Freedom Sounds



THE ROCKSTEADY 7
Pay tribute to Tommy McCook
Plus: DJ Ursa Major (Legio SPQR)

Hot on the heels of the recent Roland Alphonso tribute night, The Rocksteady 7 return to Hank's for a tribute to the legendary Tommy McCook, a giant of Jamaican jazz. Tommy is most famous for his time with the Skatalites and is one of the inventors of the ska style. He also played with his group the Supersonics at the end of the ska-era through rocksteady and into reggae,  He also played on some crucial Aggrovators tracks in the mid 1970s... Let's just say the man had a a long and varied career! The band will play two sets of Tommy's music; a variety of his tunes that personally effected bandleader Dave Hillyard. You will hear songs both familiar and rare!

The Rocksteady 7 is an influential American ska and jazz band from NYC. Since the early '90s the group has consisted of tenor saxophonist and band leader David Hillyard (of Slackers fame) as well as percussionist Larry McDonald (Afro Jamaicans, Bob Marley, Taj Mahal, Gil-Scott Heron). In live performances, they are supported by a rotating cast of musicians, including drummer Eddie Ocampo and Dave Wake on keys among others. Given reggae's globally reaching influence, the Rocksteady 7 holds true to the genre's roots and the self-described "Jamaican Jazz" sound combines ska, rocksteady and reggae with extended jazz improvisation, intricate melodies, and complex harmonies. The group incorporates many diverse elements of world music with rocksteady rhythms, including ska, jazz, calypso, as well as early African and American jazz influences.

Saturday, March 18th at Hank's Saloon
46 Third Avenue (at Atlantic), Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Doors at 8PM. $8 cover. 21+ with ID.