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Born Andrae Corey Johnson in the rural parish of Manchester, Jamaica "on a beautiful mid November morning in 1970" Jah Mason is one of the most respected and revered of the chanting Bobo Ashanti brethren. His was a close- knit family of five, with two brothers and two sisters and his parents were devout Christians but he respected their faith while regarding salvation through the doctrines and teachings of Rastafari. Gospel music was ever present in his parents' home and Jah Mason described music as being "like his life story" and began going to concerts at a very young age before graduating to deejaying. The legendary cultural deejay and spiritual trailblazer, Tony Rebel, was a close family member and a powerful early influence although Jah Mason recalled that "from I know myself I know music..."
Andrae was a "builder of righteousness" from an early age and acquired the epithet of Perry Mason through his ability to settle arguments amongst his school friends. The famous fictional lawyer's name was dropped at the age of fifteen on embracing the Rastafari faith but he retained Mason when he took Jah Mason as his 'Ethiopian Name' and began advocating the teachings of Prince Emmanuel and the message of the Bobo Ashanti faith.
Although he made his first recordings in 1988 none were actually released and he answered a newspaper advertisement placed by Junior Reid who was looking for young artists to audition for his JR label. Jah Mason passed the audition but had to wait another six months, developing his highly individual style, before entering the recording studio and releasing his debut single 'Selassie I Call We', credited to Perry Mason, on the JR label in 1991. He then recorded for Big Head's Global Flex label before moving to Beres Hammond's Harmony House set up and subsequently working with many of Kingston's top producers releasing singles on a bewildering variety of labels. His seven inch hits are far too numerous to mention but include 'Food', 'Hard Mama Work', 'Rainbow Circle Throne' and 'Cool It Down'. Working within the 'family' set up was critical because music was not a business but a mission to Jah Mason and, as a member of the David House family, with Capleton, Military Man & Jah Thunder and the Flames family with Uton Green, Lebanculah & Tony Rebel and other artists including Anthony B, Buju Banton & Sizzla he memorably stated "it's not like I'm the only one who's doing the good work".
Generosity of spirit has been a hallmark of the Bobo chanters and Jah Mason's work. On meeting Jah Cure through the David House family the pair worked extensively together, Jah Mason then proved instrumental in helping Lutan Fyah's career who made his first his live appearances opening stage shows for Jah Mason, and in 1997 Jah Mason toured Europe for the first time alongside Tony Rebel. His debut long playing release, 'Keep Your Joy', came in 2002 closely followed by 'Working So Hard' and he finally attained his first Jamaican Number One three years later with 'My Princess Gone'. Despite being at odds with many of the negative aspects of the music business Jah Mason's prolific work rate has never, ever slowed up and he has made it clear that his work is not about albums but about the message in the music.
"There is too much politics in the industry. I sing positive music. I can't keep up with the monetary business. I am always on tour... every year I tour." Jah Mason
For to promote and propagate the word it is necessary to make records and perform live and Jah Mason has appeared on countless Jamaican stage shows and toured extensively in Europe and Scandinavia throughout the UK, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Norway, Italy (including Rome), Portugal, Sweden & Switzerland and in 2007 he became the first ever Bobo Ashanti artist to perform in Australia and New Zealand. He is now in the enviable position of being every bit as influential internationally as he is at home in Jamaica but, when the recording and touring are over, Jah Mason immediately heads home for the countryside.
"I think about the poor and the have-nots because I am a Bobo. A me name Jah Mason aka Farmer Man. The politics in the business cyaah stop me. I will always be doing positive, uplifting music for the world to enjoy." Jah Mason
The "positive, uplifting music" of the Bobo Ashanti is not about style or fashion but is built on an unwavering and unrelenting commitment to a faith and way of life whose future is secure in the hands of master craftsmen such as Jah Mason.
Sources:
Davina Henry: Jah Mason Slams Industry 'Politics' The Sunday Gleaner 16th March 2014
Jah Mason Official Website: jah-mason.com
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| May 17, 2016 Text by Harry Hawks
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