One of the greatest male jazz singers, Cleveland Watkiss, will be celebrating Jamaica’s long history of pioneering musical sounds.
Cleveland and his band will bring to life some of the greatest songs written by Jamaican legends from mento, ska and reggae to dub and roots. Born in Hackney, London, Cleveland’s parents were from Jamaica and it was Jamaican music that inspired him during his teens.
“I grew up listening to great Jamaican music at home. Artists like Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, The Wailers, Burning Spear, Delroy Wilson and Gregory Isaacs were a big influence on me as a vocalist. For this tour I wanted to go back to the music I grew up with, have some fun and pay homage to the rich musical heritage of Jamaica and the long line of artists to come out of Jamaican music.”
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 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.
‘An icon of UK jazz’