Cleveland Watkiss - The Great Jamaican Songbook Vol. 1

Cat. no: CDUB1
Format: CD
Barcode: 8904383007323
Release Date: 25 Mar 2022
Genre: Reggae

'The Great Jamaican Songbook' is a new project by multidisciplinary artist Cleveland Watkiss

A truly inspirational figure in UK music and winner of the 2021 Ivors Composer Award For Innovation, Watkiss' impact and legacy is felt strongly across an extremely broad spectrum of musical genres. Now he returns with a project that is close to his heart - a roots- reggae orientated showcase, interpreted and presented in a way in which only an artist with such extensive musical knowledge and experience could ever create.

'The Great Jamaican Songbook Vol. 1' guides listeners through the origins and development of Jamaican music and culture, in a poignant tale of the life and times of many of the island's most inspirational figures. Recorded at Zak Starkey's studio, it features iconic songs from the greats such as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Burning Spear, but also shines a light on hidden gems from labels such as Studio One, Coxsone Dodd and Tuff Gong, producers like King Tubby and Lee 'Scratch' Perry, and singers such as Delroy Wilson and Prince Lincoln.

The band that Watkiss has recruited are a who's who of celebrated UK jazz, pop, reggae and funk musicians, each with their own strong reputation both within these scenes and way beyond. Names such as multi- instrumentalist Orphy Robinson MBE, revered trumpeter Byron Wallen and Jamaican saxophonist Ray Carless.

In jazz, Cleveland is known as the co- founder of the hugely influential Jazz Warriors big band, as well as his work with the pianist and composer Julian Joseph and as a much- respected solo artist. As a drum and bass vocalist and MC, Watkiss became the voice of Goldie's legendary Metalheadz label nights at The Blue Note, a relationship that would lead to residencies and mic duties at some of the world's biggest and best dance music events and recording with the likes of DJ Marky, Bryan Gee, and Grooverider.

Press:
Echoes - cover feature by Kevin Le Gendre (Mar 22 issue) + news & gig guide listing (Feb 22 issue)
Jazzwise - Take Five feature, news piece, review & gig guide listing confirmed 
The Soul Survivors - cover feature (special Jamaican Independence issue (Aug/ Sep 22), album review & full-page ad (April/May 2022)
MOJO - album review by David Katz (May 22 issue)

Tracks: If I Don’t Have You / Curly Locks / Joy In The Morning / What Is Man / Cool Operator / Babylon Too Rough / Only A Smile / Humanity / Night Nurse / Red, Gold & Green

More From This Artist: Cleveland Watkiss