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Time for Change embraces Eastern Standard Time's signature blend of bop jazz and Jamaican rhythms and blends this with with soul, rocksteady, and reggae.

The album's title track, "Time for Change," is a driving reggae song calling for a new era of justice. The band then gives Lee Morgan's hard bop classic "Totem Pole" their own flavor. Energetic ska follows in the form of "Lovely in Mad," followed by the sweet rocksteady sound of "Hayati." Time for Change's first side closes with the dark but driving ska tune "Left for Dead." Side two opens with the band's take on the Sam Cooke soul classic "A Change is Gonna Come," followed by a rocksteady re-working of the modern R&B hit "Pretty Wings." The album then slips its otherwise 1960s sound on "Sugar Shack," a dubby upbeat number more akin to later eras of Jamaican music. The sixties return in full force as the band winds up Time for Change with a ska rendition of the soul classic "Thing of the Past" and closes out with their take on Alton Ellis' "Rock Steady," both long-beloved staples of the band's live shows but unavailable as studio recordings until now.

Time for Change aptly demonstrates the breadth of Eastern Standard Time's repertoire, an appropriate mix from a group renowned for drawing diverse influences into their sound. Whether in a smoky jazz club or on a festival stage they are always a dynamic live performance. That signature flexibility has led to them being chosen to back many greats in Jamaican-oriented music, including Derrick Morgan, Roy Ellis, Dr. Ring Ding, King Django, and Mr. T-Bone. Eastern Standard Time also supported Jamaican music legend Derrick Morgan on his 60th anniversary live album.

Put together top musicians from Washington, DC’s Jazz and Reggae scenes, give them the recipe for the original Jamaican Ska, throw a heavy dose of vintage Soul in the mix, shake well, and the result is Eastern Standard Time.

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