Fertile Ground

Fertile Ground is an American soul jazz band led by James H. Collins Jr. The group was founded in Baltimore, Maryland and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. James Collins founded Fertile Ground in 1998 as a three-piece band with vocalist Navasha Daya and Drummer Marcus Asante. The band represented soulful song writing over world rhythms. By 1999, the band added percussionist Ekendra Das, veteran trumpet player Freddie Dunn and woodwind virtuoso Craig D. Alston. Collins created the record label Blackout Studios and the band self-released Field Songs (1998) and Spiritual War (1999). In 2000, label owner Jake Behnan of Counterpoint Records became enthused about the band and licensed the band's first two albums for a compilation entitled Perception. The Japanese label P-Vine Records agreed to release the band's music throughout Asia. By 2002, the band had sold 85,000 copies of their first two albums. Poised to release their third album, Seasons Change, they switched drummers adding Howard University alum Mark Prince. Still in his 20s, Prince had extensive touring experience.

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