1 Love (Jim, 2003)

While Bamjimba is technically one man (percussionist Jim Bamber, AKA The Fatman), he has enlisted the help of some 20-plus musicians for this project, a charitable album to benefit the UK's Sickle Cell Society, in memory of reggae promoter and musician "Papa" Wade McKinney.  1 Love is an ambitious instrumental album with a bold sense of experimentation,.  Basically, it takes a classic rhythm (AKA the Heavenless riddim AKA the Entertainment riddim) -- the album credits Dennis Brown's "Your Love's Gotta Hold on Me," although it may be more recognizable from Triston Palmer's classic "Entertainment") -- and builds 7 songs of varied length and style around it.  I wouldn't label it a one-rhythm album, though -- the songs are so unique from one another, touching upon a range of genres, that you'd hardly guess they have a common thread.  While the album leads off with the saxy smooth jazz-flavored "Your Love," for instance, it's followed up by the minimalist, African Head Charge-like drumming of "Nuestro Amor One" and the Middle East-meets-techno flavor of "Love Your Blues."  Jazz, electronica, dub, dancehall, Latin, Mid East, and African music all find spots in just 7 tracks -- all tied together by even just the slightest hint of the original rhythm, giving 1 Love a unified feel, a bit like a concept album or a "dub opera."  Of course, as with most experimental releases, it's an acquired taste, and not everything works -- the techno elements of "Love Your Blues" and "Nuestro Amor Two" in particular may be hard for reggae fans to appreciate.  Still, the musicianship is excellent, and the more adventurous listeners will find something to "love" on 1 Love.  (An added reason to check it out at www.prostudio.co.uk or cdbaby.com: all proceeds from the album's sale go to the Sickle Cell Society.)