Loading details…
Artist
Jamaica All Stars
12+ albums
reggaeskajamaicarocksteadyall stars
about
Godfathers of Jamaican roots A skilfully blended supergroup of the grand masters of Jamaican styles, including the original Skatalites trumpetist Johnny Moore, the legendary singer and drummer Noel "Scully" Simms, and Sparrow Martin, formerly the musical director of Kingston's Alpha Boy School, a breeding point for several generation of ska and reggae artists. The youthful Jamaican grandfathers raise a hurricane of Caribbean styles: calypso, ska, rocksteady, reggae are delivered with 140 proof authenticity. The project was set up by the French film-maker Pierre Marca Simonin, while making documentary Portraits of Jamaican Music. For five years he travelled United States, Jamaica and Europe. While Bob Marley was at the centre of his research in the beginning, he rapidly discovered that the world of reggae was much richer than he expected. Soon, a line-up of talented young musicians (most of them tutored in the famous Alpha Boys School of Kingston) joined a core of selected veterans such as trumpeter Johnny Moore (founding member of the legendary Skatalites), Justin Hinds (who sadly passed away March 2005, one of the greatest Jamaican singers, and Bob Marley' s favourite vocalist), Noel Scully Simms (one of the earliest of Jamaican singing stars, and an internationally acclaimed percussionist), not to forget the essential Sparrow Martin, head music director at Alpha School who also worked as a drummer in many major bands, playing ska, jazz and more. From kids to senior citi
