Talking Dreads

The Talking Dreads debut features an amazing lineup of legendary reggae figures, including singer Freddie McGregor, whose recording career dates back to his 1980 album Bobby Bobylon; ska guitar master Ernest Ranglin, (session player and arranger of Millie's hit "My Boy Lollipop" and the Melodians' "Rivers of Babylon" who has worked with Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Monty Alexander; singer and Soul Train Award nominee Tarrus Riley ("Start Anew," "Good Girl Gone Bad") and saxophone great Dean Fraser. Bridging generations, Mystic also invited his young drummer friend Kirk Bennett and his old friend Lincoln Thomas, who is McGregor's longtime guitarist, to participate. The sole non-Jamaican on Mystic Bowie's Talking Dreads, Cindy Wilson of the B-52s was chosen as a voice that harkens back to the era of Talking Heads' new wave heyday. Wilson duets beautifully with Mystic on a dreamy, soulful rendition of "Heaven."