Family and former bandmates come together for a performance honouring the life and work of the great Upsetter.
A musician who lived for music and music alone, Lee “Scratch” Perry created outside the mainstream, refusing to be understood or to cater to those who wouldn't get it. A pioneer of dub music, Perry used the studio as an instrument to create the signature echo and reverb sounds that still define dub music. Alongside King Tubby, few did more to advance Jamaican music in this era, creating a new generation of musicians imitating him without realising.
Since his passing in 2021, there has been a predictable revision of his legacy, where now audiences realise just how important of an artist he truly was. An exhibition was held in London two years ago, showcasing his paintings and other works found in his private collection and studios; every space he inhabited, he decorated meticulously and completely.
Independence and individuality were critical to his work, with him founding the Black Ark, a studio in his back yard, which produced for notable musicians including Bob Marley, Junior Marvin, and Junior Byles.
This weekend at the Jazz Cafe, former bandmembers and family members come together to perform the Perry classics. If you hadn't had a chance to pay tribute to the great man, the Jazz Cafe presents you this great opportunity.