- Jazz Jamaica
Infobox musical artist |
Name = Jazz Jamaica
Img_capt = Performing at theSummer Sundae festival, 2007
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin =London ,United Kingdom
Instrument =
Genre =Ska jazz ,Reggae
Occupation =
Years_active =1991 – present
Label = Hannibal Dune
Associated_acts =Soweto Kinch ,Rico Rodriguez ,Andy Sheppard , Jazz Warriors
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =Jazz Jamaica is a jazz/reggae music group formed by musician Gary Crosby in London.
History
In
1991 , inspired by the rhythms of traditional Jamaican music and the largely improvisational nature ofjazz , original Jazz Warrior, jazz double bassist, and nephew of veteranJamaica n guitaristErnest Ranglin ,cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/world_music/s/201/201173_garys_jazz_journey.html |title=Gary's jazz journey |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author=Paul Taylor |year=2006 |month=January |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=M.E.N. Media |quote= ] Gary Crosby conceived a fusion ofmento ,ska ,reggae andjazz styles in playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs. To achieve this, he gathered together a group ofmusicians drawn from the jazz and reggae circuits, to form Jazz Jamaica.Since its realisation, Crosby developed the Jazz Jamaica concept by introducing more young jazz musicians, so increasing the size of the pool of 'Jazz Jamaicans', and enabling him to extend the boundaries of the music played. Crosby and his musicians are exponents of this musical fusion known as
skazz , which has earned global appreciation.In March 1999, Crosby expanded the core lineup of Jazz Jamaica to formal big band status by adding a number of guest soloists including Denys Baptiste,
Andy Sheppard ,Soweto Kinch ,Juliet Roberts , Orphy Robinson, Guy Barker, Kevin Robinson, Ashley Slater,Annie Whitehead , and Alex Wilson, resulting in the Jazz Jamaica All Stars, a 20-piece band featuring featuring vocals, five saxophones, four trumpets, and four trombones with a rhythm section of double bass, piano, drums, guitar and percussion.cite web |url=http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_740/biography_id_740 |title=Biography of Jazz Jamaica All Stars |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author=Alyn Shipton |year= |month= |work=The Times |publisher= |quote= ]In 2002, Jazz Jamaica won the best band award at the
BBC Jazz Awards.cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2164444.stm |title=Stars unite for jazz awards |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author= |year=2002 |month=July |work= |publisher=BBC |quote= ]In 2004, Jazz Jamaica collaborated with
Hugh Masakela , and a choir of young people for a performance at theBarbican Centre as part of theCity of London Festival markingSouth Africa ’s 10th anniversary of democracy.cite web |url=http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/casestudies/04hugh_masekela.html |title=CASE STUDIES: Hugh Masekela, Jazz Jamaica All Stars and Serious |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author= |year=2007 |month= |work=visitingarts.org.uk |publisher= |quote= ]In 2005, they released "Motorcity Roots", an album of reworked
Motown songs, and toured the UK and Europe in support.cite web |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1584942,00.html |title=Jazz Jamaica - Jazz Cafe, London |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author=John Fordham |year=2005 |month=October |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |quote= ] cite web |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1474782,00.html |title=Jazz Jamaica - Cheltenham Jazz Festival |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author=John Fordham |year=2005 |month=May |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |quote= ]Jazz Jamaica were described by
The Independent as "of the UK's leading "good-time" bands".cite web |url=http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article2857015.ece |title=Jazz Jamaica: Lighten Up!, Bristol Zoo Gardens |accessdaymonth=11 January |accessyear=2008 |author=Phil Johnson |year=2007 |month=August |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent News and Media Limited |quote= ]Albums
*"
Skaravan " (1993) Skazz, reissued (1996) Hannibal
*"Double Barrel" (2002) Hannibal
*"Massive" (2004) Dune
*"Motorcity Roots" (2005) DuneReferences
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.