THE United States Virgin Islands has been a quiet source of quality reggae for almost 20 years. Singer Jahman from St Thomas is one of the acts who has helped keep that region’s roots banner flying.

A Purpose, the roots artiste’s latest album, was released October 6 by VPAL Music. On its lead single, West Indies (Far From The Norm), he collaborates with Junior Reid and Sizzla.

For One Time, another of the album’s tracks, he shares the mic with Pressure, his compatriot.

“When it come on to artiste like Junior Reid and Sizzla, dem is artiste I admire from when I was young. In Pressure case, he is from where I’m from, the Virgin Islands, and I came out before him,” said Jahman.

A Purpose comes five years after Altitude, his previous album which was produced by Jamaican JonFX. That set made the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, peaking at number seven.

JonFX is one of the producers on A Purpose. Delroy “Phatta” Pottinger, Christopher Meredith, Massi Harris, Eric Tavin, and Dean Pond also worked on the set.

Sly and Robbie, drummer Kirk Bennett, saxophonist Dean Fraser, and guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin are some of the musicians who played on the album.

As a youth in St Thomas, Jahman admired the music of Bob Marley, Steel Pulse and Third World. He also considers Reid and Sizzla major influences.

The USVI has produced several talented reggae acts including Pressure, best known for the 2007 lovers’ rock anthem, Love And Affection.

Midnite, a band led by the late Vaughn Benjamin (aka Akae Beka), and the I-Grade Records label have also helped put reggae from those islands on the proverbial map.