Inna De Yard means “in the courtyard” in Jamaican slang. Since the early 2000s, the expression has also become a quality label that is to reggae what an organic certification is to fruits and vegetables. Every recording from this series, initiated by French producers, is made outdoors, behind a house in Kingston. The musicians accompany legendary singers and perform live in front of a limited audience, during concerts that are both convivial and sincere. This time, it’s Ken Boothe who revisits a few stages from his impressive career which, from ska to reggae roots to rocksteady, left a deep mark on Jamaican music history. From his cover of the theme from The Godfather penned by Nino Rota, Speak Softly Love, to his first hit under his name, Artibella, to his very successful adaptation of the Supremes’ classic You Keep Me Hanging On, Ken Boothe proves his voice hasn’t lost any of his seductive power. Accompanied by the project’s usual hot shots, among whom the French Fixi on accordion and a first-class chorus gathering notably Kiddus I and Cedric Myton, the crooner grooves, teases but also proves his adhesion to the Rasta belief through his tracks Black Gold And Green and Rastaman Chant, in which resonate the Nyabinghi ritual percussion. It’s a great occasion to discover—or rediscover at its fullest potential—a reggae legend. © BM/Qobuz