Marley’S Reggae Lives With Melody Makers

When talking about his latest album, Ziggy Marley speaks with the soft tones tones of a laid-back philosopher.

“In my mind I was changing my way of thinking about music — instead of trying to make music, let the music make itself. Let go of my inhibitions. Let go of what I think it should be and let it be what it is,” he says.

What it turned out to be was an album imbued with both a sense of simplicity and spirituality.

Aptly titled “Spirit of Music,” this fifth album from Ziggy Marley and his family band — The Melody Makers — is far more bare-bones than previous efforts, drawing from the roots of music and allowing the songs to float up unfettered by too much instrumentation.

And although this group continues to do their father’s reggae legacy proud, the album finds Bob Marley’s kids venturing into some new territory. “Beautiful Day” is straight-up happy rock. “Keep My Faith” is a bluesy spiritual.

Ziggy Marley is joined by brother Stephen and sisters Cedella and Sharon. Stephen takes lead on two of his father’s classics — “High Tide or Low Tide” and “All Day All Night.” Sharon and Cedella add their vibrant backing vocals to songs like “We Are One” and “Many Waters.”

“Spirit of Music” is awash in a positive-vibe spirituality, a faith in a greater power. “The inspiration for these songs comes from God, from Jah,” Marley says. “It’s Him that has given me the songs. My faith in God is strong. I’m very open to the will of the universe.

“This album was made at a very special time in my life. I was opening up more, I was willing to open myself up more to people.”

Also during that time, Marley says he survived a near-death experience caused by a heart problem.

He says the experience changed his perspective on life. From that he wrote the song “Gone Away,” an uplifting assurance that death is only the beginning.

“That song was my reconciliation with death,” Marley says.

“I know my life is more than just a physical life. I see it as a happy song.”