09/13/23

• I have a new single out, a collaboration with the marvelous Joanne Williams on a song we wrote together, “Thankful.” You can see the video here, and buy/stream the track on all major platforms.
• I’m appearing every Thursday night at Sandz in Laurelton, Queens with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band. We have special guests every week; last week it was Luciano! Backing an artist with his massive charisma in a small club was an overwhelming experience. 
• I’ve recorded an instrumental for Piper Street Sound with my old friend Dwight Pinkney (Zap Pow, Roots Radics, Israel Vibration, etc.). Matt Mansfield of Piper Street Sound put the track together for us and Dwight came up with the melody. I played solos and fills. I’m incredibly proud of it. I think it shows off both of us doing what we do best. Look for it early nexts year.
• I’m also in preliminary discussions to record a ska album with a very well-known guitarist from another genre entirely. Said guitarist is someone I’ve admired since the beginning of his career, but we only met for the first time last year. I really hope it comes together as planned.
• I’m doing lots of home studio work these days, as well as teaching online and at Mind-Builders, a wonderful art center in the Bronx. All ages accepted. All lessons are online except at Mind-Builders. I am not offering private in-person lessons at this time. If interested, contact me here.
• The vinyl edition of my 2018 solo album “The Harder They Strum,” is almost completely sold out. Given the state of the vinyl industry, I doubt we will be repressing it. There may be a few copies online from various shopping sites. I have lots of CDs available though, $15 including shipping. If interested, contact me here.

08/10/22

• I will be on tour with New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble in North Carolina starting tomorrow night. Eight shows in eight days! Lots of shows in the Tri-State area afterwards, as usual. Details here.
• I recently recorded a tribute to Don Drummond with iconic trombonist Steve Turre and an all star band. It will be on his new album on Smoke (not yet listed, but here’s the site), coming out in September.
• I’m in a Shaggy video! A few months ago we did a private show with Shaggy at the Blue Note in NYC, featuring the songs from his new Sinatra project, “Come Fly Wid Me,” produced by Sting. I figured that they would film the show for some sort of live release. But I never expected to be in an official MTV-type video. Live and learn! Usually I’m on the recording but not in the video. This time it was the other way around. 
• My guitar instrumental version of the new Naya Rockers single with Clinton Fearon, “Guiding Star,” is by far my most popular release on streaming services. For some reason, after the US, the country playing it the most is Côte d’Ivoire, a place I’ve never been. You can listen here.
• I also have new music out with my old friend Lloyd Kross, an original song called “Love Will Find A Way” on the SPI Music label. You can listen here.
• There is also a new collaboration in the works with Piper Street Sound and a legendary Jamaican guitarist, to be named later. Vinyl of my last collaboration with Piper Street Sound is also available! 
• I’m doing lots of home studio work these days, as well as teaching online and at Mind-Builders, a wonderful art center in the Bronx. All ages accepted. All lessons are online except at Mind-Builders. I am not offering private in-person lessons at this time.
• The vinyl edition of my 2018 solo album “The Harder They Strum,” is completely sold out. Given the state of the vinyl industry, I’m not sure when or if we will be repressing it. I have lots of CDs available though, $15 including shipping. If interested, contact me here.

10/23/21

• I’m appearing with Soulshot tonight at the Knickerbocker Cafe in Westerly, RI. Details here.
• The next day I am rejoining my old rock & roll buddies for an Aardvark reunion (my college band) at an undisclosed location. But you’ll probably be able to hear it within fifty miles.
• Did some online sessions recently for Klaryti and John Speck, the JS tune mixed by dub wizard Victor Rice.
• Believe it or not, I reorganized my bedroom and found two full drawers of old tour and promotional T-shirts. I posted a few pix of the most interesting ones on Instagram and people love them! Who knew?

07/01/21

• I’m appearing with Soulshot this Friday and Johnny Osbourne & Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band on Saturday and Sunday. Gig details here.
• I have three MA/RI solo shows coming up on July 16/17/18, backed again by Boston’s exceptional Naya Rockers. On the 17th I will be opening for myself at the Revival Brewery in Providence. I’m playing with Soulshot and then closing the show with Naya Rockers. Details here.
• My newest recording, “Black Eyed Peace” by Piper Street Sound featuring Andy Bassford, is now available from Piper Street Sound! You can get the music as two vinyl 45s or as a physical EP. Plus digital formats, of course. It’s getting airplay on stations all over the country and is featured on Apple Music’s Dubwise playlists.
• I’m also on several 45s from Channel Tubes, a vinyl-oriented label in Brooklyn. If you love old skool vintage reggae sounds, you will enjoy what they have to offer. Here’s a nice one. And here’s another one!
• I am teaching guitar this summer at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Bronx. My classes are full! But you can register for the fall session.

06/10/21

• My newest recording, “Black Eyed Peace” by Piper Street Sound featuring Andy Bassford, is now available from Piper Street Sound! You can get the music as two vinyl 45s or as a physical EP. Plus digital formats, of course. It’s getting airplay on stations all over the country and is featured on Apple Music’s Dubwise playlists.
• I’m also on several 45s from Channel Tubes, a vinyl-oriented label in Brooklyn. If you love old skool vintage reggae sounds, you will enjoy what they have to offer. Here’s a nice one. And here’s another one!
• I’m out and playing again! What a relief! Dates coming up with Derrick Barnett, Monty Alexander, Soulshot, and my own shows with Naya Rockers. Gig details here.

