Sonoma County’s Groundation is not your average American roots reggae band; with improvised jazz and dub influences, the band brings back the soul that reggae was inspired by and exerts that on stage and on record. The band consists of Harrison Stafford on vocals and guitar, Marcus Urani on keyboards, ‘Iron’ Ryan Newman on bass, David “Diesel” Chachere on trumpet, Kelsey Howard on trombone, Te Kanawa Haereiti aka Rufus on drums, Mingo Lewis Jr on congas, timbales, and percussion, and Kim Pommell and Stephanie Wallace on chorus. Earlier this month the band released its sixth full-length studio album, and eighth album over all, Here I Am. Here I Am features performances by Reggae legends The Congos and Pablo Moses which gives a special spark to the already talented and impressive root reggae act.
Percussionist Mingo Lewis Jr. was kind enough to answer another Outside Lands Special Kuestionnaire and give us an interesting collaboration wish…
Groundation will be performing at Outside Lands Festival on Saturday at the Presidio stage in Lindley Meadow from 2:20 PM – 3:05 PM.
1. Could you state your name and what you do in the band?
Mingo Lewis jr. I am the percussionist.
2. How would you describe your sound?
The band is reggae jazz and my sound is Afro cuban percussion mixing in reggae percussion.
3. What is your favorite local band?
Vinyl
4. Any concerts that blew your mind recently?
Ozomatli ripped up in Germany
5. If your music was to be the theme of a film/TV show, what would it be?
Planet earth
6. What musician/artist would you like to collaborate with for a day?
Sting
7. What is the album you listen to on a cold rainy day?
Jill Scott, Live in Paris
8. List four songs you would listen to on a roadtrip?
Bob Marley- concrete jungle. Doobie Powell- Alright. Irakere- Aguanile. Tower of Power-Soul Vaccination.
9. Where do you see yourselves in 7 years?
Everywhere!!!! Playin music
10. What is the last book you read?
How to golf by ben hogan
11. Is image a factor in music or is it a waste of time?
waste of time
12. Any favorite tour locations?
paris, hawaii, and Switzerland …
13. Lastly, what is your present state of mind?
Good vibes
.
Groundation – 
Everyone Could Lose from Here I Am (2009)
Vinyl – Morse Code from Live At Sweetwater (1997)