“The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble is a horn happy bunch of rhythm

“The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble is a horn happy bunch of rhythm maniacs.”
-The New York Times
The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble
is a world class touring and performing group of musicians from
diverse musical backgrounds. They are known internationally as the pioneer group of ska-jazz and their style has been imitated
by bands from St. Petersburg, Russia to San Jose, Costa Rica. Born in New York City during the frothing tumult of the
nineties ska wave, the band remains an integral part of both the ska and reggae music scenes. Members of the NYSJE have
collaborated with notable musicians from all genres. Performances, always "dancing room only," attract audiences of all ages,
playing to ska and jazz fans alike in venues ranging from the North Sea Jazz Festival to the famed Knitting Factory in New
York City. The NYSJE has been featured on MTV, Nickelodeon, and the Discovery channel as well as in numerous print,
online, and broadcast media worldwide.
Since its inception, the band has released eight studio albums, two live albums, a live concert DVD, and numerous
tracks on ska and reggae compilation albums. New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble recordings receive critical acclaim for their high
energy, creative original tunes and kinetic ska interpretations of jazz standards as well as a potent mix of dance hall, reggae,
rock steady and jazz. Many musicians from the field can be heard on NYSJE albums, including Tommy McCook, Sharon
Jones, and members of Hepcat and the Skatalites. The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble continues to write and record new music
and is currently working on its ninth studio album.
A Piece of History
The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1994 by “Rocksteady Freddie” Reiter along with members of the Skatalites, the
Scofflaws, and the Toasters. At the height of the American ska craze these musicians got together in order to stretch out musically,
embracing jazz harmony and extended improvisation within the ska and reggae styles. Playing with the Toasters during the 1993
Skavoovie tour, Reiter, Rick Faulkner and Jonathan McCain began working with Devon James(Skatalites), Cary Brown(Skatalites)
and Victor Rice (Scofflaws) to form an all-star ska "supergroup" which would reach out and strech the boundaries of the music.
Their first performance took place in 1994 at the Manhattan Center to a packed house; they found immediate success with audiences
around the US.
After two years of performing regularly around New York City and the US, the
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble took ska-jazz abroad, playing thirteen cities in
Germany in 1996. On the same tour they were the first American ska band to
play in Poland after the fall of the Berlin wall. Their first trip to Europe attracted
quite a lot of attenion and on their return, they performed in countries
throughout Europe and have continued to introduce audiences around the world
to ska-jazz. In 1998 the NYSJE toured the United States and Europe with Laurel
Aitken. The tour was a double bill with the NYSJE playing sets of their own
material as well as performing with Laurel. That same year the NYSJE brought
ska-jazz to South America, touring Venezuela and later returning to tour Brazil.
During a tour in Lithuainia the NYSJE arrived at what they thought was "just
another gig on the tour" to find a heavily guarded performance arena. The gig
was the first annual Be2gether Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the Baltics. The stages are only meters from the Republic
of Belarus, where musical performances are heavily censored and remain a political issue.
The New York Ska-Jazz ensemble has played in thirty one countries and continues to tour multiple times per year. In addition to
headlining clubs in most of the worlds major cities, the band is a mainstay at music festivals around the world from the North Sea
and the Montreal Jazz Festivals to the Tokyo Ska Jamboree, the Bob Marley Reggae Festival, and many more. Current members of
the band, from all over the ska and jazz performance communities, have worked regularly with other groups such as Anthony B,
The Skatalites, Burning Spear, Lou Reed, Philly Joe Jones, Chris Potter, Ernest Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Toots and the Maytals,
The EZ Star All Stars, Sonny Rollins, and more. The NYSJE continues to push the boundaries of ska jazz, and each year the
ensemble takes their music to new places.
Critical Acclaim for the
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble
“The six members ... prove themselves strong jazz soloists and
audaciously transform jazz classics like Mingus’ Haitian Fight
Song and Eddie Harris’ Freedom Dance into slyly arranged ska
showcases.”
Boston Phoenix
“Who’s-who supergroup”
Village Voice (NYC)
“Get This trundles across the fertile turf shared by Jamaican
music, jazz and R+B, swinging from Ellington to E-ticket
originals”
L.A. Weekly
“A Dream band for Ska Lovers”
Weekly Planet (St. Petersburg, Fl)
“An impressive grouping of seminal ska musicians who come
together for the singular purpose of marrying Blue beat and
Be-bop.”
Long Island Voice
“NYSJE is a Skankin’ Supergroup.”
Austin Chronicle
“Very pleasurable ... the Ensemble convinces you through a
bubbling joy of playing.”
Suddeutsche Zeitung(Munich)
Meet the Band
Saxophonist and bandleader Fred "Rocksteady Freddie" Reiter is a fixture in the international music world with
a musical career spanning three decades and a range of styles. Upon receipt of his degree from Princeton University 1981, he
founded a successful jazz-fusion band with guitar wizard Stanley Jordan. Further study in saxophone, clarinet and flute
included the Eastman School of Music and Julliard as well as private study with the legendary Joe Viola, Eddie Daniels, Dave
Liebman, Fredrick Heim (NY Philharmonic) and Julius Baker. He spent six years in the “Two Tone Army” of the Toasters,
wroting and and playing for many of the band’s finest albums including “NY Fever”, “Hard Band For Dead” and “Dub 56”.
