Cedric “Im” Brooks’ seven-track album United Africa has earned cult status among reggae fans — and with good reason. It’s a rich fusion of 1970s reggae, Afrobeat, and funk that captures the full scope of his musical vision.
A graduate of the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica, Brooks began recording with The Vagabonds and the Granville Williams Band before making his solo debut at Studio One alongside trumpeter David Madden on Im and David. In 1970, he joined Count Ossie’s The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, contributing saxophone, flute, and horn arrangements.
His sound was shaped by travels between the United States and Africa, including time performing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—an influence that runs throughout United Africa. The album features top Jamaican musicians, including drummer Tony Allen, and this remastered Pressure Sounds release presents the seven tracks in extended mixes. Cedric Brooks passed away in New York City in 2013, but his legacy endures. LISTEN
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