Joseph Israel reaches ‘Paradise’
Joseph Israel’s career is Mosaic. Not a mosaic, though to be sure there are ways Mr. Israel pulls different tones, colors and motifs from a spectrum of styles and fits them together in his music; it is Mosaic in a way that is ‘of or relating to Moses,’ and particularly the journey of Moses. Mr. Israel’s solo debut, Gone Are The Days, is Genesis: issued independently in 2005, the album caught the attention of Universal Music, who signed Mr. Israel and issued an expanded edition of the album the following year. Kingdom Road is Exodus: released from his contract, Mr. Israel returns to being an independent artist and—being on an independent artist budget—his and his Jerusalem Band’s next full-length is issued some seven to eight years after Days. “Kingdom Road came together slowly, over time as I could do it,” Mr. Israel says. The album shows glimpses of Mr. Israel’s growth as a composer, but the recordings are infused with a wandering quality that prevent Kingdom Road from holding together as an album.
“Paradise came together real quick,” Mr. Israel effuses with infectious enthusiasm. “I found a small studio near Mendocino and we did the whole album in about a week.” The recordings are steeped with Mr. Israel’s rejuvenation, an energy that affected his bandmates early in the process. “I’d write the basic structure of a song, then I’d send it to [veteran bassist] Chris Meredith who’d come back with the most wicked bass line, and I’d be like, Whoa, man, yes!”
The flurry of creative energy spurred Mr. Israel to take many of the different sounds and styles he had been exploring and meld them more effortlessly, and effectively, on Paradise—the acoustic folk of “Help Us,” the ’80s rock undercurrent tempered by an Augustus Pablo melodica on “Just You Wait,” the floating sax solos on “Fire Burn.” The achievements on the album, though, are the Nyahbinghi anchored “Success” and “Journey,” a versioning of the mid-’80s ‘Tempo’ rhythm. “Those are real strings!” Mr. Israel says gleefully. “I found a small orchestra near the studio I was working at, and I had them write and perform some string arrangements.” The result is a chilling admonition of where true success must be sought (or from Whom it must be granted), while “Journey” bursts forth, propelled the curt strings and the drumming of gospel-trained percussionist Marlon Davis.
There is no mistaking that this album is an expression of Mr. Israel’s faith, an extended prayer. And perhaps like Moses seeing the Promised Land in Deuteronomy, Mr. Israel declares unabashedly, “Can’t take my joy away,” and it is that view he shares freely on Paradise.
Joseph Israel Paradise Lion of Israel Records Track Picks: “Journey,” “Success,” “Help Us,” “Give Love” Suggested for fans of Third World’s early albums on Island Records, Burning Spear’s Social Living, Steel Pulse Handsworth Revolution, Abdel Wright
