Sheldon Blackman & The Soul Rebels

"Hope" reflects Sheldon’s very positive belief in the future of mankind, love and human nature. The songs defy genre, but have been described by Sheldon as "Reggae and Calypso meets Jazzy Blues"

Jock Loveband the producer of the album tells us:

I first met Sheldon after a stunning concert in the MS Innvik with the new line-up of his band, “The Soul Rebels” in 2009. The set flowed effortlessly between up-beat reggae and calypso to gentle heartfelt ballads. The band was fabulous and Sheldon, performing only self-written songs, captivated the audience with his beautiful voice and natural performance. I knew then that I had to get Sheldon into Urban Sound Studio to make an album. And 3 years later here it is, his 4th album “Hope”, a beautiful collection of songs, reflecting Sheldon’s very positive belief in the future of mankind, love and human nature. 

I wanted to capture the band as live as possible, to take care of the magic that only comes when the whole band plays together at the same time. It really worked. There are almost no “repairs” on this album. It’s all just how it was played on the day including Sheldon’s vocals, which were all single takes! Later we added brass, extra voices and contributions from wonderful guests and friends, including the awesome steel pan of Clifton Harrydas, Sheldon’s childhood friend and fellow Trinidadian.

I understood later why Sheldon was so natural to the stage. It seemed like he had spent his whole life there and indeed he had. From conception, music has been an integral part of Sheldon’s life. His natural love for music was recognized at an early age and nurtured by the expert hand of his father ; the late great Ras Shorty I, pioneer of the musical genres Soca and Jamoo and father to the family band The Love Circle, famous throughout the Caribbean .
Sheldon has performed extensively throughout the world. From the Caribbean to the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, even to south east Asia, where he performed with The Love Circle at the Rainforest World music festival 08 in KL and Sarawak Malaysia. 

Sheldon has since 2008 resided with his wife and 2 children in Oslo. In 2009 he began work with Nordic Black Theatre”where he established the successful project “Open Xpression”. This has become an important stage for up and coming artists of all kinds in Norway. He and the Soul Rebels are the host and house band for Open Xpressions at Cafeteatret in Grønland, Oslo. Sheldon has also performed at Bylarm 2011, and in Tromsø at the No Siesta Fiesta festival, http://www.nordlys.no/kultur/article5526191.ece
on 1. november 2012 he will perform at the Transform festival in Trondheim.

I am very proud to have been involved in the “Hope” project and to have worked side by side with Sheldon and the wonderful collection of artists and singers who make up “The Soul Rebels”. I hope you enjoy listening to our recordings as much as we have enjoyed making them.

Jock Loveband 
Producer / Head Engineer/ Studio Manager
Urban Sound Studios, Oslo
www.urbansound.no

The musical elements on the album have been diverse, best described as when calypso and reggae meets jazzy blues.
The album title “Hope” reflects Sheldon’s belief in a positive outcome to today’s problems in the world.