LaPéniche's special 25th concert!

We're inviting The Skatalites - 60th Anniversary

The Skatalites
It all started with The Skatalites. In 1964, a momentous musical union took place when a group of musicians converged to create what would become the most influential group in Jamaican history: The Skatalites. From that pivotal moment, they embarked on an extraordinary journey that left an indelible mark on the global musical landscape, maintaining their iconic presence in Jamaican popular music to this day.
The Skatalites were a source of inspiration for many legendary singers and vocal groups in the early 1960s, including such luminaries as Bob Marley's "Wailing Wailers", a name that would later become the iconic Bob Marley and The Wailers. Their musical collaborations extended to Toots and The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and countless others. Their instrumental prowess also spawned monumental hits like 'Man In The Street' and 'Guns of Navarone', paving the way for and influencing the revolutionary 2Tone movement of the late 1970s. The sound of ska inspired a wave of influential 2Tone bands such as The Specials, Madness, The Beat, Bad Manners and The Selecter, as well as innovators like The Police and The Clash. At the dawn of the 1980s, the 2Tone fusion of ska, rock and reggae found a passionate following in the US. Bands like Fishbone, The Untouchables and The Toasters pioneered what would soon be recognised as the 'third wave' of ska, carving out a unique niche in the musical landscape.
The Skatalites' influence spread far and wide, with bands like No Doubt, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Hepcat and Ska-P, as well as many others, drawing inspiration from their sound and injecting their own distinctive flavours into the genre.
We have to recognise that the Skatalites' considerable impact transcends the boundaries of ska and reggae.
Their music resonates across all genres and they have been hailed by artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Sinead O'Connor, Grace Jones, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton. Ska, rocksteady, reggae, dancehall, dub, reggaeton, hip-hop and rap can all trace their roots back to the musical tree planted by the Skatalites. Jamaica, a seemingly tiny island, has exerted an outsized influence on popular music around the world for over six decades, and much of this profound impact can be attributed to the pioneering work and experimentation of those studio virtuosos known collectively as The Skatalites.
As we celebrate 60 years of their groundbreaking recordings and unwavering ability to captivate audiences, we invite you to join us in commemorating this remarkable musical journey.

Jahzz

Two musical styles both inspired by the desolation experienced by the descendants of African slaves in the United States or in the Caribbean, producing an art from the ghettos and slums of pitiless metropolises and transforming this misery into a joy of living, dancing and singing while demanding greater justice. So it was only natural that jazz and reggae should come together!
Embark on a journey into the world of two styles that have left their mark on the music world for decades, and are still proving that they are more than ever relevant.

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