ska-jazz

The Skamonics are a London based jazz meets ska collective, playing a unique mix of authentic 60s ska, jazz, two-tone and completely unexpected covers. The band have been together since 2007 and have performed at London clubs, pubs and festivals - as well as many function gigs. A driving ska rhythm section provides a firm foundation for blazing horns and a female vocalist, blasting out a wide repertoire of ska favourites and tunes given a ska treatment for the very first time.

Read more about Skamonics on Last.fm.

In 1991, inspired by the rhythms of traditional Jamaican music and the largely improvisational nature of jazz, original Jazz Warrior, and veteran jazz double bassist, Gary Crosby turned a musical concept in to a joyful reality. Crosby's concept was to create a quintessential fusion of mento, ska, reggae and jazz playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs. To achieve this, he gathered together a group of musicians drawn from the jazz and reggae circuits, each of whom is a distinguished musician in his own right. The result was Jazz Jamaica.

Thirty five years ago, Lee Thompson introduced an entire generation to Ska music when Madness exploded from nowhere. Now, along with founder-member Mark Bedford, the two are moonlighting to introduce those authentic Ska and Reggae rhythms that burst out of Jamaica in the mid to late 1960’s to a whole new audience. Their debut album The Benevolence of Sister Mary Ignatius was Recorded at The Ironworks Studio in Brighton and co-produced by Mike Pelanconi aka Prince Fatty (A Tribe Called Quest, Kula Shaker, Graham Coxon).

Read more about The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra on Last.fm.