If there’s one aspect proven in this new millennium reggae music, it’s that teaming up longtime Jamaican veterans alongside upcoming worldwide producers is the best way to push forward the Roots of Reggae back into nowadays.Dread Camel Records’ brand new LP ‘Happy and Free’ rounds up 2011 with one of the most exciting co-works of the year, bringing together London producer/multi-instrumentalist Dub Caravan with Jamaican accomplished musician Ronald ‘Nambo’ Robinson.After vocal works alongside Haji Mike, Ras Zacharri or Bulgarian crew Roots Souljah, Dub Caravan presents the voice and trombone skills of Nambo Robinson, member of legendary Jamaican groups like: Mystic Revelations of Rastafari, We The People Band, Jamaican most recorded horn section The Ras Brass or more recently Sly & Robbie and The Taxi Gang. Active in the music business for over 40 years, Nambo Robinson is not just a much requested studio and recording musician, but one of the supreme Jamaican trombone players with a successful solo career.‘Happy and Free’ will be a pleasant introduction of Nambo as a singer, with 4 tracks where his energetic, sweet and authentic voice, brimful with words of happiness and consciousness as only a true veteran in reggae music can do!Since the opening title track Nambo makes a statement of his own to the simple, yet most meaningful things in life: experiences, happiness, friendship and Love! On the A side, The Roots Reggae in modern manners will get you grooving in the title track ‘Happy and Free’; as fans of lovers rock will also be marveled by the love livications in ‘Thank You’ with Leiba Hibbert’s special appearance in some sweet harmonies.Two stand-outs for ‘Letter to LKJ’, with Nambo in the finest dub poetry style praising Linton Kwesi Johnson stand to the test of times, and the Ska/rocksteady flavored ‘Praises’.While flipping to the B-side, 4 dub instrumental tunes, plus 2 bonus tracks will impress you with Dub Caravan production quality (enhanced by famous Lion and Fox Recording Studios mastering work) and Nambo Robinson’s magnificent horn arrangements.Both ‘Dub to LKJ’ and ‘Mountainside’ (featuring Nnamdi Robinson additional guitars) are two of the most outstanding Dubs yet listened from Dub Caravan, and the uplifting ‘Praises’ gets extended with ‘Praise the Horn’ and ‘Praise the guitar’ in a…praising version galore style!‘Happy and Free’ gets the same special treatment with Nambo’s ‘Happy Trombone’ shining all over, and ‘Happy Melodica’ featuring the always beautiful melodica playing of Shaky Norman. With some quite amazing well-crafted musical arrangement details in organ, guitar and horns, Dub Caravan keeps his well-known tuff bassline trademark in this new production, and still his simple and pure approach to reggae music, really sparkle that organic Roots originality, providing the space for Nambo Robinson’s voice and trombone to glow all over the LP.A marvelous and genuine Roots Revival production certified to put a smile on your face and a swing on your hips!Review by i-Rick