Jazz Jamaica to close Hull festival

Hull Jazz Festival will climax with a dose of Caribbean cool from Jazz Jamaica when they perform at Hull Truck Theatre, on Sunday, August 3.

The group, which is an ensemble of the country's finest jazz, ska, reggae and rock steady musicians, has a new show called Tighten Up!, paying homage to the legendary Trojan Record Label.

A spokesman for the band, said the show would explore some authentic Jamaican sounds that were first introduced to the UK through the famous record label.

“Tighten Up! explores the sounds of the motherland Jamaica and the music which brought Caribbean culture home to the numbers of immigrants working in Britain in the 1950s. We perform tunes such Harry J All Stars' Liquidator, The Skatalites' classics Phoenix City and Guns Of Navarone, and Myrna Hague's standard What About Me, to name but a few. It's an unmissable show for those who love reggae, rock steady, ska and jazz or for those who just want to party.”

The show will be the last ever Hull Jazz Festival finale to be held at the Spring Street venue before it emigrates to the new Truck Theatre in Ferensway, which is due to open in 2009.

Jazz Jamaica was founded in 1991 by jazz double bassist Gary Crosby, who dreamed of creating a melting pot of different musical styles and sounds to reflect the range of modern British music.

He gathered together a group of musicians drawn from the jazz and reggae circuits to form Jazz Jamaica and has since steered the band to international acclaim. The group has also boasted some impressive guest collaborations with performances with musicians including Denys Baptiste, Andy Sheppard and Soweto Kinch.

Jazz Jamaica will close Hull Jazz Festival at Hull Truck theatre, Spring Street, Hull, at 8.30pm on Sunday, August 3. Tickets cost £19.50/£17.50 concessions and £10 for students and under 21s. For more details call (01482) 323638.