the hottest showplaces, festivals, clubs, colleges and universities. 

Whatever the word, RAS T ASHEBER leaves one thinking, having planted seeds in the mind of many.  

Music is the food...                                                                                                                     

...L!FE 

Personnel on set: singers and players of instruments, engineers, artists & designers, spliff rollers etc.    

Drums: Craig Santiago (tk 1, 4, 8 16) Thomas “T” Xiques (tk 3, 6) Pete Caigan (tk 11, 12) Michael “Clip” Payne (tk 10)  Drum Program: Atiba D. Leslie and Ras T Asheber (tk 9)   

Bass: Andrew Shober (tk 3, 6, 16) Darryl Jenifer (tk 8) C. Anthony Molina (tk 10) Brendan McDonough (tk 9, 11) Gary "Dr Know" Miller (tk 7) Ross Rice (tk 12)   

Guitar: Brendan McDonough (tk 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16) Pete Rose (tk 12) Gary “Dr Know” Miller (tk 1, 11) 

Keyboards: Ross Rice (tk 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16)  Brendan McDonough (tk 3, 8, 11, 16) Jamie Saft (tk 1, 4)  Michael “Clip” Payne (chimes on tk 10) Ras T Asheber (Synths on tk 8, 9, 10, 16)   

Saxophone & Flute: Bill “Otto Kentrol” Ylitalo (tk 3, 6.)                                                            

Trumpet: Paul Henderson (tk 3, 6.)                                                                                  

Trombone: Clark Gayton (trk 11)  

Percussions: Delroy “Jah Dee” Thomas (tk 3 and 16)    

Lead Vocals: Ras T Asheber.  

Backing Vocals: Naomi Leslie (tk 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16) and Ras T Asheber.   

Rap/Spoken words: Tiba Damany (tk 8, 9, 16) Ras T Asheber (tk 8, 9, 10, 16) Pete Caigan (News trk 9)                                                                                  

Producers: Ras T Asheber (tk 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16) Nigel Gayle (tk 2, 5, 13, 15) with co-production by Ras T Asheber; J. Makeen (tr 7)  Craig Santiago & Jamie Saft (tk 1, 4,) with co-production by Ras T Asheber.                                                                                                    

Enginered & edited by Pete Caigan. Mixed & mastered by David Kennedy.    

Cover design: Nyala A. Leslie, Naomi E. Leslie and C. Antonio Leslie - Roots Barn Productions. Front cover photo by Erik H. Lamont | Back cover photo by Diane S. Derico.   

All songs published by Lesfer Publishing except “Hard Times.”  

I man give thanks to my family and all the peeps who kept poking me to complete this project, “already!”

Thanks to all the great musicians who invested their time, axe and imagination to this endeavor, especially Brendan McDonough who was all over this album, heart, soul and body and as my co-producer. Of course, none of this would be possible without engineer and moral supporter Pete Caigan at the boards and on the drum kit when needed.                                                    

Since “Music is the food...” I implore you to consume and digest this morsel.   

One love and guidance, Ras T

 

TAKE TIME OUT

The singers and players of instruments:  

Drums: Tani Tabbal (tk 1, 9) Thomas Xiques (tk 10, 12) Mikey “Boo” Richards (tk 4, 13) Zachary Alford (Tk 6) Winston “Ska Rocks” Grennan (tk 3.)                                            

Drum Programs: Pete Caigan and Ras T Asheber (tk 5, 7, 11)  

Bass: Darryl Jenifer (tk 1, 3, 5, 8, 9) Lonnie Hillyer (tk 4, 6, 7) David Kennedy (tk 4, 13) Bill Imperial (tk 12) Chris Bittner (tk 11)     

Guitar: Ted Orr (tk 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Fazel Prendegast (tk 3, 14) Eugene Gray (tk 3) Darryl Jenifer (tk 8)  Errol Moore (tk 13)  

Keyboards: David Oliver (tk 1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12) Carlos Chambers (tk 2, 3, 14) Tyrone Downie (tk 4, 13) Ras T Asheber (tk 2, 3, 7, 14)  

Saxophone: Shane Kirsch (tk 1, 9, 11) Boye Gbenro (tk 14)  

Trumpet: Paul Henderson (tk 1, 9 )                                                                            

Percussion: Delroy “Culture” Thomas (tk 1, 2, 9, 12) Ras Menelik DaCosta (tk 13, 14)  

Mark Fuch (tk 13)  Ras T Asheber (tk 2, 4, 14)  

Lead Vocals: Ras T Asheber (all tracks)  

Supporting Vocals: Nia Leslie; Naomi Eshe Leslie; T-Ba Damany Leslie; Ras T Asheber.  

Rap/ Spoken Words: T-Ba Damany (tk 4, 5, 6, 8,10, ) Ras T Asheber (tk 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13)  

Horn Arrangements: David Oliver and Ras T Asheber.  

Engineers: Pete Caigan - Flymax Studio; David Kennedy - Studio 900/ Kassa Massai; David Oliver - Eucalyptus Studio; Chris Bittner - Applehead Recording.                    

Mastering Engineers: Ted Orr; David Kennedy and Ras T Asheber.   

All tunes composed (music and lyrics,) arranged and produced by C. Antonio Leslie and Ras T Asheber  except: Tk #1 - Boye Gbenro and Ras T Asheber; Tk #4 - David Kennedy, Atiba D. Leslie; Tk #3 - General Crook and Ras T Asheber; tk #8 - C. Antonio Leslie, Ras T Asheber and Atiba D. Leslie; Tk #13 - C. Antonio Leslie, Ras T Asheber and David Kennedy.