The group is led by singer, trumpeter, and arranger Kevin Batchelor, accompanied by veteran percussionist and vocalist Larry MacDonald and drummer Carl Wright. The group has worked with and performed with several legends of Jamaican music, and brings the influence of reggae and dancehall to its performance.
The concert will also include vocal performances by singers Pallavi Gummalam and Aida Brandies Hargrove, alongside veterans of the New York area’s ska and jazz scenes. The group will be performing standards of Caribbean music from the 1950s to 1970s, including mento, rock steady, and jazz. These styles went on to substantially influence modern punk and rock music.
The concert is part of the Landmark on Main Street series aimed at encouraging culture in Port Washington. Concerts like this often use methods like poster printing and radio advertising to connect with the community.
Advertising for the Ska Orchestra show states that the group brings together:
“…the exuberant musical layers of the jazz big band era, soul and R&B, with Jamaican roots music; effortlessly flowing into a unique, accessible, joyous and danceable sound that audiences love.”
The NYC Ska Orchestra will perform in Port Washington at the Jeanne Rimsky Theatre on the evening of Friday, May 8.