Veteran Jamaican instrumentalist, Dwight Pinkney, with his unique guitar styling, superbly picks 12 of Bob Marley's greatest classics, to which he adds one of his own compositions in crafting a 13-track set entitled, Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies.

With the release of this his fifth album, the recent recipient of the International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA) of Honour for contribution the development of Jamaican music, reaches for more distinction in becoming the latest performer sampling the works of the reggae icon.

"The motivation for doing this project, is the pleasure of seeing somebody who we have worked with in their formative years, blossom into a major world icon musically," Dwight Pinkney, who has worked with the Wailers on recording sessions at Studio One during the early years, told the Observer.

"Just paying a tribute really for that experience and being as true to the original presentations of that great artiste as possible, in terms of the feel of the songs. A lot of people don't realise that music is more than just putting notes and sounds together, but I try to recapture the essence of not just the words and the chords, but the overall feel of the songs" explained Pinkney, who released the album on his own Abeng International Records label. VP Records is responsible for the overseas marketing of this product.

In picking the melodies of Marley, Dwight Pinkney opted for such timeless favourites as One Love, Jammin, Three Little Birds, Nice Time, Let Him Go, Put It On, Simmer Down, Screwface, Trench Town Rock, No Woman No Cry, Waiting In Vain and Redemption Song, plus Bingy Reggae, Pinkney's own creation and should not be confused with Kinky Reggae.

"Bingy Reggae is a personal composition which to me reflects the essence of the same feel, I was telling you about. That is such an important element in the music of Bob Marley, the feel. So Bingy Reggae is a personal tribute to Bob. That's the only song composed on the album, the rest are Bob Marley's, and one, Bunny Wailer," Dwight Pinkney said.

And, endorsing the project, one of his distinguished musical peers, Asley "Grub" Cooper, stated in the linear notes. "With the launch of this new CD Pinkney Picks Marley Melodies, Dwight Pinkney, has now achieved another milestone in his career as a premier Jamaican solo guitarist,"

On Put It On, a collaboration with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer Pinkney's musical artistry shines like never before on this collection and if anyone should know, it's Grub Cooper.

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