Cedric 'Im Brooks
b. 1943, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. At the age of 11 Brooks became a pupil at the Alpha Catholic School for Boys, where he learned clarinet and music theory, and in his late teens studied tenor saxophone and flute. In the early '60s he was a member of several groups including the Vagabonds and Granville Williams Band. He teamed up with trumpeter David Madden during 1968 for an excellent series of instrumentals for Coxsone Dodd, released under the name Im And David. Some of the best of these singles such as Candid Eye, Black Is Black and Soul Brother were included on the various artists album MONEY MAKER. Brooks also played on many sessions for Dodd, and had several solo singles released in the early '70s. 
In 1970 Brooks commenced his association with Count Ossie, the first fruits of which were So Long Rastafari Calling and Give Me Back Me Language And Me Culture, released under the name Im And Count Ossie. Shortly after this, the two formed the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, which combined the forces of Count Ossie's hand-drummers with a brass section arranged by Brooks. Together they recorded the ground breaking GROUNATION album. In 1974 Brooks left Count Ossie to form the Light Of Saba, taking some members of the Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari with him. The Light Of Saba retained the brass and Rasta drums that had characterized the previous group, added guitars, and incorporated a more pronounced reggae element. Around 1974, after recording a single for Randys, Demauungwani, they recorded their first album for the Institute Of Jamaica, FROM MENTO TO REGGAE TO THIRD WORLD MUSIC, under the name Cedric And The Divine Light. It gives a potted history of the development of Jamaican music, and includes beautifully performed pieces in the mento, junkunoo, ska, rocksteady and reggae styles, plus one forward looking Pan-Caribbean piece. Their superb THE LIGHT OF SABA included reworkings of Peanut Vendor and Horace Silver's Song To My Father, but consisted mostly of original Rastafarian songs and instrumentals. THE LIGHT OF SABA IN REGGAE was an even stronger collection of original material. Shortly after this, Brooks left, although the Light Of Saba continued for one further album, the mediocre SABEBE. 
In 1977 Studio One issued a brilliant solo album by Brooks, IM FLASH FORWARD. This material may have been recorded in the early '70s, as it uses rhythm tracks from that period, but it is more likely that it was recorded shortly before its release. Whatever, Brooks's tenor playing on the album is beautifully restrained, and has a meditative quality that evokes a sublime, spiritual atmosphere. It has become firmly established as one of the greatest Jamaican instrumental albums. In 1978 Brooks assembled a large ensemble featuring a host of percussionists and horn players for UNITED AFRICA, an album which not only utilized Jamaican musical forms such as reggae and nyahbinghi, but also incorporated African and Caribbean forms. It was a highly successful enterprise, but sadly, has never been followed up. Since then, Brooks has recorded widely as a session musician, but his only solo recordings have been some singles for Studio One. His thorough understanding of Jamaica's musical heritage, and the innovative and organic way in which he has built on that foundation to extend its scope ensures the longevity of his music. It seems inconceivable that others will not continue with the work that he has started.