Artist description An eight piece ensemble performing classic Jamaican music, from late-'60s ska and rocksteady to the brand of roots reggae popular during the '70s. Mixed in is Afro-cuban and world music.

Music Style Reggae and world music

Musical Influences wide as the sky

Artist History "Their musicianship is impeccable, as are the grooves on their Groovewell debut full-length, Rub Up Push Up. Rocksteady has moved beyond the already killer roots-reggae sound of that disc to include ass-inspiring elements of Afro-Cuban and other world beats in their live set. Are you completely disillusioned by reggae cover bands that understand the vibe about as much as you understand forced-ratio algorithms? Here's your antidote. Highly Recommended" – Scott Harrell, Weekly Planet Rocksteady@8, a supergroup formed in 1999 by members of Magadog, Strangeways and Amandla Tunesmith, specializes in the sound of classic Jamaican music, from late-'60s ska and rocksteady to the brand of roots reggae popular during the '70s. The eight-piece band, whose members have a special fondness for the recordings helmed by famed Studio One producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and Treasure Island producer Duke Reid, plays originals rooted in that style, and additionally puts their own special spin on favorites from the period. Rocksteady@8, led by singer-composer Jason Nwagbaraocha and drummer Jonathan Priest, also includes Brian Zink on guitar, bassist Joe Grady, keyboardist John Richardson and three horn players - saxophonist Rob deDios, trombonist Mark Evanitch and trumpeter Brian Aulisio. "It's so refreshing and wonderful to know that a band is so committed and so talented and so able to play and so in love with the roots of rocksteady," says Cheryl Mogul, a WMNF DJ and devotee of Jamaican music. "It's great to hear the music of Sir Coxsone Dodd done so well and so sweetly. It's just a true art form that these guys are doing. It's just wonderful." The octet has opened for Toots and the Maytals, Justin Hinds, Burning Spear and Jimmy Cliff.

Group Members Brian Aulisio -- Trumpet Rob deDios -- Saxophones Mark Evanich -- Trombone Joe Grady -- electric bass Jason Nwagbaraocha -- Vocals, percussion Jonathan Priest -- drums Jon Richardson -- keyboards, melodica Bryan Zink -- electric/acoustic guitar, cuatro

Instruments horns and riddim

Albums Rub-Up, Push-Up 2002

Press Reviews "Singer-songwriter Jason Nwagbaraocha was born to sing gorgeous island music" – Gina Vivanetto, St. Pete Times "Their musicianship is impeccable, as are the grooves on their Groovewell debut full-length, Rub Up Push Up" – Scott Harrell, Weekly Planet "From the skittish Kingston shuffle of "Skaville 2010" and the dancehall strains of "Stand Firm Version," to the jazzy instrumental frenzy of "Brazil" and the political urgency of "Johnny Ray," Nwagbaraocha is compiling a few advance pages for the genre's next chapter." – Focus Mag "It's so refreshing and wonderful to know that a band is so committed and so talented and so able to play and so in love with the roots of rocksteady," says Cheryl Mogul, a WMNF DJ and devotee of Jamaican music. "It's great to hear the music of Sir Coxsone Dodd done so well and so sweetly. It's just a true art form that these guys are doing. It's just wonderful." "Rub-Up Push-Up," the long-awaited debut.

Location Tampa, Florida - USA

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