02/22/21

• I have new music coming out! Sometime last year, a super talented guy named Matt Mansfield approached me about the possibility of collaborating. Matt does a lot of things, one of which is running his own label. He writes and records some classic sounding reggae instrumentals and releases them on Piper Street Sound. My vinyl loving friends will be happy to learn that Matt is a big vinyl guy and the tunes will be available in that format immediately. Most of the writing is his, though I contributed some lines, and I’m the featured soloist on the songs. We’ve been working on this project off and on for the past few months. Now we’re about to spring it on the world. Normally I’m either a session guy or I’m the artist and running the label and everything else, nothing in between. This is a fun departure for me, as I just get to do my thing in the midst of somebody else’s. I have high hopes for this and hope that people will respond to it.
• Some other recording projects are being booked for the summer. I haven’t heard anything about live shows or touring. And quite frankly, until the pandemic gets under control I’m going to really pick my spots. I’ve been almost entirely self-isolated (Bad Gyal Rona has left me alone so far, praise be) and teaching and doing sessions online.
• Yesterday I did a live video shoot with Toots Hibbert’s talented and lovely daughter Janieve Bailey, who is a prominent Jamaican gospel artist. (I think the “Toots In Memphis” tour we did together was harrowing enough to convince her that secular music was not where she belonged. I certainly rethought my life afterwards.) We recorded four gospel songs live, and it was a blast. I haven’t seen Janieve in years and that in itself was special. I enjoy gospel music a lot, but not being a church person I don’t play it very often. It wasn’t a gig exactly, but it’s the closest thing I’ve had to one in months. The other good news is that I still remember how to do several important things: load the gear into the car, find the gig, find parking, load in, set everything up, break it down when finished, and reverse the process! I wasn’t worried about the playing because I do that all the time. But the other stuff is surprisingly easy to forget because I’m not doing it all the time. “Where are my gig shoes again? Where is that chorus pedal I like with this guitar? Where can I find street parking around here?” And so on.
• I have been surviving by teaching and recording online. If interested in either, you may contact me through the website. If you live near the Bronx, I teach at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Olinville section on Saturdays. Go here to find out more. I strongly recommend Mind-Builders, particularly for children. All lessons are still remote for the time being.
• Sirius XM The Joint is STILL playing “007 (Shanty Town)” from my debut solo album “The Harder They Strum.” Unfortunately their address has changed, so they don’t automatically come up as an option in your car radio any more. But you can still find them (and me!) on Channel 722.
• Remember, if you love music, please support musicians! For me that means buying my album. Info here.

01/13/21

• I have been distracted by politics and pandemics. I still am, but I came back to reassure people that I’m still active!
• I’m on the new Brooklyn Attractors record, “Love Bombs,” on JumpUp records. We did it long distance, like many things are done these days, but it came out well.
• I also arranged and played on Denzil Martin’s new single, a cover of Lionel Richie’s 80s classic, “Hello.” I’m a huge fan of not just the original recording, but the guitar solo (by the great Louie Shelton), which I copied pretty much note for note. He did it in one take, it took me four! You can buy it here.
• Which reminds me, there are new additions to my Discography.
• As far as gigs go, for the first time in decades, I have NONE. The 2021 Jazz Cruise, which under normal circumstances I would be packing for now, is postponed until 2022, for obvious reasons.
•  I have been teaching and recording online. If interested in either, you may contact me through the website. If you live near the Bronx, I teach at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Olinville section on Saturdays. Go here to find out more. All lessons are remote for the time being.

10/06/20

• Of course the most important news is the passing of the Promethean figure Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, whose band the Maytals I played with off and on for twenty-two years. Toots died on September 11 and was buried in his home parish of Clarendon on Friday. There is no way I can do justice to over two decades of music and adventures as a Maytal, but my blog post here will give you an idea of what it was like. RIP Toots, and thank you.
• I have been working remotely, both teaching and recording. If interested in either, you may contact me through the website. If you live near the Bronx, I teach at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Olinville section on Saturdays. Go here to find out more. Lessons are remote for the time being but we plan to go live as soon as we can assure everyone’s safety.
• No live shows scheduled for the foreseeable future.
• Sirius XM The Joint is still playing “007 (Shanty Town)” from my debut solo album “The Harder They Strum.” My gratitude is eternal!
• If you love music, please support musicians! For me that means buying my album. Info here. It’s good! At least I think so.

08/22/20

• I will be playing my first live show in over six months with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band! It’s a back yard party with social distancing, masks, etc. Details here.
• I’m featured on a new release, “The B’Line” by Trevor Bridgewater’s I’lan Ban’. It’s already getting airplay on a number of radio stations across the country, including my friend FRP’s Tropical Riddims show on WORT-FM in Madison, WI and Ras Danny Fallon’s show on KBOO-FM in Portland, OR.
• Despite the best efforts of Bad Gyal Corona, live studio work in NYC has resumed. Recently I played on new material for Skuffla, my old friend Anicia Banks, Jah Vinci, Gyptian, and Vanc, including my first Afrobeat track. I also did a session for Russian rock star Max Pokrovsky and his band Nogu Svelo. Very 80s Tears For Fears 12/8 and lots of fun! I love playing that stuff but I don’t get asked to do it often. I think we will be doing more work together.
• I’ve also finished a collaboration as a featured artist with Matt Mansfield’s Piper Street Sound. Matt has some beautifully constructed songs and I had a great time finding things that fit. I look forward to seeing what people think of this.
• Sirius XM The Joint is still playing “007 (Shanty Town)” from my debut solo album “The Harder They Strum.” My gratitude is eternal!

04/15/20

• Sirius XM The Joint is still playing “007 (Shanty Town)” from my debut solo album “The Harder They Strum.” Many thanks to you all!
• In a rare piece of good news, the fine people at Mind-Builders in the Bronx have set up online teaching facilities and have extended the school year through May 30. I really missed my students and I’m glad to have them back.
• Many thanks to those who have taken online lessons or sent me remote studio work, including Commissioner Gordon Williams!
• I am plotting the release of more of my own music, and also entering into some new collaborations online.
• As some of you may know, the CD Baby Online music store is no longer functional. However, you can buy my CD directly from me through the website, through Lee’s Home Grown Music Network, and a variety of other online stores. Vinyl is available through Jump Up Records of Chicago.

