SLY & ROBBIE VS. ROOTS RADICS /

Imagine a kind of dream concert, a reggae Woodstock bringing together two of the greatest Jamaican bands of all time, playing behind a gathering of style’s founding fathers. Well, that’s exactly what one of the boldest and most respected percussionists in South America, Hernan Sforzini, managed to create.
This exceptional gathering began at Hernan’s Afro Studio in Buenos Aires in 2017 and culminated at the famous Tuff Gong Studio, built by Bob Marley himself in the late 70s.

In the summer of 2017, Hernan Sforzini found himself wandering through the green hills and beaches of the Springs Island, in search of the true sound of Jamaica. Through a fortunate alignment of schedules and incredible luck, he contacted his wish list of artists and recorded them one by one, sometimes in their own studios. The idea was to collaborate with Sly & Robbie and the remaining members of the 80s group Roots Radics. “The idea was: let’s have a clash!” recalls Hernan. “Each would record new riddims and then add legendary singers who would compose original lyrics to create an album in which both groups would be the stars.” “I approached the idea with Sly & Robbie when they came to Argentina, and they agreed to do it.” The next step was to convince Roots Radics. “I have been friends with bassist Flabba Holt since 2005, so I wrote to him to present my idea, and he immediately called me back and said, ‘Hernan, I was sure that an album like this would come to fruition at some point in history, but I never imagined that the proposal would come from you. So, when are you coming to record us?'”

Hernan continues, “Lee Perry was on tour in South America, and I wrote to him to invite him to participate in the project. So, on the second day of the project, Lee recorded the first song.” Other singers came to Argentina for the first time during this period, such as Ken Boothe and Horace Andy, who gladly took part in the project. “I only chose those whom I love and respect to have a solid foundation. I had to decide which riddim would work best for each singer, which is the essential work of a producer. It worked out well, and no one refused my proposals.”

That’s how this concept album was born, with other prestigious artists joining the project, such as The Mighty Diamonds, Max Romeo, Mykal Rose, Freddie McGregor, Luciano, The Congos, Pablo Moses, and Toots Hibbert.