Since the death of Bob Marley, Aston “Family Man” Barrett and his brother Carlton “Carly” Barrett kept the message of Bob Marley and The Wailers alive by touring, making music, and spreading the word. Over the past few years Family Man’s son, Aston Barrett Jr., has taken over the reins of The Wailers and has pushed forth keeping that message alive and well. And just a quick shout out to Aston Jr., his depiction of his father in the Bob Marley: One Love movie was fantastic and moving. While the band has been touring pretty much non-stop over the years, with a changing line-up, the Barrett's and Owen “Dreadie” Reid has been the constant. Today’s line-up consists of Dreadie, Mitchell Brunings, Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro, Andres “Ipez” Lopez, Teena “Tamara” Barnes, Richard Walters, along with their crew Christian Cowlin, Lennie Chen, Anthony “Ants” Donaldson and Matt Denison. While many call The Wailers a cover or tribute band, they are a very talented group of musicians who put out their own music. I am always excited when The Wailers put out a new song or album, because being a huge Bob Marley fan and reggae fan, I want to hear what they are putting out, and how they are evolving, but still staying true to the one love message.

Evolution starts with “Love Should Be Free” featuring Black Uhuru legend Mykal Rose, an up-tempo It's a song that flows really well to get this started off. Mykal sounds fantastic. One of my favorites is next, “Give It Up” features an original I-Threes member, Marcia Griffiths. She sounds absolutely awesome and brings a great vibe to this song and album. She brings that Wailer's vibe to the song and album. “Love Without Pain” featuring Emily Estefan, daughter of Gloria and the producer of the album Emilio Estefan Jr., under his independent label, Crescent Moon Records. Estefan Jr. also produced The Wailers 2020 One World album. Emily has a fantastic voice, she really belts it out in this song. This has some horn play, the sax is awesome. The brass section on the song and album consists of Dean Fraser on sax, Randy “Trumboclaat” Fletcher on trombone, and Okiel Mcinrtye on trumpet. We flow into another song featuring Mykal Rose, “Close My Eyes.” A real sweet roots reggae flow to this song, Mykal taking over with his vocals.

The title track, "Evolution” is next, led by Aston Jr. on vocals, this is a wonderful song and Aston does a nice job as the lead. This sums up The Wailers to this point. “Love Surrender” is next up, a nice slower riddim and vibe. They pick up the pace a little with “You Belong to Me” lead by singer Mitchell Brunings. His tempo changes as does his vocals, flowing right along with the beat and horns. Great song! We move to another one of my favorites, a song that has a great happy vibe, a vibe that makes you want to dance and groove, “Get It On.” Another song led by Brunings, it just puts a smile on your face. “Unpredictable Heart” with jazz singer Nikki Kidd taking over the lead. A great flow and rhythm to this song, she has a sweet voice that just sticks in your head. A wonderful song about moving on in difficult times and circumstances,

“Holding On” has Aston Jr. on lead vocals again, accompanied by Gramps Morgan. I really enjoy the way Aston’s and Gramps's voices and flows work together. This one really hits! Next up, a song with a message for future generations about hope and optimism, “Generation.” Another song featuring Mykal Rose, and e once again he kills it! Such a great groove and flow to this one, it is the genuine spirit of emotional reggae, while it is the same instrumental group, they add in Llamar “Riff Raff” Brown on keys and Hector “Roots” Lewis & and Ras Perty on percussions. The album is finished off with “Sins,” also lead by Barret Jr. on lead vocals. We get more of that soulful roots reggae we have come to know from The Wailers.

This album gives us some great true Wailers vibes we have always gotten since the days of Bob Marley, but the title, Evolution, is so fitting. With the different artists, from different times and different styles coming together to create this different-sounding Wailers groove, it has a little something for those die-hard Wailer fans but has a vibe to bring in other reggae and pop fans as well. The Evolution of The Wailers is evident and not only needed to be done but is very welcomed by this listener.

One Love – Todd Judd