Fred lives with his family in Queens, NY and When not on tour, is an active performer, educator, and composer for radio and
television.
was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and began his studies in classical trombone but quickly branched
out into other styles. He moved to New York to study orchestral performance at the Mannes College of Music and by time
he graduated in 2008 was already working around the city playing in big bands, indie rock bands, experimental groups, and
more. After playing the 2008 Verona Jazz Festival with Bobby Sanabria's Afrocuban Orchestra, Ric joined the Toasters for
a tour of the US and South America. He joined the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble in 2010 and is a regular member of several
NYC based groups, performing and recording regularly throughout New York.
Ric Becker
Guitarist Alberto Tarin has made great contributions to Spanish pop music, playing and arranging for some of Spain's
most famous and influential musical groups including Mecano, Jah Macetas, Seguridad Social, Rafa Villalba Chiquetere, and
Raimundo Amador. He achieved international recognition when one of his songs was included in "Guitar Music for Small
Rooms Volume 2", a compilation of some of the worlds greatest guitarists including Wes Montgomery, Eric Clapton, and
Carlos Santana. His recording credits include work for legendary singers and Jamaican artists like Rita Marley, Vin Gordon,
BB Seaton, Dave Barker, Derrick Morgan, and Leonard Dillon. Alberto has been playing with the NYSJE since 2004 and lives
in Valencia, Spain where in addition to playing guitar he composes, arranges, and records for television and film.
Earl Appleton,
keyboards, was born in London, England of Jamaican parentage. He has performed and recorded
around the world, working with prestigious musicians Mikey dread, Gregory Isaacs, Burning spear, Anthony B, Monty
Alexander, Sugar Minott, the Meditations, Sister Carol, and many other internationally recognized reggae artists. Currently
living in New York City, his ongoing projects include Clark Gayton’s Explorations in Dub, Derrick Barnet’s Statement band
and Marcia Davis’ Outro. Earl cites such influences as Mulatu Asatke, Cedric Brooks, The Skatalites, Sly and Robbie, Bill
frisell, and Yuseef Lateef. He has been a member of the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble since 2007 and currently resides in
the Bronx, NY.
began his career as a jazz bassist at London’s Guildhall School of Music, on the post-graduate jazz
degree course alongside rising UK musicians such as Steve Williamson (saxophone), Jason Rebello (keyboards), and Cleveland
Watkiss (vocals). During a successful carreer on London’s jazz scene Wayne traveled the world as a member of sax-player
Courtney Pine’s band, Jason Rebello’s Quintet, and pianist Julian Jordan’s band, supporting Barry White’s UK tour, and
touring to Europe. On the international circuit he has played with artists such as Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, Art Farmer, and
many more. In 1998 he joined vocalist Nnenna Freelon’s working band, touring and recording around the world including
her album ‘Soul Call’ which was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards.
Wayne Batchelor
Drummer Yao Dinizulu was born in Ghana, Africa and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. Following his years
of study in Purchase College’s jazz program, Yao was busy working as a drummer in the local jazz and rock scenes of New
York. Early in his career he joined the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble and has been touring and recording with them for nearly
a decade, only the second drummer in the band’s long history. While not touring with the ensemble, Yao lives with his family
and works in Washington, D.C.
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble to heat up Beachcomber Caribbean Social
Montgomery News (Blue Bell, PA, USA), August 29, 2009
Just weeks after a tour in Europe and appearances in Japan,
the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble is making a stop in Blue
Bell for the Beachcomber Swim Club’s first, and hopefully
annual, end-of-the-summer social Aug. 29.
With a Caribbean vibe theme, Beachcomber Manager Keith
Barnes said the internationally renowned band will add
some flavor.
“When these guys start to play, it’s like lighting a fuse,” he
said. “Their harmonies are incredible and they play the
tastiest licks of music.”
With members hailing from Ghana to London, the band is
able to create a unique fusion of ska, reggae and jazz.
“It’s almost like a fine wine,” “Rock Steady” Freddie
Reiter, the ensemble’s saxophonist, said. “It’s not that
we’ve all aged, but we’ve all had so many different
experiences that make our music that much more
interesting, our backgrounds and cultures enhance our
sound in a big way.”
With roots in American jazz, Caribbean beats and rhythm
and blues, ska was the precursor to reggae and originated in
Jamaica in the 1950s.
“It’s party music, it’s dance music,” Reiter said. “Even
though we’re a ska and jazz band, we really have a rock ‘n’
roll mentality. We have a fast tempo and play aggressively.”
Well-received overseas and touring in Europe two to four
times a year, Reiter says he and the band try to get to the
East Coast as much as they can.
“We play this area fairly often, depending on the quality of
the gigs we receive,” he said, adding that they are looking
forward to appearances in Brooklyn and Boston in the fall.
