Darker Than Blue (A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield) by Devon Russell is a limited edition LP originally released in the early 1990s. The album was released in 1993 as a collaboration between Devon Russell and guitarist/producer Earl Chinna Smith. On this record, Curtis Mayfield's soulful legacy is uniquely translated into the reggae genre, combining Russell's characteristic vocals with warm, rootsy arrangements full of horns and a deep rhythmic approach typical of reggae.
The album transcends the simple concept of a cover record by respecting the socially conscious message of Mayfield's original work while allowing it to resonate within a new musical landscape. With his voice, Devon Russell brings an honesty and warmth that honors the original, yet adds a feeling entirely of his own. This results in a soul-reggae classic that makes the timeless character of Mayfield's music tangible to a new audience and blurs the boundaries between soul and reggae.
