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A l'occasion de la sortie de leur nouvel album, le groupe mythique revient en Europe en été 2012.
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Avec plus de 300 concerts à travers le monde, le Jamaica All Stars s'est imposé au fil des années comme LA référence en matière de musique jamaïcaine.
Du Calypso au Reggae, en passant par le Ska ou le Rock steady, les Papy Rastas transmettent avec fierté la diversité et la richesse de la musique de leur ile. Emmené par Winston « Sparrow » Martin, « Skully » Simms, Arthur « Bunny » Robinson et Vin Gordon, figures légendaires, le groupe déroule un set énergique et festif qui transporte le public au cœur des caraïbes. 40 ans de musique se résument avec le témoignage de Sparrow, Skully, Bunny et Vin... Le premier est le directeur musical de la fameuse Alpha Boy's school. Un orphelinat qui fut le berceau de musiciens mythiques dont Feu Johnny "Dizzy" Moore. (fondateur des skatalites et ancien membre du Jamaica All Stars) Ajoutons qu'il fut l'un des premiers batteur de Marley… Le second fut tout simplement le premier artiste a enregistrer en Jamaïque en 1953. Le duo mythique qu’il formait avec Robinson, « Bunny and Scully », fut un des pionniers du rythm and blues jamaïcain. Chanteur, percussionniste et danseur, l’expérience de Scully impose le respect. Présent sur plus de 200 albums, aux coté de the upsetters, the Heptones, Peter Tosh, Big Youth ou encore Jimmy Cliff, il reste aujourd’hui une légende vivante ! Quand à Vin Gordon, c'est le tromboniste le plus prolifique de l’ile. Il est le compositeur de célèbres riddims (« real rock », « warrior charge », musical bones »…) repris à travers le monde par des centaines d‘artistes. Après avoir collaboré avec Bob Marley pendant 13 ans, il a joué et composé pour les plus grands (Burning Spear, Aswad, Max Roméo, Culture…) Entouré du Homegrown Band, les plus dignes représentants de Jamaïque sont prêts à diffuser leurs bonnes vibes partout en Europe CONTACT BOOKING : Pierre, psimo@club-internet.fr Tel : 01 47 84 30 17 Jamaica All Stars for the last 10years, the Jamaica All Stars have been building an ever-growing faithful fan base in Europe. Not a mean feat for a such a recent band, by all accounts : still, it has to be said they have some trump cards up their sleeves ! But before revealing their secret formula, the time is right for a little history. This musical adventure took shape in the mind of French director Pierre Marc Simonin, as a logical development to his Portraits of Jamaican Music documentary, which he shot in Jamaica in the second half of the 1990’s. As he had struck lasting friendships with some of his main interviewees ñ all of them being major actors and pioneers of their island ës musical scene ñ it became all too clear for him that these people had never really reaped what they had sowed, and even less so on an international level, despite the fact that some of them had remained cult acts through the years in a few places (mainly the UK, USA and Japan). Packing up his filming gear and moving on was simply too abrupt an end in the Frenchmanís eyes, who had then been inoculated with the Jamaican music virus : the story couldnít be over. Thus, its next stage would be to pay a lasting tribute to Jamaican music history and some of its veterans. What better way of doing so than by offering them an opportunity to reach places where their names didnít mean much ? 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 a 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 Boy School who also worked as a drummer in many major bands, playing ska, jazz and more. Lately the great Bunny Eobinson from the first recording artists in jamaica Bunny & Scully duet, joined the inner circle. Such pillars could only be an asset to a band whose aim was at once to bring back the foundation music of Jamaica to the fore and give an opportunity to a younger generation of musicians who too often get a raw deal in today's scene ñ to carry this tradition further and shine in their own right. Consequently, new doors have opened for their authentic sounds : the Jamaican All Stars, whose line-up involves young and older artists, are now reaching beyond the generation gap thanks a musical formula which has proved very successful with eclectic audiences. From kids to senior citizens, from the long-time aficionado to the new convert, almost everyone is bound to fall under the charm of their live performances. |
