In the wake of their historical GRAMMY win for Best Reggae Album as the Producer and Artist for "Strictly Roots", which was released under their own independent label CTBC Music Group, the Iconic GRAMMY Award-Winning cultured driven band has managed yet again to deliver another classic album. They achieved this by staying true to their formula of authentic Reggae with an effusively eclectic mix.
In their latest quest to keep Reggae music relevant in a continuously evolving world of music,
Morgan Heritage recently unveiled the Avrakedabra album cover through top-tier outlets Huffington Post and Yahoo! Music, along with a 2 part documentary "Journey to Avrakedabra". With an exclusive US stop in Austin, TX for the legendary South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, their appearances is highlighted as an Official headlining set at
Clearport ATX as part of the Digiwaxx Presents 'The Blast Live' showcase on Friday March 17th, which is also the official pre-order date for Avrakedabra. SXSW kicks off their upcoming Avrakedabra World Tour. Pre-Orders are live now for North America, as well as internationally.
Their Rolling Stones-reminiscent endurance, longevity and outstanding showmanship, makes the siblings a force to be reckoned with. Not only in Reggae but also in music as a whole. Morgan Heritage's name is duly cemented in history, as critics, fans and music lovers anxiously awaited their new album. The untraditional creation of this album with recording sessions taking place across 3 different continents highlights the groups effort of taking Reggae music to the 4 corners of the Earth.
As you listen to "Avrakedabra", surprise appearances are as captivating as the title. From the opening record "Want Some More" featuring Mr. Talkbox, the famed computerized voice featured on Bruno Mars' 24K Magic, the album makes a statement. A Royal appearance by Multi GRAMMY Award-Winning
Ziggy Marley and
Stephen Marley is a brilliant alliance of two great musical legacies on "One Family". That was followed by the awakening of the spirit of the late great lead singer Bunny Ruggs of legendary
Third World on the "Tribute To Ruggs". On stage DreZion performs as a keyboardist with the group but on "Reggae Night" he not only co-Produced a fun loving song, he also lays down a great verse like a young veteran DJ from Jamaica. On "Ready For Love" what seemed like an unpredictable pairing of Billboard chart topping duo R. City and the Reggae super group, blossomed into a beautiful love song. The last appearance on the album brings together
Kabaka Pyramid and Dre Island who have respectfully made their claim as 2 of Reggae's future leaders on the futuristic sounding anthem "We Are".
"The title was inspired by our love of history. Being that we are students of history, we discovered this word and it's various pronunciations throughout the history of time. We chose it as the title of the album because we like it and we feel it represents the new Era that our career is about to enter. The meaning we will leave to the audience to choose, since we've discovered so many over the dispensation of time", explained
Morgan Heritage about the album title "Avrakedabra".
With their Reggae DNA from Jamaican origins, the Brooklyn born group of Massachusetts's upbringing unearthed a way to infuse the sounds of Pop, Rock, Country, R&B and Hip-Hop music into their brand of Reggae that they call "Rockaz". "Avrakedabra" is Produced by GRAMMY Award-Winning
Morgan Heritage and Multi GRAMMY/EMMY Award-Winning producer
Shannon Sanders, the album is permeated with notable creations from a host of multi-award winning producers and musicians such as Michael Lorello, Supa Dups, Phillip "Winta" James, Jason "J-Vibe" Farmer, Seani B & Don Chandler, Lamar "Riff Raff" Brown, Bost & Bim, Mike Austin and Michael Polk. To add to the stellar 15 track album arrangements, instruments occupy their own space provided by distinguished musicians Ethan Long - Guitarist from Kings of Leon, GRAMMY winning Guitarist Mitchum "Khan" Chin, Danny "Bassie" Dennis - Original bass player from the legendary Fire House Band and Award winning drummer Gil Sharone.
Sultry vocal fluctuations, smooth riffs, upbeat percussion, unique guitar style paired with rhythmic chants and thoughtful lyrics deliver an album that will not only make you dance and feel good, but still remains fresh to the ears.
Morgan Heritage kicks off the "Avrakedabra World Tour" in support of the new album and are veterans of live touring. Their relentless work ethic on the road is in line with fellow road warriors from the scene including 311, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, SOJA, Iration, and J Boog, which continues to gain them diehard fans on the festival circuit (Summer Jam Festival, Van's Warped Tour, Boomtown Fair, Sierra Nevada Music Festival, Pinkpop Festival, Austin City Limits, Roskilde Festival, New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Parkpop Festival, Riot Fest, Rock Werchter, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Reggae In The Park, Gröna Lund, Reggae SumFest, Paléo Festival, Reggae On The Rocks, Rototom Sunsplash, Reggae In The Desert, Solidays Music Festival) and with live music aficionados too.
Slated to be released on May 19th, "Avrakedabra" is now available for pre-order:
North America
Global
TRACK LISTING
1. Want Some More feat Mr. Talkbox
2. One Life to Live
3. One Family feat Ziggy Marley & Stephen Marley
4. Golden
5. Tribute to Ruggs feat Bunny Ruggs
6. Reggae Night feat Drezion
7. Selah
8. Read for Love feat R. City
9. Pineapple Wine
10. We are feat Kabaka Pyramid & Dre Island
11. Dream Girl
12. Ride and Roll
13. Harder Than You Know
14. Dancing in the Moonlight
15. Reggae Night (Global Remix) feat Chubb Rock, Stylo G, Timaya, Bunji Garlin, Stonebwoy, Drezion & Jaheil
Tour Dates:
March 17 - Austin, Texas - Digiwaxx Presents The Blast Live - Clearport ATX
April 1st - Oranjestad, Aruba - The Flip Flop Beach Festival
April 13th - Kampala, Uganda - Lugogo Cricket Oval
April 22nd - Tobago - Tobago Jazz Festival
April 27th - Le Ferme, Martinique - Ferme Perrine
April 28th - Le Gosier, Guadaloupe - Palais Des Sports Du Gosier
April 29th - St Maarten - Carnival Village
May 3rd - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
May 4th - Oxford, England - O2 Academy
May 5th - Manchester, England - O2 Ritz
May 6th - Birmingham, England - O2 Academy
May 7th - London England - O2 Forum Kentish Town
May 9th - Paris, France - La Cigale
May 10th - Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso
May 20th - Nassau, Bahamas - Thomas Robinson Stadium Carnival Grounds
