Alpha Boys School Radio: Your #1 Musical Passport to Jamaica! - Class Superlatives

BEST NEW JAMAICAN JAZZ! GUITAR LEGEND ERNEST RANGLIN REUNITES WITH ALPHA PAST BOY TAN TAN

5/22/2018

From his role in Jamaica’s first smash hit, Millie Small’s “My Boy Lollipop”, to his eclectic contributions to Jamaican jazz and reggae, 85-year old Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin is the elder statesman of Jamaican music. Challenging him for the position might be 86-year old Edward ‘Tan Tan’ Thornton, a graduate of the Alpha Boys School whose training at Alpha launched an amazingly varied work experiences--from performing with Eric Deans Orchestra as a teenager to a Beatles recording session as a young man and now with Rockabilly Punk outfit Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. Pop Up Music JA is pleased to partner with some of Jamaica's most influential musicians on this, its debut release.

THE PRE RELEASE IS NOW AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THE ALPHA SCHOOL WEBSITE.

MOST PHOTOGENIC. THE SUZUKI VAN

5/13/2018

No visit to Alpha is complete without a #SuzukiSelfie. Reserve your spot on the Alpha 101 or Reggae 101 experience and the photo is included! Reggae 101 is 2 hours including a tour of campus and a jam with Alpha alumni. Reggae 101 is only on AirBnb (click here). Alpha 101 (click here) is a one hour walking tour of campus and can be booked by emailing alphaboysschool [at] gmail [dot] com.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO IN WHICH RICO APPEARS TO BE LIP SYNCING

3/27/2018

The Specials AKA feat Rico Rodriguez - Jungle Music.

After going on tour with Rodriguez, the Specials recorded "Jungle Music" as Rico and the Special AKA. The line-up for the single was Rodriguez (vocal, trombone), Cuthell (cornets), Jerry Dammers (keyboards), Bradbury (drums), Shipley (guitar), returning bassist Panter, and new additions Satch Dickson and Groco (percussion) and Anthony Wymshurst (guitar).

BBC RADIO PROGRAM (2007): THE NUN WHO NURTURED REGGAE

3/3/2018

"The Nun Who Nurtured Reggae", Broadcast on Radio 4, Sat 24 November 2007. Jonathon Charles tells the story of Sister Mary Ignatius Davies, who worked at Alpha Boys School in Jamaica for 64 years until her passing in 2003. During that time Sister Ignatius developed a culture of excellence to help Alpha and its alumni became known for worldwide. Listen...

THE LARGE UP ALPHA PLAYLIST

2/27/2018

Our friends at Large Up go into some fine detail for this special Alpha Boys School playlist. Enjoy what you hear? Find all the music on iTunes...

BEST SONG IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. "SUMMERTIME" RECORDED BY DIZZY REECE (ABS)

11/14/2017

Tony Hall (who did a lot of hard work in the British jazz scene during the 50's ) persuaded Alfred Lion -Blue Note- to record trumpeter Dizzy Reece. So Reece, living in London by that time, recorded 'Blues in Trinity' with Art Taylor (drs) and Donald Byrd (t), (who where working in Paris by that time) Tubby Hayes (s), Terry Shannon(p) and Lloyd Thompson(b) in a studio in north London. It was on August 24, 1957. When Dizzy Reece (born in Jamaica, living in New York now) came over to America, it was quite a buzz. Picked up by Blue Note, he recorded another two great albums, Star Bright and Soundin' Off. 1958-1959 Was a very productive year for Blue Note, recording 68 sessions with several new leaders like Duke Pearson, Tina Brooks, Jackie McLean and Donald Byrd. I have to say, Reece's albums where much better then (the more famous) albums from Donald Byrd coming out in those years. Reece did one album for Prestige, 'Asia Minor', in 1962. 'Summertime' is one of the great tracks of the album. With baritonist Cecil Payne, Joe Farrell on tenor and flute, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Charlie Persip

BEST WESTERN! ALPHA ALUMNI FEATURED ON NEW MR WILLIAMZ RECORD FROM GREEN LION CREW

11/1/2017

Maine-based DJ and producer Zeke Stern collaborated with London-based vocalist Mr. Williamz on the duo's latest release THE GENERAL COMES TO TOWN. The album features ten original tracks which echo the unifying energy and infectious grooves of sound system culture. On THE GENERAL COMES TO TOWN, Williamz and Stern trade tracks back and forth with Mr. Williamz performing on the odd-numbered while Stern owns the even tracks. Green Lion Crew presents two Alpha alumni, saxophonist Tony Greene anad drummer leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace' on his experimental dub remixes, recycling the beat and taking it to the next level into the realm of musical meditation. Check the Horsemouth song that complete the album below. For the album on YouTube, click here.

AN 80'S CLASSIC FEATURING LEROY WALLACE ON BASS

10/14/2017

Africa Must Be Free By 1983 recorded by Hugh Mundell included the drummer Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace (ABS) on bass!

ALPHA GRADS IN BURNING SPEAR'S MUSICAL FAMILY

9/20/2017

The 1978 release Marcus' Children from Burning Spear includes ABS grads Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, DIrty Harry, Bobby Ellis and Vin Gordon in the music family.

BEST VIDEOS FROM SUMMER 2017

9/12/2017

Alpha musicians traveled to London for a week of workshops and performances including this one with the Fontanelles, a Fela Kuti-style jazz band that performed as part of the National Theatre River Stage summer live music series.