03/17/20

• As we all know, live music is temporarily nonexistent in the Tri-State area. In its absence, I will be working on my long promised autobiography. I’ll be posting excerpts here when I finish them.
• Like every other unemployed musician, I am available for online lessons and remote session work. Since nobody is making any money at the moment, I don’t expect a huge influx of demand. But I’m here 24/7 now. Good luck to everyone!

02/18/20

• Yikes! I’ve been away for a minute! We had an amazing run at the Tokyo Blue Note. I can’t say enough good things about the Japanese people, the staff and management of the club, and my fellow bandmembers of the Harlem-Kingston Express! Arrigato!
• It’s a quiet week for me, a few local shows (details here), some recording with reggae artist Eric Smith, some more home studio work, practicing…the usual stuff.
• I’ll be with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express in Seattle at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley the last weekend of March (details here).
• I’m planning a Massachusetts run in April with Naya Rockers…stay tuned!

01/23/20

• I’m rehearsing for the CCB Bob Marley Birthday Show at Sony Hall next Saturday, February 1. This is always a great time and a chance to bathe once again in some of the most important music of the 20th Century. Details here.
• I’m also rehearsing for Cha’maine’s video shoot for her new album, on which I played. An all-star band! Details on its release when I have them.

01/13/20

• I will be at the Blue Note in Tokyo, Japan with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express. Details here.
• A track I played on for artist/producer/songwriter/remixer Paul Simpson featuring Jennifer Holliday, “Baby Tonite,” was #1 on the UK Soul Chart for two weeks last year. I just found out about it! Paul’s new album is coming out shortly, featuring the tune.
• I am doing a video shoot for Cha’maine’s new album, on which I also played, later this month. The album drops soon, not sure of date yet.

11/30/19

• Upcoming dates with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express in Japan! Details to follow.
• Derrick Barnett birthday celebration tonight! Nadine Sutherland, Ed Robinson, and special guests. Details here.

11/06/19

• I appeared on Christine Vitale’s Area 24 Radio show, Rhythm, Rock N Blues Rollercoaster on Sunday. Christine, a serious doo wop expert with only a modest familiarity with reggae, has been featuring “The Harder They Strum” on her show and she wanted to know the story behind the songs. A good time was had by all.
• I’m appearing with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express in Canada this Friday night. Details here.
• Then I catch an early flight to NYC to teach guitar to the children of the Bronx at Mind-Builders on Saturday.
• The November tour dates with Naya Rockers are set. Details here.

10/30/19

• I’m appearing at the legendary Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express tonight! This and other gig details here.
• I’m doing another tour of New England with my friends the Naya Rockers in November. I’m starting it with a workshop at the University of Rhode Island, coaching their music students on authentic interpretations of reggae rhythms. Academia, here I come!
• “The Harder They Strum,” my solo album, continues to gain fans and spins on Sirius XM The Joint. 
• I will be appearing on Area 24 Radio this Sunday with the fascinating Christine Vitale at 7:30 p.m. to discuss THTS and other topics of import on her show. Christine has been playing my record the last few weeks. She’s a truly original thinker and I’m really looking forward to this.

10/10/19

• Monty Alexander’s “Wareika Hill/Rastamonk Vibrations” finally fell from #1 to #2 on the Jazz News chart after three weeks in the top spot. But it’s getting heavy play on WBGO and Sirius Real Jazz, and my friends who have bought it absolutely love it. You will too! We did live recordings of the music for both WBGO and Sirius XM Real Jazz.
• In the middle of playing a week with Monty at the Blue Note in NYC, I found time to do a video shoot with the brilliant young Jamaican percussionist and singer Hector (Roots Percussionist) Lewis for my good friend Junior Hinds and I Never Knew TV. Check it out here.
• I spent two days in the studio with Hector, the legendary Larry McDonald (a hero of both Hector’s and mine), Victor Axelrod, Binky Griptite from Daptone Records, and lots of other hot young players recording for saxist/arranger/composer Anant Pradhan. We had six drummers playing at once! Everyone should experience this. It was an amazing experience and The Creamery is a really great place to record.
• I’m coming back to the Boston area in mid-November for a couple of solo shows, backed by the superb Naya Rockers.
• As usual, lots of local gigs here.
• Sirius XM The Joint is still playing my version of “007 (Shanty Town) from my solo album “The Harder They Strum,” eighteen months after its release! Thank you!
• My teaching year at Mind-Builders in the Bronx has started, and there are wait lists for my classes! It’s very gratifying. Mind-Builders is an incredible place and I’m very happy to be there, contributing to the education of the children in my beloved Bronx.
• If you are interested in guitar lessons, I now offer them online as well as at my home in the Bronx. Contact me here. I was initially reluctant to teach online, but now that I’ve tried it, I see that it can be very helpful for people who can’t get to the Bronx.

09/26/19

• Monty Alexander’s new album “Wareika Hill/Rastamonk Vibrations” (on which I played) was #1 on the Jazz News chart last Friday. People really love the record! So I’ve now been at #1 on the Jazz News chart, #1 on the Billboard Folk Chart (with Natalie Merchant), #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart (with Sting & Shaggy) and #1 on the Jamaican reggae charts (with several people). This is all pretty wild from my vantage point.
• We did live recordings of music from Monty’s new album for both WBGO and Sirius XM Real Jazz.
• I will be teaching again this year at Mind-Builders in the Bronx. If you are interested in studying with me, you may contact Mind-Builders or contact me here. After much reluctance, I am also going to offer Skype lessons as well, since there are people who can’t get to the Bronx.
• I will be touring New England again with Naya Rockers in November. We will have final dates soon.
• Lots of local gigs here.
• Sirius XM The Joint is still playing my version of “007 (Shanty Town) from my solo album “The Harder They Strum,” eighteen months after its release! Thank you all!

