FERTILE GROUND / “You”

“You've got to think that at one time, Louis Armstrong was in a cheap club and Miles was listening. Sometime when Miles was playing, Cassandra Wilson's dad and Cassandra were somewhere in the audience. So every time I'm on a stage, no matter how big or how small, I think, 'If Malcolm X was a child or teenager in this day and age, would he be at this concert right now, and am I giving him something to help him change himself from Detroit Red to Malcolm X?’” —James Collins, founder, songwriter and keyboardist of Fertile Ground
Fertile Ground is one of those bands that inspires the oft-heard question, “What the hell is wrong with radio in this country?” While I love the music of artists such as Da Lata, Finley Quaye, Chocolate Genius and Sidestepper, I also realize they’d be a hard sell at any radio station intending to make money by selling commercials. But Fertile Ground? Their music would be at home on any of the many ‘The Best Of Yesterday’s & Todays R&B’ stations that broadcast in nearly every major city in the U.S. But Fertile Ground isn’t played on commercial radio. Why? The biggest reason is because they don’t play the rules. The rules state: sweat, scrap, scramble and scrape by until you (hopefully) build a large enough audience and a polished enough sound that a major label believes you worthy of commercial exploitation. At which point you gratefully sign with said label and hope that you’re able to stick around long enough to make some money and notoriety out of the deal. James Collins, the founder of Fertile Ground, decided to turn this arrangement on its head. He created his own label and recording studio, surrounded himself with likeminded musicians, and began releasing his own music. To date, Collins’ band Fertile Ground has released five albums (three all-new, one re-release with added songs and one remix project) and I’d bet they’ve yet to sell 500,000 copies. Combined, I mean. That’s the ‘punishment’ for not going major. They’ve also created a body of music that exudes in every note passion, depth, soul and vitality. When listening to a Fertile Ground CD, one gets the feeling that there is meaning in every moment. That’s the reward for staying independent. fertile ground.jpg About the songs: Even on their rare love songs, Fertile Ground’s trademark spirituality shines through. “You” is one such tune, a mid-tempo ballad based on a smoldering bassline and a drum pattern that sounds like slowed-down broken beat. The title track “Black Is…” is more representative of Fertile Ground’s usual subject matter. The track is both jazzy and moody, reminiscent in style and content of Gil Scott-Heron tunes such as “Rivers Of My Fathers” or “Beginnings.” —Mtume ya Salaam Quote from “Higher Ground” by Denise Benson. Published by Eye Weekly. Available at www.eye.net. Click here to purchase Black Is            They don’t have a bass player          Hey, Mtume, word to the wise, I have had the opportunity to experience Fertile Ground live and I’ve got to comment on one of the most amazing aspects of the band that is not apparent from just listening to their recordings: they don’t have a bass player! The leader, keyboardist, arranger, composer James Collins plays the bass lines with his left hand. The music is so rich, especially the live show, you don’t even realize there’s no bassist on the stage. It’s not a gimmick, they can go for hours like this, playing everything from funk to Coltrane-influenced jazz, from reggae (c’mon, mon, what u mean no bass! U April foolin’ me, mon!) to entrancing ballads: no bass. fertile_ground_1.jpg Which brings me to my recommendation that folk check out Fertile Ground Remixed (Counterpoint Records 2003), which, by the way, also contains ”Star People,” one of my all-time fertile ground favorites. Originally done with only the divine voice of Cleveland-born, Morgan State Univ. graduate, Navaasha Daya and Collins’ keyboards, the remix employs a fuller orchestration. Naked or decked out, either way the song is a stunner. Plus, Mtume, it would be irresponsible of us not to include your favorite Fertile Ground selection, “My Friend The Moon.” This Baltimore-based outfit with their own recording studio is, without exaggeration, da bomb. I agree with you, Mtume, folk should start with Black Is… but the operative word is “start,” cause you shouldn’t stop until you have the whole catalogue, and absolutely do not miss them if you ever have a chance to catch a live concert. —Kalamu ya Salaam

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 4th, 2005 at 12:02 am and is filed under Contemporary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


2 Responses to “FERTILE GROUND / “You””

Sister Queen Cynequa Ma'at Bandele Says:
September 5th, 2005 at 3:43 pm

Baba Kalamu, you and your comrades/fellow beautiful people continue to bring us some sunshine to bask in. Fertile Ground has been my favorite band/group and Navasha, my favorite voice, since I was hipped onto them during my stay in DC in 2000/2001. Thank you for opening this album up for us to take in too! I pray for you and yours at this time…Stay strong Baba. Peaceloveblessings.


Kolade Says:
September 7th, 2005 at 12:25 am

i was worried about you all, as i live in Houston and had heard word of your escape. then i was mad that the last jukebox was what it was; why couldn’t have been the one from the week before? at least i could have that small joy in the midst of all this emotional trauma. but, then, out of the blue, you all come through with this tender, moving, oh so sweet mix to tide me through this week. i wish i could download these mixes to keep, forever and ever. thank you.


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