Ten years ago, when Norris Man began work on an album for Tad’s International Record, he assembled leading musicians to recapture a sound from an era close to his heart.

Free Man is the title of that set produced by Tad Dawkins Jr.

“It’s a roots album, something yuh would hear like back in di 90s. Wi bringing back dat vibration… Sly an’ Robbie at work, nuthin nuh greater than dat,” said Norris Man in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

From Trench Town, Norris Man was raised on the roots-reggae sounds made famous in that community by acts like The Wailers and The Abyssinians. He came of age musically during the 1990s, a decade when that genre made a comeback through artistes such as Garnet Silk and Tony Rebel.

In addition to the Riddim Twins, a number of stalwart musicians played on Free Man. They include keyboardists Robbie Lyn and Franklyn “Bubbler” Waul, guitarists Winston “Bo Pee” Bowen and Dwight Pinkney, bassists Flabba Holt and Lloyd Parks, saxophonist Dean Fraser, and trombonist Nambo Robinson.

Another critical member of the production team was veteran engineer Steven Stanley, whose lofty credits include classic Sly and Robbie-produced albums by Black Uhuru and Grace Jones.“Him is di only pioneer wha’ lef’ with dat kinda experience,” said Norris Man.

Free Man is the follow-up to Life, his 12-song album which was released last November.

Best known for songs like Persistence and Home & Away, Norris Man is scheduled to make his Reggae Sumfest debut on the festival’s International Night on July 20 at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, St James.