This week we pay tribute to Sly Dunbar. Sly was one of the most prolific musicians of all time, having played on over 200,000 recordings. He was part of many backing bands including The Revolutionaries, Word Sound & Power, The Aggrovators, and Sly & Robbie. As a member of those bands, Sly backed legends like Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and so many others. We listen to a few tracks that Sly played on from the playlist available below. We talk about his drumming style, the incredible career he had and the immense legacy he left behind.

Rest in Power Sly Dunbar

Playlist on Spotify

Playlist on Apple Music

This week we pay homage to legendary guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore of Third World. He passed away on January 18, 2026 at 66 years old, leaving behind an enormous legacy. He founded Third World at just 17 years old and played with them consistently for 50+ years. During that time he created countless hit songs, earned 9 grammy nominations and many other global accolades including The Order of Distinction of Jamaica. We listen to the opening track from the album 96 Degrees in the Shade called “Jah Glory”. We talk about the epic intro, the distinctive orchestration and the unique feeling that each instrument gives you throughout the song.

Rest in Power, Stephen “Cat” Coore, and thank you for the amazing music.

“Jah Glory” is available on all major streaming platforms and Youtube.

Podcast Merch

We kick off our first episode of 2026 with one of our favorite artists, Hollie Cook. We listen to the song “Frontline” from her latest album, Shy Girl. Topics include the song’s unique phrasing, its flawless harmonies, and so much more. We also get into some other songs on the album and discuss how the overall vibe of this album varies from her previous ones, but still remains true to Hollie Cook’s sound.

"Frontline" is available on all major streaming platforms and Youtube.

Hollie Cook - Shy Girl

Podcast Merch

This week James is joined by Dave Shiffman, filling in for Mark. For our last episode of 2025, we pay tribute to a reggae legend who passed recently, Jimmy Cliff. We listen to the song “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” from the 1969 album of the same name. We talk about how we found Jimmy Cliff’s music, his unique orchestrations, and the legacy that he left to the world. Jimmy Cliff helped open doors for reggae music, spreading it across the globe, and he will be missed. Rest in Power Jimmy Cliff!

A Conversation in Dub will return in 2026 with new episodes! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to our listeners and as always, keep dubbing!

"Wonderful World, Beautiful People" is available on all major streaming platforms and Youtube.

Podcast Merch

This week we listen to “Blind Boy” by 80s reggae powerhouses, Musical Youth. The group was made up of children ages 11-15, all with talent beyond their years. This is the fourth track on their 1982 album, The Youth of Today. We chose one of the less widely-known tunes from the album instead of the beloved hit, "Pass the Dutchie", to show the incredible range and talent that these kids had. Give the whole album a listen, you will not be disappointed!

"Blind Boy" is available on all major streaming platforms and Youtube.

Podcast Merch

This week we are joined by Derek Waldmann a.k.a. Man of the Forests. We talk about how he has shaken up the reggae scene as one of the few violin players. He’s played with a wide variety of artists including Alific, Vana Liya, KBong, and so many others. Mia Jativa also joins our conversation to discuss their co-produced release, “Ghost Train” featuring an all star lineup including 7 dubs! Be sure to catch them on the road!

"Ghost Train" can be found on all major streaming platforms and Youtube.

https://www.manoftheforests.com/

https://jahtiva.com/

Podcast Merch

This week we talk to Art, Mike and Dylan from New Jersey based band Sensamotion. Their latest full length album, Feel It All Around, just dropped this past August. In addition to talking about the creative process behind the new album, we get into the band’s formation, lineup changes, and some of their future plans.

Be sure to catch Sensamotion out on the road and follow them on social media for more updates!

Sensamotion Tour Dates

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This week we’re listening to lovers rock music from The Netherlands, from artist JOJO Gladstone. We listen to the track “Glad That I Found you” from the 2017 album, JOJO. We talk about the very clear Roots Radics influences he pulls from, and JOJO and his band’s dedication to replicating the sound of a certain era of Jamaica. We hope you enjoy this tune and check out all of JoJo Gladstone’s music, there is a lot more on Youtube.

You can listen to "Glad The I Found You" on streaming platforms and youtube.

Podcast Merch