Alborosie with Iron Prophecy

On Friday May 12th, The Community Center for the Performing Arts proudly welcomes Alborosie to the WOW Hall.

Alborosie

“Music knows no boundaries,” announced David Rodigan on Alborosie's debut album. “Music is an international force, an international language. From Sicily to Kingston, Jamaica, this is Alborosie. Real, authentic reggae music.” 

Twelve years later and the Sicilian-born Alborosie headlines festivals around the world and has earned the respect of the entire reggae industry. A talented writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist who sings as well as deejays, he’s lived in Kingston for over a decade and is now a leading light of Jamaica's resurgent music scene thanks to a series of widely acclaimed albums on Greensleeves. 

Former keyboard player Tyrone Downie was first of the Wailers to join the sessions, followed by guitarist Junior Marvin, bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett and his son Aston Junior, who plays drums just like his uncle, the late Carlton Barrett. Together, they bring the distinctive feel and sound of reggae's most successful ever rhythm section to a project that also features Chronixx, Jah Cure, rising young roots band Raging Fyah and the veteran Beres Hammond. Whilst the Wailers' classic one-drop sound is all pervasive, Unbreakable is an Alborosie creation first and foremost. Italy's finest reggae export wrote, arranged and produced the majority of tracks at his own Shengen studio in Kingston, where he's mastered the art of making music that combines old school influences with unbelievable freshness.

"For me, the music is like a college," he says. "It's a journey through reggae music, and this has been my approach from day one. When I was working with musicians like Sly and Robbie and the Roots Radics I study how they play their instruments and I do the same thing with the Wailers, because I learn such a lot from them. For example, Tyrone Downie is a musical genius and anything he plays sounds just like the record - it's crazy! Aston Junior is also very talented. He plays a lot of different instruments like myself and Junior Marvin has that bluesy guitar sound which is so perfect. Then when Family Man comes in, that is exactly the right bass line for the song with no ifs, buts or maybes. Except you're not going to hear the Wailers like they were with Bob Marley because I try and be more creative than that. I wanted to make a concept album where you hear my formula, but with their touch."

Real name Alberto D’ Ascola, he was born in the Sicilian town of Marsala. After relocating to Milan during his teens he played in a variety of bands before forming Reggae National Tickets, who regularly toured Europe during the mid-to-late nineties. When the Tickets were invited to perform at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica, Alborosie immediately fell in love with the place and jumped ship. Weeks later he was hired as an engineer at Gee Jam studios in Port Antonio – a tropical hideaway on Jamaica’s north coast where No Doubt and other foreign and local stars like to record.

He'd arrived in Jamaica in time for the Millennium, although his breakthrough wouldn't happen until several years later with songs like Kingston Town and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, issued on his own Forward label. His debut album Soul Pirate soon followed. He then signed to Greensleeves for a series of bestselling albums beginning with Escape From Babylon - the sleeve of which depicted him leading musicians of all races from the ruins of modern civilization. Dressed in red, green and gold, he was shown pointing the way forward like some Rastafarian Pied Piper. The analogy fits, since his traditional, yet progressive approach has proven highly influential among Jamaica's new wave of reggae artists.

Iron Prophecy

Iron Prophecy = A symbol of human strength through the miracle of knowledge.

Born from all walks of life, brought together in one corner of the globe to spread the love of reggae music back outward to the world. Iron Prophecy brings a Roots Reggae vibe to the stage, seeded with a deep lyrical message about love and unity. The band is headed up by front man and guitarist Ras Reggae, with backing vocals and keys from The Bubble Queen, Angelikeys. James holds it down on sax while Mad Chad bassie and drummie Iric sit deep in the pocket.

Iron Prophecy has provided support for numerous national acts including Marlon Asher, Prezident Brown, Through the Roots, and has shared the stage with countless others at festivals and campgrounds across the Pacific Northwest. They've played at the Northwest World Reggae Festival, World Citizen Reggae Festival, and Darling Reunion/Oregon Country Fair. 2023 brings new music with a bigger sound from more members and new shows as Iron Prophecy blesses up the scene with their militant roots reggae sound.

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