While far from a household name in reggae, Judah Eskender Tafari cultivated a loyal fanbase and respectable catalog during his recording career. The Studio One single “Rastafari Tell You” sits at the top of a small set of deep cuts he recorded for Coxson Dodd’s famed studio starting in 1978. These have continued to find a place at roots reggae soundsystem and DJ rub-a-dub parties after nearly five decades. The earnest lyrics and spiritual mission of these early recordings would define Judah’s entire career, extending through the decades to “Great Escape,” a new Daptone 45 produced by label stalwart Victor Axelrod. The song alludes to the Old Testament in a vision of mankind gone astray, trying to escape the confines of the Earth for salvation. Axelrod provides a lush roots backdrop against which Eskender shines in a way we haven't heard in years.