08/26/19

• Monty Alexander’s new album “Wareika Hill/Rastamonk Vibrations” came out on August 23rd. It’s a magical fusion of Thelonius Monk compositions and Jamaican rhythms. I’m really proud that I’m on this one, and intial reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s available digitally You can buy it here.
• In support of the album, I will be appearing with Monty and the Harlem-Kingston Express at the Blue Note in New York City on September 3 through 8. I am missing Friday night, 9/6, as I have my own show at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA, supporting Kings Highway. But I’ll be back at the Blue Note for Saturday and Sunday.
• We are also recording live broadcasts for Sirius XM on Tuesday, September 3 and WBGO-FM on September 4. Since these are two of my favorite radio outlets, I’m very excited.
• More gigs here.
• I am returning to Mind-Builders to teach guitar to the youth of the Bronx. If you are interested in studying with me, you may contact Mind-Builders or contact me here.

08/08/19

• I will be playing in Walnut Creek and San Jose, California with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express this weekend. Details here.
• Monty’s new album “Wareika Hill/Rastamonk Vibrations” will be released on August 23rd. It’s a magical fusion of Thelonius Monk compositions and Jamaican rhythms. I’m really proud to have played on this, and I have high hopes for the project.
• I also played on New Kingston’s newest single, “Bring Your Rays,” which will be out on August 9th. It may be my favorite NK track ever!

07/16/19

• Today I’m heading up to Evolvement Radio to tape an interview and acoustic solo performance.
• The next day I start my latest MA/RI series of shows, five in six days! Of course I will be bringing vinyl, CDs, eight tracks, and Sharpies. Naya Rockers and the sultry Sarah B will be with me on all dates. Details here.
• I recently participated in the BBC’s Audio Cafe documentary about the late, very great Dennis Brown. If you missed the broadcast you can hear it here. The response to the program has been very positive.
• There are new additions to my Discography.
• I’ll be heading to Europe with Monty Alexander in a week or so. His new album, Rastamonk Vibrations, is coming out in September. I played on it along with the rest of the Harlem-Kingston Express and some very special guests. It’s a Monty reworking of Monk tunes with his unique Caribbean flavor.
• I’m teaching guitar again this summer on Thursdays at Mind-Builders, a community arts center in the North Central Bronx. I love these kids!

07/11/19

• Leaving for Chicago, where I will be playing on the Main Stage at the Square Roots Festival tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., backed by the Chicago Jamaican Jazz Ensemble. I’m opening for Cracker (whose “Low” I used to play in a cover band in the 90s) and Camper Van Beethoven. I’m not sure how their peeps will take to “The Harder They Strum,” but we’ll find out! Very excited about this.

06/29/19

• I’m madly revising charts for my appearance at the Square Roots Festival in Chicago on July 12. I’ll be backed by the exceptional Chicago Jamaican Jazz Ensemble. We hit at 5:30 p.m., opening the festival on the main stage! Special thanks to Chuck Wren at Jump Up Records for setting this up. I’m trying to decide what to wear…
• I’m appearing again with New Kingston as a special guest at the Norwalk, CT Nice Festival on July 6th. Coming back to my home state with some of my favorite people on the planet! We close the show at 8:30 p.m.
• Another New England run coming up with Naya Rockers and Sarah B., including filming for EVO RAD GOOD GOOD Performance & Interview. Details here.

06/04/19

• I’m doing another solo run with Naya Rockers next month, including dates in Massachusetts, Providence, and Block Island. We’ll be playing some unrecorded tunes in addition to material from “The Harder They Strum.”
• I’m also performing a solo set at Chicago’s Square Roots Festival on July 12 at 5:30 p.m., accompanied by Chicago Jamaican Jazz Ensemble.
• My Caribbean Jazz ensemble, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, is appearing on Father’s Day at Footprints Coney Island. Details here.

04/24/19

• Vinyl is HERE! (So are eight track tapes!) You can buy them from Jump Up Records here. You can also order them directly from me through the website or click here to buy through PayPal.. The price is the same, $20 US including shipping. Make sure you include your shipping address! If you’d like me to autograph your album, make sure you say so when you contact me.
• I did a run with New Kingston last weekend as a special guest. It was a blast! We hit Asbury Park, NJ, Wilmington, NC, and topped off the weekend with live recording at Eastside Sound.
• I’m playing Providence, RI, Beverly, MA, and Cambridge, MA in a quick solo tour next month, backed by the excellent Naya Rockers. Details here.
• My own band, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, plays Rustwoods Garage in Rockaway Beach this Saturday night. Details here.

04/10/19

• Summer is coming and the gigs are coming in too. I’ll be returning to the Boston area the second week of May for another solo run with Naya Rockers, as well as a show with Wayne Wonder and Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band on May 11 in Philadelphia. Details as they come in.
• I’ll be appearing as a special guest with old friends New Kingston at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ on April 19th and also at the Good Vibes Bash in Wilmington, NC on April 20.
• “The Harder They Strum” went from #18 to #20 on the latest Relix/Jamband Radio Chart. This means that I’m back in self-promotion mode!

03/29/19

• I signed off on the test pressing for the vinyl edition of “The Harder They Strum” today. If half the people on social media who say they are going to buy it actually do…I’ll be thrilled! It’s fascinating what the process of creating vinyl does to the music. I hope you’ll like it as much as I do.
• I’m planning more solo shows in the Boston area in May.
• Plus lots of working around NYC as usual, including a show this Sunday with Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy at Footprints Coney Island. Details here.

