Jazz Music of Jamaica

During the early 20^th century, Jamaica released several notable jazz artists. In this establishment the enlightened policy of the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, which provided training and inspiration in music education for its pupils was very significant. And also, the important was the brass ensemble culture of the island, strengthened by opportunities for musical work and training in military context. Though, limited scope for creating a profession playing jazz in Jamaica resulted in several local jazz artists leaving the island to emigrate in London or in the United States. 

source of picture: www.jnight.org

Among the most notable Jamaica jazz instrumentalists who made successful professions abroad was alto saxophonist Joe Harriott, who is now known as internationally as one of the most original and inventive of jazz composers. Also internationally successful were trumpeters like Leslie Jiver Hutchinson, Lesil Thompson and Dizzy Reece, bassist Coleridge Goode, guitarist Ernest Ranglin and pianist Monty Alexander. Harriott, Goode, Thompson and Hutchinson built their professions in London, along with many others instrumentalists include pianist Yorke de Souze and the outstanding saxophonist Bertie King, who later came back to Jamaica and established a mento-style ensemble. Reece and Alexander worked in the United States, saxophonist Wilton Bogey Gaynair emigrated in Germany working primarily with Kurt Edelhangen’s group.