Groundation

Northern California reggae outfit Groundation came together in 1998 when guitarist, singer, and lyricist Harrison Stafford joined forces with keyboardist Marcus Urani and bassist Ryan Newman. Lineup changes have marked the ensemble ever since. By 2009 its roster featured trumpeter David “Diesel” Chachere, trombonist Kelsey Howard, and saxophonist Dr. Jason Robinson in the horn section, plus percussionist Mingo Lewis, Jr. and vocalists Kim Pommell and Stephanie Wallace, with drummer Te Kanawa Haereiti as the most recent addition. The group issued its first recording, Young Tree, on the independent Young Tree imprint in 1999. Two years later, Each One Teach One arrived on July 31, 2001, carrying guest contributions from Ras Michael and Marcia Higgs. Hebron Gate followed on January 21, 2003, with Don Carlos and the Congos appearing as special guests. Don Carlos returned for We Free Again, released November 16, 2004, which also welcomed Apple Gabriel. The dub-focused Dub Wars surfaced in 2005. Upon the Bridge reached stores on October 17, 2006, after which the band maintained its customary international itinerary while adding, for the first time, performances across the eastern United States. The domestic arrival of Here I Am on August 18, 2009, likewise prompted a fresh series of American concert dates.