JAH CURE NOMINATED FOR 2016 GRAMMY FOR BEST REGGAE ALBUM

Jah Cure, the Jamaican singer who has long been recognized as one of reggae's greatest voices, receives his first Grammy nod for Best Reggae Album. Since its July release, his album The Cure (VP Records) has remained on the Top 10 U.S. Billboard Reggae Album Chart and held the #1 spot for 3 consecutive weeks after its debut. Other nominees in this Grammy category are Barrington Levy, Rocky Dawuni, Luciano and Morgan Heritage. The 58th Grammys will air on February 15, 2016 at 8/7c on CBS.

Jah Cure expresses his enthusiasm. "I'm super happy to be nominated for a Grammy, it's one of the highest achievements for a singer in the music business," he says.

With his beguiling vocals and soulful conviction, Jah Cure effortlessly blends street poetry and sufferer's tales with beautiful love ballads into The Cure. The 13-track set is a return to roots reggae and lover's rock with R&B and pop-fused elements. Jah Cure co-produced the entire album with the help of reggae producers like Christopher "Sketch" Carey, Clive Hunt, Llamar "Riff Raff" Brown, Justin "Jus Bus" Nation and Trevor "Baby G" James.  Jah Cure's multi-faceted story of struggle and love is intertwined into The Cure. "My struggles made me who I am today. That's why I sing with feelings, it comes from my heart cause I feel the pain. Who feels it knows it," he states.

Jah Cure has a long history with VP Records. He released three albums - Ghetto Life (2003), Freedom Blues (2005) and True Reflections...A New Beginning (2007) - with the label, but The Cure is the first official release since the artist signed with the reggae powerhouse earlier this year.

The Cure album has received critical acclaim across the board:

"This year, Jamaican artist Jah Cure stole the show, serenading us with the hauntingly marvelous voice that I dare say is the best voice in reggae today. He delivered classic tunes and ones from his stellar new album The Cure, released last month."
-FORBES

"musical therapy to your ears...poetic messages of empowerment and love."
- ABC NEWS (via Associated Press)

"..shows the evolution of a career that started with roots reggae and lovers rock...punctuating passion with his raspy voice..."
-COMPLEX

"one of Jah Cure's most personal records to date...spans a rich, sonic palette, coupled with a wide-range of themes..."
- MTV IGGY

"4 Stars....offers a grace and sense of restraint well beyond his years..."
-ALL MUSIC

"another classic...raises the bar of what reggae music can and should be...traditional reggae and lover's rock is blended with pop, rock, and R&B making his music feel evolved yet approachable"
- FRANK 151

"One of the most anticipated albums of 2015...one of the greatest living reggae singers"
- MASS APPEAL

"...timeless reggae...got the musical remedy for all...making the likes of Bob Marley smile from the heavens"
-ARTIST DIRECT

STICK FIGURE 'SET IN STONE' REVIEW

New Album Drops Friday, November 13

Tour starts January 14, 2016 in Sacramento

The inherently talented Stick Figure returns with an absolute scorcher of a record! Set In Stone is aptly titled as it permanently etches 'Stick Figure' on the figurative stone tablets listing only high-quality roots reggae. Stick Figure showcases the talents of multi-instrumentalist and producer Scott Woodruff. His music has a unique style that creatively blends upbeat roots reggae with the reverberating echoes of dub.
Three years in the making and over 1 hour in length, Set In Stone begins with "Fire on the Horizon", a tune that could easily double as the opening jam for their upcoming tour. You simply get lost in the intro. The riddim is smooth, slow and hypnotic with a perfectly placed guitar twang throughout and a 'jam-for-10-minutes-if-you-want' guitar solo to close the track.
"In This Love" bubbles with a positive vibe and infectious beat with lyrics to match. "Sound of the Sea" is a classic! Booming, one-drop drum and bass amidst a tale of longing for the past. "I want to go...I want to feel the way I did...I want to go back to the way it was." Then it switches. The riddim breaks down and with that the listener is told "just a little bit longer. The music's making us stronger." Nice outro to one the gems of the record!
Set In Stone also features some serious collaborative talent. Rebelution's Eric Rachmany guests on "Mind Block", a solid tune laced with a twinge of Aswad's 'Dub Fire'. Slightly Stoopid partners on the upbeat groove "Choice Is Yours" and the infamous Collie Buddz lends his skill on the track "Smokin' Love".
 The echoes, reverb and other sound effects are ever-present, yet never over done. Subtly immaculate. "Out The Door", "Shadow" and "Weary Eyes" are perfect examples.

Woodruff with Stick Figure's current lineup of  Kevin Bong (Keyboards), Kevin Offitzer (Drums) and Tommy Suliman (Bass).

"Sentenced" incorporates a haunting organ riff set a top a pulsating, simple drum and bass that perfectly compliments the sad story being told. The piano adds a gentle sense of elegance to a tune describing the hardship and heartache of being "sentenced, living in detention" for shooting a man dead. Big tune dat!! 
The delivery and simple, yet poignant lyrics on "Sunshine and Rain", "One of Those Days" and "All My Love" shows that Stick Figure has developed an understanding of what reggae music is all about. Words are important but the message of a song can be completely lost if there's too many lyrics packed in a verse or chorus. These tunes are layered but at the same time simple and catchy.
"Smiles on Faces" featuring K.BONG is a wonderful conclusion to an album that you don't want to end. It's a unique track with a sort of Death Cab for Cutie meets Modern Roots Reggae feel. The riddim is lively and the message is positive with Woodruff and K.Bong alternating verses seamlessly. For the song to include the King Yellowman classic lyric "if all the girls in the world we're living across the sea, what a wonderful swimmer, yes you know that I would be" makes it even more lovable!! Boom Tune!.... Driver Pull up dat!
Set In Stone is arguably Stick Figure's finest album to date. The musicianship, as usual, is first-rate and near perfection. That being said, this record really takes things to a level that even Stick Figure had yet to reach. Wooddruff's attention to detail when crafting a song is extraordinary. Every sound is crisp, clean and superbly placed in a seemingly effortless way. Top to bottom 'Set In Stone' should be counted as one of the best Reggae records of 2015/16. Stick Figure just keeps getting better with every album. Crucial!

Track Listing:
1. Fire on the Horizon
2. In This Love
3. Sound of the Sea
4. Choice is Yours feat. Slightly Stoopid
5. Mind Block feat. Eric Rachmany
6. Sentenced
7. Out the Door
8. Weary Eyes
9. Smokin' Love feat. Collie Buddz
10. Shadow
11. One of Those Days
12. All My Love
13. Sunshine and Rain
14. Smiles on Faces feat. KBong