![Tommy T - The Prester John Sessions [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/1/4/1/8/0/tommyt.jpg)
![Tommy T - The Prester John Sessions [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F1%2F4%2F1%2F8%2F0%2Ftommyt.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
Coming from the long line of hit artists by Easy Star Records, Tommy T is no exception. With such names as The Black Seeds, The Easy Star All-Stars, and John Brown's Body, E.S.R. has thrown down in the reggae world. They must hold the title for most successful artists out of any small label.
Tommy T, or also known as Thomas T. Gobena, the bass player for Gogol Bordello, has roots in his music. Tommy T was born in Ethiopia, where he pulls most of his ideas and melodies from. The album name, "The Prester John Sessions", also has history. Prester John was a Christian king during the 12th and 13th centuries. He had massive troops and land holdings stretching to Ethiopia. Prester John essentially brought the culture of Ethiopia to the world stage. This is also how Tommy T wants to viewed, but instead, bringing the classic music of Ethiopia, with a modern twist, to world view.
"The Prester John Sessions" brings together world music, funk, dub, and jazz all into one culminating pot. This makes for an interesting feel that makes your body want to move and groove. It is cool and soothing yet foreign and energetic. Tommy out did himself by bringing the music of Ethiopia to life in modern society.
What plays directly into the success of this album is the unbelievable instrumentation. There are horns that extend deep into the wall of sound of the driving dub bass. There are a million different percussion instruments from kits to hand drums to symbols. Then, the classic reggae-dub keys are thrown in with the guitar to create a poppy off-beat rhythm. The vocals are true to the traditional songs they came from with different artists taking turns to speak and sing in native tongues.
This album turns magical as soon as "play" is hit. World music is not what it used to be. Tommy T and Easy Star are setting the pace for what is a fast growing market. Everyone needs to enjoy a little dub every now and then and Tommy T and "The Prester John Sessions" is the music to do it. Tommy wrote the entire album himself and produced it with his brother. Other artists contributed also.
Tommy T, or also known as Thomas T. Gobena, the bass player for Gogol Bordello, has roots in his music. Tommy T was born in Ethiopia, where he pulls most of his ideas and melodies from. The album name, "The Prester John Sessions", also has history. Prester John was a Christian king during the 12th and 13th centuries. He had massive troops and land holdings stretching to Ethiopia. Prester John essentially brought the culture of Ethiopia to the world stage. This is also how Tommy T wants to viewed, but instead, bringing the classic music of Ethiopia, with a modern twist, to world view.
"The Prester John Sessions" brings together world music, funk, dub, and jazz all into one culminating pot. This makes for an interesting feel that makes your body want to move and groove. It is cool and soothing yet foreign and energetic. Tommy out did himself by bringing the music of Ethiopia to life in modern society.
What plays directly into the success of this album is the unbelievable instrumentation. There are horns that extend deep into the wall of sound of the driving dub bass. There are a million different percussion instruments from kits to hand drums to symbols. Then, the classic reggae-dub keys are thrown in with the guitar to create a poppy off-beat rhythm. The vocals are true to the traditional songs they came from with different artists taking turns to speak and sing in native tongues.
This album turns magical as soon as "play" is hit. World music is not what it used to be. Tommy T and Easy Star are setting the pace for what is a fast growing market. Everyone needs to enjoy a little dub every now and then and Tommy T and "The Prester John Sessions" is the music to do it. Tommy wrote the entire album himself and produced it with his brother. Other artists contributed also.
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