03/15/19

• Vinyl is on its way! Jump Up Records of Chicago is releasing “The Harder They Strum” in May (of this year). The cover art is finished, the album is mastered, the lacquer has been cut, and we’re in the cue at Smashed Plastic of Chicago.
• I did my first out of town run of solo shows promoting “The Harder They Strum” at Beehive in Boston and La Fabrica Central in Cambridge, backed by the excellent Boston band Naya Rockers. Thanks to Nathan Sabanayagam, bandleader, and Panama Dan Zimmerman of Reggae Takeova for making this happen. More to come.
• My Caribbean Jazz project, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, has shows at Footprints Coney Island and Rustwoods in Rockaway. Details here.
• I’m still playing all over NYC on a regular basis. Details here.
• “The Harder They Strum” went from #25 to #18 on the Relix/Jamband Radio Chart this month. Woo-hoo!

02/11/19

• I’m on a third Grammy-winning album, Sting and Shaggy’s 44/876 on A&M Records in the reggae category! Many thanks to Shaun Pizzonia AKA Sting International, who produced the album, for having the brilliant idea to bring the Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express rhythm section (Karl Wright, Joshua Thomas, Earl Appleton, and me) in on the project. Extra thanks to Shaun for fighting hard to make sure we got proper writing and publishing shares in addition to AFM scale for the project.
• I’m going to be doing my first solo shows outside of NYC next month. I have two dates in Massachusetts: The Beehive in Boston on March 11 and La Fabrica in Cambridge on March 13. I’ll be backed by Naya Rockers, some of Beantown’s best reggae players, on both shows. Details here.
• I also appear along with an all-star cast on David Garfield’s “Winning,” his new single released this week featuring Alex Ligertwood, formerly with Santana. Also on the track are Steve Ferrone on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Will Lee on bass, James Harrah on lead and rhythm guitars, Mike Finnegan on organ, David on piano, and me channeling my mentor Lynn Taitt on rhythm and pick guitars.  I absolutely love the recording of this great Russ Ballard song and consider it one of the best things I’ve ever done. The fact that Sting/Shaggy won the Grammy this week makes it particularly timely for me. You can buy it here.

02/01/19

• Much to my joy and astonishment, “The Harder They Strum” entered the Relix/Jambands Radio Chart at #25! Thanks to Leeway’s Home Grown Music Network for their assistance in helping me reach a wider audience.
• Today would have been the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown’s 62nd birthday. I was blessed to have played lead guitar for him for eight years, and I miss him and think about him nearly every day. Here’s a link to a live show I did with him near the end of my time with him. RIP Crown Prince! It was a blessing to have known you.

01/31/19

• Here’s a nice article in the Caribbean Times NYC about my group Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy and our appearances at Footprints Cafe South.
• Another interview about “The Harder They Strum” by the noted author and ska musician/enthusiast Charles Benoit. Check it out here.
• Speaking of interviews, I just completed one with Rick Landers for Guitar International Magazine. I’ll link to it when it’s up.

01/15/19

• I’m starting my year off with six shows for my band, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy. We played Brooklyn Jazz & Sports Club on January 2nd, and Footprints Cafe South in Coney Island on January 13. We’ll be back at Footprints the next two Sundays, and back at BJSC on January 23rd. We’ll be at Rustwoods in Far Rockaway on February 16. Official page on ABJC coming soon!
• Of course I’m also playing with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band, as well as Rho and the Nomads, Louis Atlas, and whoever else will have me! Details here.
• I played on a track for Brett Tubin’s Channel Tubes label featuring the late Dan Klein from the Frightners. What a beautiful singer he was. Much missed. Not sure when it will be released.

12/26/18

• I’m closing out the year with two gigs with Derrick Barnett this Saturday at Club Universe in Mount Vernon and Topaze in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve. Details here.
• I’m working on remote sessions for David Garfield (George Benson’s bandleader) and Andrew Bauer. A cover of Bob Marley’s “Jamming” I played on for David was the #3 song for the year on the Smooth Jazz Network! I guess I’m a smooth jazz guy now. Who knew?
• I realized this week that I owe sales tax to New York State! On it…argh.
• My album “The Harder They Strum” is now available through Lee’s Home Grown Music Network. Distribution is good! I’m hoping that the jamband world will find my music of interest.

12/9/18

• Well, though it was submitted for nomination as Best Reggae Album of 2018, “The Harder They Strum” did not make the final cut. I still have a chance for a Grammy with the Sting/Shaggy album “44/876,” which was nominated. Now I’m on nine Grammy-nominated albums!
• I’ve recently started teaching guitar to the youth of the Bronx at Mind-Builders, a community arts center in the North Central Bronx. This came out of the blue. I’d never thought of teaching kids before, but now I love it. I still have some private professional students, and have done some Skype lessons and master classes too. Contact me here for more information.

11/21/18

• I received my first royalty check from the Sting/Shaggy album! Mailbox money is good!

11/15/18

• Lots of friend requests on social media from mysterious places. I can’t tell if it has anything to do with “The Harder They Strum” or not.
• Waiting for GRAMMY results for “The Harder They Strum.” Still selling consistently through mail order.
• Recording with producer Fatta for Una Morgan (of Morgan Heritage) at BG Studios and Mercy Studios.

10/25/18

• Here’s a wonderful review of “The Harder They Strum” in Spill Magazine, a Canadian music publication.

10/24/18

• “The Harder They Strum” is on the ballot for a GRAMMY in the “Best Reggae Album” category! If you are reading this and are a NARAS member, please consider voting for it.
• Lots of CD sales and a royalty payment from Soundscan this week. Very thankful!
• New radio interviews and album reviews coming. Stay tuned!

