Ian “Beezy” Coleman Set to Release First EP, 'Ultimate Love'

A glance at Ian “Beezy” Coleman’s resume shows the veteran guitarist has worked with top artists in roots-reggae, from Burning Spear to Ziggy and Stephen Marley. For his first EP, however, he steps outside of his comfort zone.

Ultimate Love is the title of that project which is scheduled for release this summer. The title song was released in early March and not only hears him singing, but shows his pop influences.

Although reggae is his first love, Coleman’s influences are diverse. He admires Michael Jackson, and is a fan of neo-soul artists such as Pharrel and Bruno Mars.

“Ultimate Love is a pop song, and yes, I would say the EP will reflect the same,” said Coleman. “It has more of an international vibe.”

He started working on the six-song EP prior to Covid-19’s emergence in 2020. Once uncertainty around the pandemic eased, Coleman resumed recording with top musicians including drummer Wilburn “Squiddly” Cole and keyboardist Llamar “Riff Raff” Brown, his colleagues in Stephen Marley’s band.

The dreadlocked Coleman is a stalwart musician who made his name playing on the hotel scene in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. During the early 1990s, he came to the attention of Rita Marley who hired the band he was in to tour with her group, The I Three.

Since then, Coleman has toured with, and played on Grammy-winning albums by Burning Spear and the Marley brothers, as well hit songs such as She’s Still Loving Me by Morgan Heritage.