David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7

David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 are back with their first release since their 2018 album, The Giver. The new seven inch single "The Frog” — Hillyard’s reinterpretation of João Donato’s "A Rã” — is the first glimpse at the group’s upcoming album, Plague Doctor, which is due out this summer. The single, like the album it precedes, blends the Rocksteady 7’s signature sound, which combines elements of American jazz and Jamaican influences, with classic Brazilian rhythms and themes. The Rocksteady 7 features some of the best players in the current ska/reggae scene, including members of NYC ska staples The Slackers and percussionist Larry McDonald (Toots & The Maytals, Gil Scott-Heron. Lee “Scratch” Perry). Fittingly, “The Frog” comes on green color vinyl, with the full track split between two sides. Includes digital download of both tracks.

TRACKLIST
A1 The Frog
A2 The Frog

• Printed on Bella + Canvas Women's Tees
  
• 100% airlume combed and ringspun cotton
• Relaxed fit
• Side seams
• Tear away label

• Printed on Bella + Canvas Tees
  
• 100% airlume combed and ringspun cotton
• Retail fit
  
• Unisex sizing
• Coverstitched collar and sleeves
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Side seams
• Tear away label

This red color vinyl edition of United Front is limited to just 200 copies. The vinyl comes with a download card containing all of the tracks from the LP in addition to three bonus tracks, which were included on the original 2002 CD release.
David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 formed in New York in 1992. Their self-described "Jamaican Jazz" sound combines ska, rocksteady and reggae with extended jazz improvisation, intricate melodies, and complex harmonies. The group incorporates many diverse elements of world music with rocksteady rhythms, including ska, jazz, calypso, as well as Afrobeat and American jazz influences.

Track Listing:
Side A
1. Song of the United Front
2. Duppy Conqueror
3. Come and Get Me
4. Old Days

Side B
1. Baby
2. Love is Something
3. Far East
4. Another You

Bonus Download Tracks
Hillyard Street 2002
Blues for Dumas
Percussion Procession

David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 are back with their first LP since their 2018 album, The Giver. The new album, "Plague Doctor," blends the Rocksteady 7’s signature sound, which combines elements of American jazz and Jamaican influences, with classic Brazilian rhythms and themes. The Rocksteady 7 features some of the best players in the current ska and reggae scene, including members of NYC ska staples The Slackers and percussionist Larry McDonald (Toots & The Maytals, Gil Scott-Heron. Lee “Scratch” Perry). Includes digital download of the album.

TRACKLIST
A1 Plague Doctor Theme (Hillyard / McDonald) 
A2 Closer to My Heart (Hillyard) 
A3 Maracatu Atômico (J. Mautner / N. Jacobina)
A4 The Frog (A Rã) (J. Donato)
A5 Amanha No Voltaria (F. Machado/F. Tirelli) 
A6 Chove Chuva (J. Ben) 
B1 Wide Pacific Ocean (Hillyard) 
B2 Dedicada  (A. Verocai)
B3 Was I Made For These Times (Hillyard) 
B4 Plague Doctor (Hillyard / McDonald) 
B5 Come Back Better  (Hillyard)

Tracklist
Side A
More Than 2 Sides (Hillyard)
Measure of a Man (Sherley)
Now That You Know (Wheeler / Pitman)
The Giver (Hillyard / Wheeler)
Somebody Done Changed The Lock on My Door (Weldon)
Song of the Underground Railroad (Traditional arr. Hillyard)

Side B
Home is Where the Hatred Is (Scott-Heron)
Take a Chance on Me (Hillyard)
Ulysses (Hillyard)
Someone Else’s Love Song (Hillyard)
Dark Before Dawn (Hillyard)

Personnel:
David Hillyard – Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, Backing Vocals on 5
Larry McDonald – Percussion
Jimmy Boom – Drums
Chiquis Lozoya – Bass, Backing Vocals on 2-5, 8-10
Devin Morrison – Guitar
Ray Jacildo – Organ, Piano
Sean Wheeler – Lead Vocals on 2-5, 7-10
Alex Desert – Backing Vocals on 2-5, 8-10
Glen Pine – Trombone on 1-3, 7
Buford O’Sullivan – Trombone on 5, 8, 10,11
Luigi De Gaspari – Trombone, Bass Trombone on 4, 6, 10
Rich Graiko – Trumpet on 1, 6, 7, 8, 10
Rolf Langsjoen – Trumpet on 2,4, 5
Tommy Mattioli – Balafon on 6, Vibraphone on 7,10,11
Jayson Nugent – Pick Guitar on 4 , 7
Micah Nelson – Harmonica on 9

Recorded at Hen House Studios by Harlan Steinberger.

Additional overdubs recorded by David Hillyard at Studio Slack, Nico Leonard at Pum Pum Hotel, Luigi De Gaspari, Buford O’Sullivan, Ray Jacildo, and Rich Graiko.

All songs mixed by Harlan Steinberger at Hen House Studios.

Produced by David Hillyard, Andrew Rossiter, and Harlan Steinberger.

Mastering by Bernie Grundman.

Photos of Larry McDonald & David Hillyard by Kristin Laughter

Photo of Sean Wheeler by Brian Kasnyik.

Cover art design and layout by Jeremy Lublin

Special Thanks to: All our families, All the musicians who played on the album, Harlan Steinberger and Hen House Studios, Andrew Rossiter at Org Music, and all the Rocksteady 7 band members worldwide, past and present.