9/24/18

• More airplay for “The Harder They Strum” from Gregory Spevack at KX935.com!
• A quiet work week, so it’s back to self-promotion with a vengeance.

9/19/18

• More airplay for “The Harder They Strum” from Chuck Foster at KPFK in Los Angeles!
• I did a two part interview last week with ace researcher and DJ Patrick Lafayette of ChrisMix Radio.
• Gigs! Lots of them! Details here.

9/7/18

•  I will be featured in the August 2018 Cali Reggae edition of IRIE™ Magazine! The release date for the issue is September 7, 2018, at 4:20 pm California time. Here’s the link.
• I found some new editions to my discography but haven’t had a chance to put them up yet.
• I’ve been spending time writing DMCA cease and desist emails to the file sharing sites that are illegally distributing “The Harder They Strum.” I know that digital piracy is a fact of modern life and none of us are saints. But I’ve never put anybody else’s music up on a file sharing site and I never will.

8/28/18

• I’m being interviewed today by archivist/journalist/broadcaster Patrick Lafayette for his “VP Vault” show.
• “The Harder They Strum” is being played on KPFK in Los Angeles by veteran reggae broadcaster Chuck Foster.
• I did an interview on August 18 with DJ FRP on his Tropical Riddims show, WORT-FM, Madison, WI, about my experience working with the late, beyond great, Aretha Franklin. You can listen to the interview here through September 1st.

8/27/18

• I had the great pleasure of performing with Monty Alexander and the Harlem/Kingston Express at the Charlie Parker Summerstage Jazz Festival in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Of course we closed the show with our version of Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey.” Later I played with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band at our regular gig at Club Universe in Mount Vernon. Rising star Shuga was our special guest, and she was superb. I predict stardom for her.

8/25/18

• Yesterday I recorded a track for Paul Simpson’s album featuring the incredible vocals of Jennifer Holliday! What a talented lady! Unfortunately I did not get to meet her.

8/15/18

• I did my first thrash session for a new band called Malatura at Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, NJ. Thrash is harder to play than you might think!

8/2/18

• More live performances of material from “The Harder They Strum” coming up. I’ll be appearing at Spirit of the Caribbean at JPAC this Saturday at noon. Details here.
• Learn all about the Soul Sisters Six, featured on “The Harder They Strum,” here.

7/21/18

• My group, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, will be closing out Saturday night’s performances at the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz. We hit at 10:45, and are dedicating the show to the memory of the late, great bassist and dear friend, Denzil (DJ) Simpson.
• More media blitz! I was on Chris Cowles’ “Greasy Tracks” show on WRTC 89.3 FM, the radio station of my alma mater, Trinity College, in Hartford, CT, last Saturday.

7/4/18

• I’ll be on the air with my old friend Kibret Neguse this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WUSB, 90.1 FM in Stony Brook, NY as part of their annual fundraiser. Yes, “The Harder They Strum” will be involved. I may play live on the air, too. We’ll see. In any case there will be lots of laughter and stories in a good cause.
• As soon as I finish with Kibret, I’ll be on my way to the Bronx to appear at the Health Fair, 929 E 216th St, Bronx, NY 10469, along with my friend Errol Davis AKA Royal E. There will a live radio broadcast from the fair, and of course I will have my album on sale as well.

7/3/18

• Media blitz! I did an interview the same day on WAVS 1170 AM with DJ Eddy Edwards of Jerk Fest fame. Eddy was subbing for DJ Pat Montague on her “Icons” program. I’m also talking with Eddy tomorrow on WZAB 880 AM’s Caribbean Rhythms show at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

7/2/18

• Love from the Blogosphere!! Brother Lance-O, a reggae aficionado/MC/DJ of long standing, reviews “The Harder They Strum” here.

6/23/18

• I’m sitting in with my dear friend, the wonderful J.C. Lodge, at Groovin In The Park tomorrow, at Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, NY. My album, “The Harder They Strum,” will be available at the show for purchase at a special low price.
• I recorded six tracks for Cha’Maine’s new record with the great Sidney Mills of Steel Pulse producing. It’s always a joy to work with Sidney, who has been a mainstay of Steel Pulse for decades now and is also a superb producer. Thanks to Cha’Maine for the coffee runs!
• Over the last ten days I’ve rehearsed, recorded, or performed with fourteen different bands and artists! I’ve actually done more gigs in one week (my record is twenty-one!) but never with this many different sets of people.
• I’m gratified by the response “The Harder They Strum” has been getting from the Jamaican and college radio communities. I’ll compile a complete list of stations and DJs who have supported the record soon.

5/23/18

• News flash! Sirius XM The Joint has added “007 (Shanty Town)” from my new album to their playlist! Big Up The Joint!!

5/14/18

• Legendary reggae writer, journalist, and radio personality Dermot Hussey featured the first half of “The Harder They Strum” on his podcast The Riff. Listen here (I’m on at the end).
• My friends at Radio Skandalo in Mexico were kind enough to feature “The Harder They Come” on their podcast too.
• On Friday I’ll be on the radio with Kibret Neguse at WUSB 90.1 FM, the radio station of SUNY Stony Brook. You can listen here from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern time.

5/1/18

• The early response to “The Harder They Strum” has been wonderful! I’m making new friends at the Post Office as I send CDs all over the place. I even have a few international orders.
• “The Harder They Strum” is being played by DJ FRP on Tropical Riddims on WORT-FM in Madison Wisconsin, Cableman Dan on Reggae and World Rhythms at WTNI Centenary College Radio, and CPRLive. I also visited Irie Jam Radio on Wednesday and was completely astonished when DJ Roy interrupted his show to play two tracks from the album and conduct an inpromptu interview. I’m coming back to talk with DJ Oxtail in a few weeks too. I was also on Fatha German’s Power of Reggae show a couple of weeks ago. Other stations have requested it as well.
• I’m appearing with Romain Virgo today in an unplugged show at Apple Williamsburg. Here’s the link.

