10. Bob Marley & The WailersRastaman Vibration
I think one of my greatest assets as a musician is my eclectic taste in music, all genres, and Cecil Taylor was an example of this, but Bob Marley And The Wailers, they are one of my favourite groups of all time. Their ascension followed by their decline, and then the inception of the I Threes, still keeping Bob’s flame glowing. But there is something specific about the Wailers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, it will never be duplicated. Bob is unique, once in a century they come along. Every song here is a winner, like ‘Rat Race’ – what an anthem! He also bridged generation gaps, my mother was a big fan, Bob was one of the only musicians whose live concert my mother and myself both attended in Jamaica, many years ago, at the Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay.
I have always loved reggae music and even played in some reggae bands. Jamaica has always been part of my story, my second home, My mother and father had a home in Jamaica for 20 years, so this was part of my growing up after college, from 1973 to the time we sold it in the mid-90s I would be in Jamaica every summer with my mother. I played with many Jamaican bands there, and for years I was a mainstay of the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, and I did a tour all around Jamaica with a rhythm section. I have always loved Bob and his uncompromising stature, his vocals, his connection to the community, and also you look how his influence is everywhere, his music will last forever, and I am hoping mine will as well.
