Cleveland Watkiss, Orphy Robinson, Byron Wallen, Ray Carless, Carly Robinson at Howard Assembly Room

It is well known that Jamaica has a long history of pioneering musical sounds - from Mento, Ska, Reggae, Dub, Roots, Hiphop, Jungle/DnB, and way beyond with many of its internationally celebrated musicians spawning from that great musical institution (The Alpha Boys School) under the tutelage of (The Nun) Sister Mary Ignatius Davis. Record labels and producers like Studio One, Coxsone Dodd, TuffGong, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, and King Tubby were all highly Influential in the development of Jamaican Music along with musicians, singers and performers like Don Drummond, Ernest Ranglin, Barratt Brothers, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Alton Elis, Ken Booth, The Wailers, Millie Small, Marcia Griffith, Dawn Penn, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Burnin Spear, Jonny Osbourne and many many others. ...

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It is well known that Jamaica has a long history of pioneering musical sounds - from Mento, Ska, Reggae, Dub, Roots, Hiphop, Jungle/DnB, and way beyond with many of its internationally celebrated musicians spawning from that great musical institution (The Alpha Boys School) under the tutelage of (The Nun) Sister Mary Ignatius Davis. Record labels and producers like Studio One, Coxsone Dodd, TuffGong, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, and King Tubby were all highly Influential in the development of Jamaican Music along with musicians, singers and performers like Don Drummond, Ernest Ranglin, Barratt Brothers, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Alton Elis, Ken Booth, The Wailers, Millie Small, Marcia Griffith, Dawn Penn, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Burnin Spear, Jonny Osbourne and many many others.

In his Great Jamaican Songbook, Watkiss brings songs to audiences that tell poignant stories about the times and the culture, with that deep and infectious original laid back drum and bass rhythm.

Included in the set are
If I don’t have you - Gregory Isaacs
Smiling Face - Dennis Brown
Curly Locks - Junior Byles
Declaration of Rights - Johnny Clarke
Humanity - Prince Lincoln
Red Green & Gold - Burning Spear

‘A hard-hitting performance that tapped deep into roots Reggae’

‘From the bone-shaking power of Fatman Sound System to the sweet-toned vocals of 1970s reggae greats such as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Delroy Wilson, reggae is an integral part of Watkiss’ musical DNA, and the Songbook pays fulsome homage both to the music’s golden period and to his own Jamaican roots.’

‘An icon of UK jazz’

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