4/21/18

• “The Harder They Strum” is now available on CD, directly from me through PayPal. Price is $15 including shipping within the US. Click here to buy.  Make sure you include your address! For shipping outside the US, email me through the contact page on this website, tell me your address, and I’ll figure out how much you should send me.
• Apparently to order multiple copies of “The Harder They Strum” (some people have), you need to log into PayPal separately and make a payment for each one. I had no idea people would do this so I never checked it out. I apologize. It’s annoying. Hopefully I’ll fix that by Monday, but I have a ton of work this weekend to get through first
•  A digital version of the album will be available soon. I know a lot of people don’t have CD drives any more. I’m mulling over the various options and will make a decision this week.
• I also have an inquiry from a label about that magic word that so many of you love: VINYL!
• My first live performance of songs from “The Harder They Strum” took place last night as part of the CCB Reggae All Stars show at B. B. King’s in NYC. It was an epic night! The fabulous J. J. Sansaverino was in the band and we had a blast tearing it up on the title track. Thanks CCB ladies and gentlemen!!

4/16/18

• I’ll be appearing this Friday, 4/20/18, at B. B. King’s with the CCB Reggae All Stars in a special 4/20 concert. We’ll be playing two songs from the album during the show, and the CD will be available for purchase at the door as well. More info and tickets here.

4/13/18

• It’s at the factory! Read the latest adventures here.

3/30/18

• I’m off to Pennsylvania in a few hours to pick up “The Harder They Strum” cover art from Earth Maxwell. Release date is now April 18…of this year!
• The new Sting/Shaggy album “44/876,” which I worked on along with Earl Appleton, Joshua Thomas, and Karl Wright of the Harlem-Kingston Express, will be out on April 20.
• Lots of playing around town these days.

3/15/18

• Here’s the latest on “The Harder They Strum,” my solo project.

3/3/18

• I’ll be appearing tomorrow on I Never Knew Radio from 9 to 11 a.m., talking about “The Harder They Strum” with ace host/interviewer Junior Hinds.

2/28/18

• Not only am I on three tracks of the new Sting/Shaggy album as a player, I have writing credits on two of them! Maximum respect to Sting International (Shaun Pizzonia) and Sting Universal (Gordon Sumner) for being men of their word. This is a rare occurrence for a session musician and I’m really happy about it.

2/26/18

• Estimated release date for “The Harder They Strum,” my long-agonized over first solo album, is April 1st. Of this year!! I have my graphic designer in place, I’m reusing my Jamaican record label and logo, the cover art will be done in a week or so, and then it’s off to the pressing plant. Or whatever they call them these days.
• Vintage Guitar Magazine interviewed me for their April 2018 issue. This is a huge honor, as I’m a longtime subscriber and have been reading guitar magazines since I was a kid. Here’s the link to the interview.

2/21/18

• I heard from ace producer Sting International that three of the tracks I played for the Sting/Shaggy album made the final cut. Hooray! The first single was #1 on the Billboard reggae chart, though not a big pop hit. I’m most curious to see how the album does. We’ll find out in, I think, May when it comes out.
• I’m tying up loose ends with the album: legal stuff, graphic design, copyrights, and doing my own press kit.
• Mexico with NY Ska-Jazz Ensemble was amazing. We played for 15,000 people at a ska festival, then a club gig at Foro Hilvana, our promoter Mac Andaluz’s venue. We also survived a baby earthquake, a number of shots of top shelf mezcal (Mac is a connoisseur), and a twelve hour trip home.
• Lots of local gigs this week. Details here.

2/10/18

• Hello, Vintage Guitar Magazine readers and any others who may be interested in hearing my new album! I’m still waiting for the cover art, but if you’d like to know when it’s available for purchase, contact me through this website and I’ll email you when it’s ready.

2/9/18

• Mixing and mastering are done. My album is FINISHED! Waiting for the cover art now, then the real work starts: trying to recoup my investment. Special thanks to Liu Ortiz (mixing and mastering) and Comissioner Gordon Williams (mixing and reality checks) for helping bring the project over the finish line.
• I’ll be in Mexico City, Mexico next weekend playing bass with the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble at a big ska festival.
• The Sting/Shaggy collaboration album, “44/876,” should be out in April. It’s not clear yet how many songs I played on will make the final cut, but I’ve been told that one is a sure shot. It’s fascinating to work with icons like Sting and Shaggy up close and get a sense of why they’ve achieved what they have.
• As always, gigs around town coming up. Details here.

1/21/18

• The HKE rhythm section (Karl Wright, drums, Earl Appleton, keys, Joshua Thomas, bass, and myself on guitar) played on some tracks for the upcoming Sting/Shaggy collaboration album, produced by ace producer and esteemed colleague Shaun (Sting International) Pizzonia. Sting X 2!! In mixing mode as I type.
• The David Garfield cover of Bob Marley’s “Jamming” that I played on along with Mike Campbell and Brandon Rhodes was the most added song at Billboard Radio this week! Yes, I’m bragging.
• Lots of gigs around town coming up. Details here.

1/16/18

• Please help our brother Yao Dinizulu in his hour of need. https://www.gofundme.com/7jgw3v-yao-needs-our-help

1/15/18

• Desperately trying to hit the mastering lab with the solo album by this Wednesday!!
• No road work for now, but lots of stuff happening locally. Details here.

