The Strides

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This dynamic ten-piece brings some of Sydney’s best new talent in Afrobeat, Reggae, jazz and hip-hop joining forces and collaborating together to deliver a captivating Urban Roots release.

With a calling card of powerfully melodic horns, infectious bass lines, and the easy musings of Reggae master Ras Roni, from Barbados via London, and Fijian MC LTL Gzeus (Little Jesus), The Strides faithfully channel the sounds of Bob and Damien Marley, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Barrington Levy and Mos Def.

With the release of their self-titled debut album in 2009, The Strides have taken their magnetic stage presence, dubbed out beats, and hypnotic rhythms to the Bellingen Global Carnival, the 2010 Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival and Peats Ridge where they have established themselves as festival favourites.

2010 sees them continue to build on their impressive touring reputation having repeatedly sold out shows from Sydney to ByronBay and back.

The Strides follow up album “Reclamation” is sure to have you losing yourself this summer in the blissed-out grooves, pulsing World beats and smooth dub sounds of The Strides.

The Strides are:

Nick Garbett: trumpet
Jeremy Rose: tenor sax/ flute
Al Hicks: drums
Matt Smith: guitar
Danny Pliner: keyboards
Nick Weaver/Rory Brown: bass
Matt Ottignon: tenor + baritone sax
Carlos Adura/Fabian Hevia: percussion

Guest vocalists:

Ras Roni, MC LTL Gzeus

New Release: “Reclamation”

The Strides are proud to release their second album “Reclamation,” to be launched at Notes Newtown, Friday 25 Feb and Heritage Hotel, Bulli, Saturday 26 Feb 2011.

The Strides debut album is available through Earshift Records and distributed by Fuse Music and MGM

Tracklisting:

1. Stormclouds      feat. Ras Roni
2. Some      o’ Dem feat. LTL Gzeus
3. Umbi      Gumbi
4. F.K.D
5. Fresh      Lady feat. Ras Roni and LTL Gzeus
6. Escape
7. Reclamation      feat. LTL Gzeus
8. Well      Hung Parliament
9. Storm      Clouds dub
10. Fresh      Lady dub

The Strides debut CD:

The Strides are proud to release their self titled, debut album, to be launched at Notes Newtown, 12 Dec 2009.

After several east coast tours, The Strides finally entered the studio under the guidance of respected drummer and mentor, Terapai Richmond. Richmond is renowned for his work with The Whitlams, D.I.G, Missy Higgins and King Tide, and his wealth of experience has been a guiding force for The Strides. The self titled debut album features The Strides with special guest vocalists Ras Roni, one of Australia’s true reggae masters, along with young diva Michelle Martinez and rising hip hop star Lil Gzeus.

The Strides debut album is available through Earshift Records and distributed by Fuse Music and MGM

Tracklisting:

1. Step      Back
2. Inspiration      feat. Michelle Martinez
3. Masters      No More
4. Better      To Love
5. Fin      Pistol
6. La      Mar

Reclamation CD Review in The Australian March 19 2011

Tony Hillier

***1/2 – 3 1/2 stars

Myopic Melburnian music buffs might suggest otherwise, but Sydney has its share of seriously good fusion outfits. The Strides, a comparatively new 10-piece act, souns classy enough, judged on its sophomore album, to be considered a serious challenger to the Cat Empire and company. The band’s leaning towards afrobeat puts it directly in the path of Melbourne’s Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, which has set the benchmark in this arena down under. however, the fact it also weaves reggae rhythms and rapping into its fresh and funky 50-50 mix of songs and instrumentals stamps it more the Aussie equivalent of Kiwi juggernaut Fat Freddy’s Drop. Trinidad-born singer Ras Roni shows Marley influence – Damian as well as Bob – on tracks such as Storm Clouds. Fijian MC LTL Gzeus (that’s Little Jesus in non-vernacular_ channels dance-hall don Sizzla and reggae rapper Mos Def in Some O Dem and Reclamation, and during his duet with Ras Roni on Fresh Lady. The Band’s poten three-piece brass section, made up of some of Sydney’s finest young jazz players, strecthes out stylishy when unleashed in the afrobeat infused instrumental romps Umbi Gumbi and Well Hung Parliament that constitute album highlights.

Reclamation CD Review in Sydney Morning Herald Metro March 11 2011

Paris Pompor

***1/2 – 3 1/2 stars

Boasting 10 fired-up members and wasting no time in following up their impressive self-titled debut, Sydney’s The Strides return with frisk in their gait for eight new tunes straddling dub to Afrobeat, hip-hop to exotic jazz. Kicking off in familiar melodic reggae territory, singer Ras Roni sounds as good as Saturday mornings with a dusty John Holt LP. The following track pops the cork properly, with emcee Lil Gzeus announcing in dancehall fashio: “Some o’ dem jus’ won’ lovin’.” It introduces a super skanky, horn-heavy, sandpaper groove featuring flashes of funky clavinet. In Escape they do just that, stopping over in Ethio-jazz territory briefly, hints of psych guitar mingling with fuzzy, spectral keys.

Caroline Savransky

12/12/09

You wouldn’t expect Rastafarian mania to occur in one of Sydney’s most elegant music venues, but it did. And it worked out great. The dark, romantic room was coloured with extravagant reggae enthusiasts busting awesome carefree dance moves and turning the basement into a Jamaican oasis as The Strides launched their self-titled debut album.

Every song was based around loving life, loving the world and loving each other and judging but the unity on the dancefloor, the message was heard loud and clear. Lead vocalist Ras Roni’s voice soared as he delivered one of their most catchy beats, Step Back. Telling the crowd to “rise above these flaws”, he danced like a wild gypsy completely taking over the stage with his wonderful performance.

The ten-piece ensemble shook the stage with every instrument imaginable and it’s safe to say that it was the horn section that were leading the band to glory this night. With many of the songs off their album starring guest singers who could not make it for the show, it seemed to be one musical solo after another. But the crowd showed no signs of disappointment as the instruments each seemed to have a voice of their own.

The band played two sets with an interval in which time DJ Toon, DJ Russ Dewbury and DJ Frenzie kept the crowd warm with African grooves to keep in the theme of the evening. In the first half of the night the music was more oriented towards reggae, but after the break the band took the stage with their best afro-beat tunes, where the highlights were definitely the sensual Masters No More and energetic Fin Pistol.

Everything about the show was vigorous and playful, from Roni suggesting the crowd buy two CDs, with “one for the bedroom and one for the living room, if you know what I mean”, to the African dancers seducing the crowd with their tribal moves. If you like the relaxation of Bob Marley and the spirit of The Cat Empire, you’ll find yourself at home with The Strides.

The Strides self titled debut Sydney Morning Herald Review – 3 1/2 stars

Paris Pompor

Metro March 26 2010

You’d be forgiven for mistaking this as new LP for the Resurrectors. Both Sydney bands have a whole lot of soul and an affable dub swagger – a la Fat Freddy’s Drop. Both also deliver casually cool, consciousness-raising lyrics. That the always-impressive vocalist Ras Roni adds his sweet, easy tone to the two groups, only strengthens comparisons. But by track three, the Strides are shuffling on a dusty dancefoor with a hip-hop MC and kicking up bare heels for some Afrobeat unrest in Master No More and the 10-minute Fin Pistol. In Better to Love they deliver a singalong pop-reggae gem that really deserves radio support. Ha! This is Australia, dream on.