Holy Forest is the brainchild of musician and filmmaker Jon Fine (Herbie Hancock's "Possibilities"/ Bill Wither's "Still Bill"). Wearing a number of hats on this record as producer, instrumentalist and songwriter, Fine enlisted friends and collaborators to play on a genre-blending project which includes members of Antibalas, singer’s Morley Kamen, Seraphim, Sparlha Swa, Ed “Preachermann” Holley, Gambian griot Tata Din Din Jobarteh (aka the Jimi Hendrix of the Kora) and Grammy nominated Kora master Youssoupha Sidibe.
The recording sessions, spanning 3 years were inspired by a trip to the Gambia’s Makasutu forest, a lush green riverine wilderness of mangrove swamps. The 11 track self-titled debut album “Holy Forest” was recorded in Gambia, New York, Woodstock and San Francisco.
released October 15, 2015
HOLY FOREST
Produced by Jon Fine
A Makasutu Sound System Production
Africa Calling
(Written by Jon Fine)
Vocal: Ed “Preachermann” Holley
Kora, Background Vocal: Tata Din Din Jobarteh
Bass, Keys, Guitar: Jon Fine
Saxophone: Stuart Bogie
Trumpet: Jordan McLean
Baritone: Martin Perna
Percussion: Matt Hauser
Drums: Nathan Hank
Nyokonole - We Are Together
(Written by Jon Fine, S.T. Da Gambian Dream, Tata Din Din and Darius VanSluytman)
Vocals: S.T, Tata Din Din Jobarteh, No Surrender
Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming: Jon Fine
Drums: Pierre Davis
Cities on Fire
(Written by Jon Fine)
Kora: Youssoupha Sidibe
Vocals: Ed “Preachermann” Holley
Guitar, Bass, Keys: Jon Fine
Drums: Pierre Davis
Cello: Kristine Kruta
Roses
(Written by Jon Fine and Sparlha Swa)
Vocal: Sparlha Swa
Kora: Youssoupha Sidibe
Bass, Guitar, Keys: Jon Fine
Drums: Sebastian Bauer, Pierre Davis
Percussion: Matt Hauser
Trumpet: Jordan McLean
Sax: Freddy Deboe
Lion’s Door
(Written by Jon Fine and I’kyori Swaby / Horn arrangements by Jordan McLean)
Vocal: I’kyori Swaby
Background Vocal: Ed “Preachermann” Holley
Bass, Guitar, Keys and Programming: Jon Fine
Lead Guitar: Morgan Harris
Harmonica: Ben Fine
Drums: Pierre Davis
Percussion: Matt Hauser
Trumpet: Jordan McLean
Sax: Stuart Bogie
Baritone Sax: Martin Perna
Bahia
(Written by Jon Fine and Sparlha Swa)
Vocals: Sparlha Swa
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards: Jon Fine
Rhodes: Jesse Hofrichter
Drums: Pierre Davis
Percussion: Taagen Swaby
Woodstock Dub
(Written by Jon Fine, I’kyori Swaby, Taagen Swaby, Ben Fine and Marcus Burrowes)
Bass and Keys: Jon Fine
Guitar: I’kyori Swaby
Drums: Taagen Swaby
Percussion: Marcus Burrowes
Harmonica & Melodica: Ben Fine
Texture and re-mixing: Chris Kelly
The country reggae soundtrack for a long road trip featuring Ben Fine on harp and melodica.
Walking Dead
(Written by Jon Fine)
Vocals and Synths: Jamal “Seraphim” Van Sluytman
Guitar, Bass, Keys, Background vocals, Programming: Jon Fine
No Surrender vocalist Seraphim sings a hypnotic bluesy folk ode to doing what you love.
Então Me Leve
(Traditional)
Vocal: Sparlha Swa
Acoustic Guitar: Jon Fine
Make Love
(Written by Jon Fine, Morgan Harris, I’kyori Swaby and Sean Clete)
Vocals: Ed “Preachermann” Holley
Guitar: Jon Fine
Bass: Morgan Harris
Drums: Sean Clete
Electric Piano: I’kyori Swaby
Make Music
(Written by Jon Fine, Youssoupha Sidibe and Morley Shanti Kamen)
Vocals: Morley
Kora: Youssoupha Sidibe
Bass, Guitar, Keyboards: Jon Fine
Rhodes: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Trumpet: Jordan McLean
Sax: Stuart Bogie
Drums: Steven Lupita Heet
Mixed and Engineered by Jon Fine and Lee Weinberg at Feet First Studios
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering, Brooklyn NY
Additional Engineering by Mark Bengston, Evan Mangiamele, Diko Shoturma, John Hancock
Recorded at Creature Studios, Feet First Studios, Atlantic Studios, Tata Din Din’s in The Gambia
Album artwork ©Andrew Zuckerman
All songs © 2015 Mightyfine Music except:
“Roses” and “Bahia” © 2015 Mighty Fine Music (ASCAP) and Uprising Music Publishing (ASCAP)
“Make Music” ©2015 Mightyfine Music (ASCAP) and Oneism Music (ASCAP)
www.theholyforest.com