“I want to play here as much as I can.”
Even though the touring schedule can get grueling and the
music industry isn’t the most stable profession, Reiter said
for the members of his band, there almost isn’t a choice.
“I don’t want to sound cliché, but it’s almost like music is in
my chemistry, it’s in my soul,” he said. “After all these
years, I still think about when I’m going to practice when I
wake up.”
And on those nights when it’s hard to get onstage, Reiter
said he only feels that way until he sees the crowd.
“Sometimes on the 31st night of touring, you’re not feeling
[too excited about it], but then you see people dancing and
going nuts and that’s all you need,” he said. “The audience’s
energy always brings me up.”
And it’s his passion fused with his fans’ energy that keeps
the musician going with no signs of slowing down.
“We’re going to Greece for the first time in January and are
very excited about that. We’re opening new territories and
that’s always pretty great,” he said, adding that in addition
to touring, the ensemble will start to record a new CD some
time this year.
“We’re just trying to rock as many people as we can,” he
said.
Although playing in front of thousands of screaming fans in
Tokyo is much different from playing in front of 150 at the
Montgomery County club, Reiter said he believes a gig is a
gig.
“It’s definitely going to be fun. I was down with it from the
beginning,” he said, adding that it is always exciting
playing for new audiences. “We play good music and all we
need are bodies there that enjoy music.”
Performing on a makeshift stage at the front of the club’s
pavilion, encircled by large trees, Barnes said the show will
be a unique experience.
“People will rarely have an opportunity to see a band like
this in this setting,” he said. “They’re always in front of
thousands of people.”
But, in the pavilion, that will be adorned with twinkling
lights and palm trees, those going to the show will be
several feet from the members.
“It’s just going to be a great night to come out, have
something to eat and hear great music under the stars,”
Barnes said, adding that even when the tunes fade around 9
p.m., the bonfire will just be getting under way.
“People will be able to roast marshmallows and just sit
around, talk and have a good time,” he said.
Rototom Sunsplash 2010 in Benicassim, Spain
Nicolas Gomez on Suite101.com. Aug 22, 2010
After
16
years
celebrating the biggest
festival for reggae music
in Europe, this year's
edition has moved to
Benicassim, Spain.
The biggest European
reggae music festival,
Rototom Sunsplash, started yesterday for the first time in
Benicassim, Spain. With live performances like those of
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, a band from New York
formed by musicians from all around the world, like the
guitar player Alberto Tarin.
Tarin is a live legend of Latin and Jamaican guitar styles,
that has been playing with Santana and other musicians
along his extensive music career, apart from a solitary
project that has released one of the best reggae
documentaries in DVD, called Living Reggae.
The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble played an emotional
show, with a compact sound and really fresh, playing some
of their classics and an advance of three tracks from their
imminent new record that will be released at the end of the
summer.
As Freddie Reiter (saxophonist and singer and alma mater
of the band) said to the streaming radio of the festival, the
aim of the band is playing as much as possible, for as many
people from as many countries as possible, make good
music and be respected for it, and living a nice life. As he
said, after many years of music and many different
musicians in the band, he has realised that the most
important thing is the element of the Jamaican rhythm (the
classic 'riddim').
Riddim consists on a reinforcement of the bass line that "is
what get people dancing", and as Freddie said, "When
people dance, I am happy", with the jazz, the rocksteady
and the funk as a top-up over this base.
The Rototom festival, has been developed for 16 seasons in
Italy and now is based in Benicassim, Spain. The band said
that it was a pleasure to play there and an opportunity to see
live other artists like Anthony B or Pablo Moses.
Welcome to Benicassim, festivals and commitment
The first day of the festival was closed by the most famous
reggae star from Spain, Morodo, who was introduced to the
main stage by the Jamaican Minister of Culture, Olivia
Grange, and the Major of Benicassim, Francesc Colomer.
He was booed by the public while giving a short speech in
Spanish and English giving a warm welcome to attendants
from 56 countries in the world and marking that Benicassim
is a city that loves music, culture and people. He followed
saying thanks to "all the people who compromise and risk".
He said that "Benicassim is everyone's patria, everybody is
different but we are all the same, this is our identity, our flag
and our passport, we are a new century, the sons of the
Millenium, messengers for a new order...". He followed
commenting some famous words from Bono, U2, and he
finished with "welcome to paradise, welcome to
Benicassim", in reference to the paradisiac beaches and
tropical temperature of the city.
Rototom is not only music
Other artists of the night were Glenn Washington, Elijah, or
Anthony B on the main stage, but it's important not to forget
that the festival has a stage for almost every branch of
Jamaican music, from dancehall to dub or ska. This last
stage is expected to be very popular during the whole week
of the festival, with performances like the nationals from
Spain Dr Jau & The Peanut Vendors, a band that could be
one of the hits of the festival, where the presence of bands
from Spain is small.
The Rototom Sunsplash also have workshops and talks, like
the most expected with the famous writer and drug
researcher Antonio Escohotado, and Ramon Chao, the
father of the Mano Negra singer and activist Manu Chao.