Sanchez is back! Renowned for his hits like Never Dis Di Man, Loneliness, I Can’t Wait, One In A Million, and Fall In Love over his impressive four-decade career, the veteran singer has unveiled the eagerly anticipated follow-up to his 2011 release, Love You More, which was produced by Donovan Germain. For his new 10-track album titled Jamdown, Sanchez collaborated with producer Kenneth Thompson, who co-wrote three of the songs inxcluding Jamdown, Hot Girl and Disloyalty, and penned the other seven on his own. In addition, the album features contributions from versatile multi-instrumentalist Paul “Pablo” Gauntlett, known as I-Tek Paul, and Chalice’s Wayne Armond, who handled arrangements and also harmonies along with vocalist Tafina Wilson.
The Jamdown album does not stray far from Sanchez’s previous works, but that won’t diminish its appeal to the many fans who cherish his distinctive style. Over the years, he has maintained a high level of quality, especially regarding his albums, and this release is no different. Known primarily for his romantic ballads, he delivers an abundance of them, beginning with the delightful It’s Been A While. This track is supported by one of the many recognizable classic riddims revisited for this project. The outstanding title track, Jamdown, utilizes a revamped version of Dennis Brown’s 1978 classic To The Foundation. It’s a reflection on the state of the artist’s homeland while also pointing out its natural beauty and the resilience of its people.
The opening lot is rounded off by the cool lovers track, Hot Girl. The symphony of love then continues with Absent and the moving Desperate Man on the My Conversation riddim, both of which are very good efforts. Don’t overlook Beautiful Soul either, a truly exceptional song which is presented over Gregory Isaacs’ Storm riddim. Equally notable is the thought-provoking social commentary found in Struggle on Isaacs’ Slave Master riddim, paired with the clever closing track, Let Your Love Shine, which also strays outside the lover’s genre.
In conclusion, it’s clear that the long wait has paid off, as this album is consistently entertaining and of high quality.