Lifestyle ‘It was positive for everyone’

Gary Crosby OBE reflects on the musical impact of Windrush on the British jazz scene. By Joel Campbell

GARY CROSBY OBE says in his conversations over the years with musicians who landed on these shores before and after the Windrush, the only conclusion he can draw is that the pivotal period in history was ‘positive for everyone’.

Crosby, 68, knows a thing or two about music having become the first-ever jazz musician to be awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2018, and he’s also the nephew of Jamaica’s legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin.

The bassist and bandleader will perform this month at a special Jazz Jamaica All Stars & Brinsley Forde: Catch A Fire, Windrush Day Celebration of Bob Marley & The Wailers at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.

Taking place on the 75th anniversary of Windrush Day, June 22, Crosby told Lifestyle that few speak about how the Windrush landing on these shores inspired those who were already here.

He enthused: “It means a lot to me because, obviously, my family mem bers came up in that period but also, it means a lot to me because I met a lot of musicians that have told me about the difference of what Windrush had done.”

He added: “For Jamaican musicians that were based here before that time, those that had been here from the 1920s, they said when the Windrush landed, it was almost like you were receiving an energy blast from your history, like you plugged back into the Caribbean and Africa and they said that they became more confident, the way they approached the music they felt was more indicative of its roots.”

Ahead of the Jazz Jamaica

All Stars & Brinsley Forde event, produced by Tomorrow’s Warriors, a pioneering talent development agency, creative producer, learning and training provider, charity and consultancy specialising in jazz, Crosby says as well as ‘good vibes’ and ‘jump up’, there will be moments of reflection and ‘education’. “It’s important to acknowledge the way music was influenced by the Windrush”, he says.

“On the history of the Windrush and its effect on our people, I guess we all have a view and it’s all the same view and we use the same terms like, maybe colour changed in the country, the acceptance of colour changed.”

He added: “Definitely the drum. I believe the drum became more prominent in British Jazz and I believe the Caribbeans played a big part in that.

“If you look at some of the interests of the British-born white Jazz musicians after the Windrush, it’s slightly different.

“They’re more aware of Caribbean and African rhythms after that.

So the Windrush was positive for everybody.”

Formed in 1991 by Crosby, the mighty Jazz Jamaica is revered for their many exuberant live performances and dynamic album releases over the past three decades.

Crosby’s concept was to create a quintessential fusion of mento, ska, reggae and jazz, playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs, and it is drive that continues to ensure the evolution of Jazz Jamaica.

After extensive international touring, and the recording of four great albums, Crosby was ready to move Jazz Jamaica forward to the next stage and, in March 1999, he expanded the core lineup to big band status by adding a raft of guest soloists.

The result was Jazz Jamaica

All Stars, the creation of what was originally a 23-piece big band with an expanded repertoire that was soon filling concert halls and delighting audiences across the country, including a tour with Hugh Masekela in 2004, marking the tenth anniversary of democracy in South Africa.

This Windrush Day at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall features the legendary reggae vocalist Brinsley Forde leading the 35-piece Jazz Ja-

Competition

For a chance to win two tickets to Jazz Jamaica All Stars & Brinsley Forde: Catch A Fire, Windrush Day Celebration of Bob Marley & The Wailers at the Royal Festival Hall check out our competitions page at: www.voice-online.co.uk maica All Stars, plus the sweet sounds of Dem Three (Cherise Adams-Burnett, Cara CrosbyIrons and Kianja Harvey-Elliot) on backing vocals. They will also be joined by the stunning 246-strong community choir

Jazz Jamaica All Stars Choir (aka Southbank Centre Voicelab Choir), led by Mark de Lisser, which will be bringing their collective voice to the celebration.

Looking ahead to the event, Crosby said: “We’re honoured to lead the Southbank Centre’s Windrush Day 75th anniversary celebrations with the mighty Jazz Jamaica All Stars, a huge milestone we can’t wait to mark.

“We love bringing our vibes to the concert hall, it creates a very special, joyous moment for audiences. Jamaica is a musical island – from mento, calypso, ska, rocksteady and through to reggae, Jamaica has always rocked to its own beat… and Windrush was the beginning of that beat and sound being heard and felt worldwide.”

He added: “People should expect some good music of course because that is what we are starting with. There will be a little bit of story telling by Brinsley who fortunately throughout his life has engaged with Bob Marley and the Wailers from their times that they spent in London. And just the joyfulness of that music and not only joyfulness, because there are a lot of social statements in that music that are still functional and resonate today.

VOCALS: Legendary reggae vocalist Brinsley Forde will lead the All Stars

“So it’s going to touch on everything that you want, a bit of fun, a bit of education, a bit of jump up, you know, niceness really, good vibes.”

Watch the full interview with Gary Crosby on our website

SO TALENTED: Olivia Dean’s tribute to her Windrush Generation grandmother is one of the many highlights on her first album (Photo: PETROS)