ISLAND HEAD reggae band New music out now!
"Punky Reggae Party" Voted One of the Best 25 Reggae Albums of 2013
Jammin’ Reggae Archives has reviewed the album “Punky Reggae Party”.
What’s wrong with a band that releases an album comprised of six instrumental versions of Bob Marley songs and one original? Nothing, as far as I can see and hear. (Click the link to continue reading) http://www.niceup.com/reviews/reviews.html
Legendary Jamaican reggae radio personality Dermot Hussey helped break many legends in the reggae world. You can find video footage of him on youtube interviewing Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Mr. Hussey also eulogized Peter Tosh at his funeral in Jamaica. Island Head reggae band are privileged to have Dermot supporting us and playing our music on his program.
You can hear his broadcast on SiriusXM satellite radio channel 42, The Joint weekdays from 3 PM to 9 PM. If you are an early-bird, you can also hear Island Head on program director Pat McKay’s show from 9 AM – 3 PM weekdays.
Dermot Hussey also has a show on WWW.NEWSTALK.COM.JM in Jamaica.
FRIDAYS: 7.05 PM JA TIME, 8.05 pm US
SUNDAYS: 5.15 pm JA Time, 6.15pm US
SiriusXM Satellite Radio station “The Joint” is the quintessential reggae radio station. The station recently started playing “So Much Trouble In The World” from the Island Head album “Punky Reggae Party”. The station’s program director Pat McKay said; “I feel so especially blessed to share this brilliant work with our audience.”
Pat has been part of the reggae world for many years. Before coming to SiriusXM she hosted the first ever all reggae “big radio show” in the USA on WBLS-FM called “The WBLS Reggae House Party”. Ms. McKay has pioneered the promotion of reggae and other Jamaican music styles. Well, it is an honor and we feel especially blessed that “The Joint” is playing Island Head. Much Respect!
You can find The Joint on SiriusXM channel 42. Pat McKay’s show is on from 9 AM to 3 PM.
http://www.siriusxm.com/thejoint
NOTE: This band is sometimes referred to as Island Head Musicians or Islandhead musicians.
The band assembled is a who`s who of sidemen formerly and currently with some of the biggest names in reggae, R&B and studio musicians.
Andy Bassford (guitar), Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung (guitar), Billy Messinetti (drums) Don Harris (trumpet), David Frank (keyboards), Timmy Cappello (sax), and Neil Jason (bass).
Their first single “Reggae Island” is a medium tempo, smooth, summery, wishing you were sipping that Margarita type of reggae instrumental. The simple repetitive horn melody will stick with you after the earbuds come out.
In it`s simplicity the track should set up the rest of the album which will be Marley covers done instrumentally and approached in a new way. The sound is somewhere between Jamaica, New York City and your favorite anywhere beach.
So open the top of your ride, get a seat by the pool, put on those sandals and enjoy the well recorded and produced single..Can`t wait for the other tracks !!
The reggae jamband Island Head, is getting a lot attention for their debut album “Punky Reggae Party”. Bob Marley songs are re-worked into instrumentals that are destined to make these songs classics, again.
Track 1: “I Shot The Sheriff” has a groove that crosses dancehall and rock with strong rock guitars and jazzy saxophone. Sax player Tim Cappello, of Tina Turner fame, plays his butt off (plain and simple). He has a fat tenor sound with tons of expression and excitement!
Track 2: “So Much Trouble In The World” takes the bass line from the original and pushes it further with a backbeat on the drums. Bass player extraordinaire, Neil Jason pays tribute to the original bass player on the Survival album, Val Douglas. Val, of the famous Skatalites, was scheduled to play on the album. Due to his touring schedule with the Skatalites he could not make any of the band’s sessions. When the track gets to Andy Bassford’s guitar solo the song is lifted to new heights. Andy is well-known for playing with Toots & The Maytals for 23 years.
Track 3: The single, “Reggae Island” is a pop/top 40 sounding instrumental that just makes the listener feel good. This is the only one not penned by Marley.
track 4: “Wake Up and Live”, also from Marley’s Survival album appears on the Island Head record. This is where the band’s funk influence comes out. Trumpet player Don Harris used to tour with Tower of Power and brought out some TOP in his arrangements.
Track 5: “Get Up Stand Up” sounds like Miles Davis got together with Bob Marley. Harris’ muted trumpet is sultry, sexy and relaxing. Miles would be proud because his influence is very apparent.
Track 6: The title track combines Jamaican Rocksteady with synth-dance music. The synthesizer sounds played by one of the most famous synth players in the world, David Frank of The System.
Track 7: “Burnin’ and Lootin'” is the final track which is more traditional roots reggae. The groove is deadly and “dirty funky”! Andy Bassford does some finger-picking melodies in the second verse that are complex and interesting. The track ends with Andy and Tim weaving in and out of each other’s licks.
Mickey “Mao” Chung, famous for his tenure with Peter Tosh of the Wailers plays incredible melodies throughout the entire album. Mikey also played with Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards when Keith used to live in Jamaica. Keith also mentions Mikey in his biography, “Life”. Producer Billy Messinetti says; Mikey added a Jamaican authenticity to the album. The combination of the guitar playing of Andy Bassford and Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung is one of the things that makes this album so interesting to listen to. When Pat McKay, program director for SiriusXM’s reggae station The Joint, heard about this collaboration she said; I know both Andy and Mikey, they are geniuses!
You can find this very interesting musical hybrid here: Island Head on iTunes
Twitter page @Islandheadband is getting followers from all over the world.
ISLAND HEAD reggae band New music out now! 