Jazz Jamaica
The Jamaican Beat - Blue Note Blue Beat Vol.1 & 2

Crosby took his band to a new level with the recording of this second album, released in Japan in September 1994 by Toshiba-EMI. With this album, Crosby makes a clear statement as to how he plans to develop the JAZZ JAMAICA concept. It features special guests Courtney Pine on soprano sax; Brian Edwards on alto; the versatile vocalist, Cleveland Watkiss; and provides a welcome introduction to the talented young jazz vocalist, Julie Dexter (winner of the very first Perrier Young Jazz Award for Best Vocalist 1998). Overall, the album leans more heavily towards the jazz idiom than its predecessor, with tracks such as Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island and Watermelon Man, Wayne Shorter's Witch Hunt, Paul Desmond's Take Five and Dizzy Gillespie's A Night In Tunisia. However, in terms of style, it remains faithful to the original Jazz Jamaica concept.

CD: Toschiba TOCP-8384 /JA
1994
This follow-up album released by Toshiba-EMI, Japan in September 1995. Once again, Crosby pushed his concept still further, introducing more young jazz musicians drawn from the Jazz Warriors and his own straight ahead jazz ensemble, Gary Crosby's Nu Troop. The result is a brilliant line-up which extends the pool of musicians making up Jazz Jamaica. Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off, except that this album features even more heavyweight jazz standards. The new line-up has produced brilliant versions of Joe Zawinul's Birdland, Miles Davis' So What, Thelonious Monk's Well You Needn't, and Benny Golson's Five Spot After Dark played with true Caribbean style and swing as only Jazz Jamaica know how. Cleveland Watkiss and Julie Dexter return as feature vocalists, along with Carroll Thompson, recording with Jazz Jamaica for the first time. Crosby's efforts to extend the boundaries come true with Volume 2.
Last updated: 3. Juni 2002
compiled by Mr. Braunov
 
 
 
 
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