Groundation

It is said that if you don't know your past, you don't know your future; well Groundation knows its past, and they're stepping into the future. While capturing the essence of true roots reggae, internationally renowned, Groundation aims to take the genre to a new height by blending elements of both jazz and dub in their sound.

The name 'Groundation' came from trying to get everyone on the same level so people can talk and feel free to educate each other and learn from each other, and not come from a hierarchy or some type of leveled class situation. Groundation was founded in the fall of 1998 when three long time musicians Marcus Urani, Ryan Newman, and Harrison Stafford came together to form the core of the pioneering sound. They were later Joined in 2000 by San Francisco based Jazz trumpeter David Chachere and the North Bay’s Kelsey Howard on trombone. Groundation saxophonist Jason Robinson has gone on to become the head of the Jazz program at UC San Diego as well as breathing new life into the Southern California Jazz scene. Drummer Paul Spina (Les Claypool, Will Bernard’s Mother Bug) has been with the group since taking over from original set player James Stafford in December 2001.

Groundation emerged from the depths of the studio with their 4th album entitled “We Free Again” in November of 2004 to critical acclaim. The music is fresh and new proving once again that they are committed to the task of groundbreaking original music. Their previous release “Hebron Gate” received worldwide acclaim including a nomination for Germany’s coveted “World Music Award”. For this most recent release Groundation united for the first time in reggae history Apple Gabriel (Israel Vibration) and Don Carlos (Black Uhuru).

Having just returned from a seven week, six country tour of Europe’s hottest reggae festivals, Groundation, playing before crowds from 5,000 to 35,000, Groundation shared the stage with Zap Mama at Rototom in Italy and headlined after Black Uhuru at Summerjam in Germany, bringing their conscious jazz-infused reggae to the masses. They’ve returned ready to link back up with their local fans before trekking back to Europe for a couple weeks, and then heading for the first time to Brazil this November.

Groundation's first full-length dub CD is set to be released this fall online and in the stores by early winter. Dub Wars combines tracks from their two most recent studio albums Hebron Gate (dub versions originally released on the LP Dragon War YTR-1220) and We Free Again. These dub versions engineered by Jim Fox (Lion & Fox) and redubed by Groundation keyboardist Marcus Urani unearth the depth of the Groundation sound.

Dub Wars’ North American release will once again be handled by the group’s growing Bay Area record label Young Tree Records. Established in 2001 by lead singer Harrison Stafford and Kris Dilbeck the label has also released works from legendary Jamaican groups The Congos, Pablo Moses, and Winston Jarrett & The Righteous Flames. Harrison Stafford also taught the first University course on the History of Reggae Music (Sonoma State University ’99-’01).