Reggae music is a passion of mine and a passion of many others. It was created in Jamaica in the early ’60s, and it was developed from ska, mento and R&B music.

According to Piero Scaruffi: “It also made explicit the relationship with the underworld of the ‘Rastafarians’ (adepts of a millenary African faith, revived Marcus Garvey who advocated a mass emigration back to Africa), both in the lyrics and in the appropriation of the African nyah-bingi drumming style (a style that mimicks the heartbeat with its pattern of “thump-thump, pause, thump-thump”). Compared with rock music, reggae music basically inverted the role of bass and guitar: the former was the lead, the latter beat the typical hiccupping pattern.”

Bob Marley popularized reggae music with his band The Wailers and with his outspoken religious and political beliefs. The Wailers os perhaps the most recognized Jamaican band.

The Golden Age of Reggae fell during the heyday of roots reggae, which is a spiritual type of music praising God and involving themes of poverty, government resistance and racial oppression.

Reggae really hit mainstream music when Neil Diamond recorded Red Red Wine, and it was featured in the film The Harder They Come.

My reggae band, Island Therapy, offers you and your guests happy island music with beats from reggae, calypso and soca music. Contact Brian Sax Allen to book your next Treasure Coast island experience: 772-336-7517.

References: Wikipedia.org; Piero Scaruffi

Ever wondered where the term “jazz” and its music style came from? You may be living under a rock, but jazz music has greatly influenced our American culture.

Jazz is known as “America’s classical music,” celebrated as one of North America’s oldest musical genres.

Jazz originated from African American culture in the early 20^th century. It has been part of African American traditions for more than 100 years.

“Jazz” used to be slang for Chicago music in the early 1900s, and early jazz men referred to sex as jazz. Musician and songwriter Clarence Williams said he was the first to use “jazz” in a song.

The sounds of jazz are strong rhythmic under-structures, blue notes, solos, call- and-response patterns and melody improvisations. This was an inventive, inspirational, genius style, and it still is in many ways.

Jazz music is most recognizable by its instruments: saxophone, vibraphone, trumpet, piano, guitar, double bass, bass guitar, trombone, drums and of course vocals.

Ragtime, Blues, Big Band and Bebop are all subgenres formed from jazz, and there are many more than that. Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday are just a few of the well-known jazz artists and inventors. They have inspired modern musicians and instilled a special musical love in cities like New Orleans, Chicago and New York City — the most renowned jazz cities.

Brian Sax Allen and his bandmates are greatly inspired by jazz. Brian Allen is a great saxophone player who developed multiple bands for all of the genres he plays. His exceptional jazz band is called Phantom Jazz, and they play all types of jazz from straight-ahead and swing to standards and smooth.

Jazz is perfect for every occasion, from background music to dancing music, quiet dinners and cocktails hours, to parties, festivals and club events.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz

http://www.historyjazz.com/

Brian Allen is really impressive with his multiple bands and comprehensive instrument knowledge. He works all over South Florida and performs jazz, reggae and groove for any occasion.