Jimmy Cliff will release an EP, his first studio effort in seven years, in November. The EP, produced by Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy, Rancid, The Transplants) will be released on Collective Sounds and features a combination of originals and covers, including a cover of The Clash's seminal "Guns of Brixton."
For the EP and full-length, Cliff teamed up with Armstrong - a lifelong admirer of his work and a known purveyor of reggae music's lasting influence and cultural impact. "Tim has such a great foothold in the tradition. He woke me up to a lot of the things I had forgotten," said Cliff. "I enjoy the creative spontaneity of collaborating with other people. I always want to try new things. It's the type of creative energy I have". Armstrong adds, "Jimmy is one of my musical heroes and I've been responding to his music my entire life."
The unlikely pairing has produced songs deeply rooted in the reggae tradition with their own renewed feel. "I knew vaguely about Tim through working with Joe Strummer and wanted to bring something fresh to the marketplace. Us coming from such different musical poles brought a great energy to the songs. I wanted to create something with a fresh sound - that's why we decided to test the waters," said Cliff. "I've always wanted to work with him and we connected immediately, which doesn't happen all the time," added Armstrong. "This is Jimmy's record and I'm honored to be a part of it."
