Jazz Jamaica

Part of the EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2024

Lively Up! A night of Jazz and Reggae with the big vibes and rhythms that have shaped the island’s unique musical and cultural identity.

Jazz Jamaica

Main stage and festival favourites Jazz Jamaica will be delving into the vaults for some classic reggae from Bob Marley, Ken Boothe, Bob & Marcia and the Studio One catalogue, as well as serving up the boss tunes and ska classics that bring the trademark bounce to every Jazz Jamaica performance.

Feature Performers

Widely regarded as one of the best UK soul voices around, Noel McKoy joins the All Stars for this big independence party. Noel has performed with Nu Colours, the Pasadenas, James Taylor Quartet, Snowboy, Sounds of Blackness, Omar, Linton ‘Kwesi’ Johnson and currently appears across the UK with the British Soul Collective. However, reggae has always been a huge part of his musical heritage, citing Dennis Brown as a major influence and Noel’s first band, The Albians, released four singles on the Studio 16 reggae label.

History and Leadership

Formed in 1991 by Gary Crosby OBE – bassist, band leader and nephew of Jamaica’s legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin – the mighty Jazz Jamaica have rightly earned their reputation as “one of the UK’s leading good-time bands” (The Independent) from their many exuberant live performances and dynamic album releases over the past three decades.

Unique Musical Fusion

Crosby’s concept was to create a quintessential fusion of mento, ska, reggae and jazz, playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs, and it is his leadership and drive that continues to ensure the evolution of Jazz Jamaica. The band has grown in members and repertoire, filling concert halls and delighting audiences across the country with tours of Catch A Fire, a celebration of the music of Bob Marley, and The Trojan Story that featured many of the best-loved tunes from the seminal Trojan Records label.

Critical Acclaim

“Jazz Jamaica…Well known for blowing the roof off live shows. A joyful, cosmopolitan tribute.” Jazzwise

“Jazz Jamaica should be permanent ambassadors to the United Nations of Good Times.” Cheltenham International Jazz Festival