1/2/18

• I see I was so busy in December I didn’t update my bulletin! Naughty, naughty. But there is much to report.
• I’m at Birdland tonight through Saturday night with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express. Details here.
• Along with the rest of the HKE rhythm section, I’ve been recording an album with an A list rock star whose name I cannot yet disclose. Look for it in May.
• Still dithering on the solo album. SO CLOSE.

11/30/17

• Believe it or not, (I still can’t believe it), Karl Wright, Joshua Thomas, and I recorded some tracks for Ranch Entertainment and Sting International (the REAL Sting) that may end up on a new O’Jays album! I’m a huge Philly soul fan (yes, I know the O’Jays are from Ohio, but their big records were mostly done in Philly) so this is a wonderful thought. You’ll know more when I do.
• I will be appearing with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express at New York’s famous Birdland nightclub January 2 through January 6. Details here.
• I did final mix tweaks with Comissioner Gordon Williams and Liu Ortiz on the solo album this week. We are almost there, and I’m very happy with the results. Liu will be mastering. Label and business deals are being sorted out. I’m still not sure yet when that might happen. But if I self-release it, that’s unlikely to happen until January.
• The Earl Appleton Overproof residency at the Brooklyn Jazz and Sports Club is building up each week. Musicians and music lovers alike are making the trek to East Flatbush every Wednesday from 7 to 11 p.m. to hear our takes on reggae, jazz, soca, R&B, Latin, and whatever else Earl decides to bring to the gig that week. It’s wonderful to see a musician like Earl do exactly what he wants musically and have it work: for the audience, the band, and the venue. Details here.

11/13/17

• Recording today with a famous guy, whose name I cannot utter for another few weeks. It went well.
• Still vetting final mixes for the album, but the end is in sight. It looks like Liu Ortiz will be the mastering engineer, keeping it in the family. The celebrity cameo was recorded too, and is being edited as I type.
• Going to Brooklyn, NY on Wednesday with Earl Appleton’s Overproof, and Austin, TX with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express. Details here.

11/03/17

• More mixing with Comissioner Gordon Williams this week. All the songs are now very close to how I heard them in my head, which is a good feeling. Next week, if all goes according to plan, we’ll be assembling and labeling the files for submission to the mastering engineer. There may be a superstar cameo as well; waiting for the final word one way or the other.

10/31/17

• The final track on my album is edited and in the hands of the remarkable Liu Ortiz for mixing. What a RELIEF! With luck the album will be mixed and mastered in a couple of weeks. Most of the songs are done. Then there’s the business end. I sense a blog post in the future.

10/26/17

• I’ve been recording a lot of acoustic guitar at home for various projects. I recently played on songs by Shuga and Peter Sancho, and I’m doing another one for the Clarendonians shortly.
• Great surprise gig with Monty Alexander at Tarrytown’s new jazz venue, the Jazz Forum. I’ll be back as a paying customer because I need to have the meatballs again and the room sounds wonderful.
• On the final edits of the last song for my album.
• My show in Mexico City with New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, postponed because of the earthquake, has been rescheduled for February 17, 2018.

10/05/17

• I added bass to a song on the new Monty Alexander/Harlem-Kingston Express album. John Scofield added guitar to several tracks as well. Yes, I stayed around to watch him! What a master!
• More mixing of the infamous solo album with Commissioner Gordon Williams at his top-secret pad in the Bronx.
• It looks like international travel is done for the year, though that could change with a phone call.
• I’m also working on some recordings for various NYC-based reggae artists.

09/06/17

• I’ll be in Chile for a week playing bass with the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. It’s my first trip there and I’m really looking forward to it.
• The latest New Kingston album “A Kingston Story: Come From Far” is now out on Easy Star Records. I play on a number of tracks; I think it’s their strongest work yet. Make sure you catch them on tour!
• No progress yet on the solo album, though I’m already laying the groundwork for my publicity campaign. Now we’re looking at an October completion date…

08/17/17

• Lots of shows for the rest of August! Details here.
• Don’t ask me about my album this week. Ask me next week!

08/02/17

• I will be traveling with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express to Russia and Norway this week.
• My ad hoc jazz ensemble, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, will be appearing at the Brooklyn Jazz & Sports Club tonight. Details here.
• Guitar tracks are finished on the album project! One vocal part and plenty of editing to do, but the heavy lifting is over. I am hoping for a September completion date.
• I will be traveling to Chile and Mexico in September with New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble.

07/07/17

• I’m recording an unplugged video with Bushman, Johnny Osbourne, and D Medz for Junior Hinds and I Never Knew TV in Brooklyn on Sunday.
• I’ll be appearing at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan with Monty Alexander. Details here.
• There are only two guitar parts and one vocal part to add to the album project. Then I’m done with tracking! Hoping to be finished with mixing by the end of the month.

06/28/17

• The final tracking session for my solo album is scheduled for Thursday. At least I hope it’s the final session!
• For my NY area friends, Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express will be appearing in mid-July at one of our favorite venues, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan. Details here.

06/22/17

• I’ve been traveling with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express. We’ve been to France, Africa (twice), and the West Coast in the last six weeks. Whew! We’ll be flying to Romania next Friday. Jazz and reggae in Romania? Why not?
• My computer died, hence the paucity of updates here. But thanks to the brilliant Liu Ortiz (who also is a great engineer) it’s up and running.
• I appeared with Addis Pablo at B. B. King’s on Wednesday night. I worked with his father, Augustus Pablo, back in the 80s. I played on a Viceroys album Augustus produced. I have now officially been around long enough to work with both fathers and sons…a sobering thought!
• I found some new recordings I’ve played on but I haven’t had time to add them to the discography yet.
• Mixing for the album is going well. Some tunes are finished! I hope to complete the tracking before I go away now that the computer is up and running.
• Oh, I’m now on Instagram! You can click on the link at the top of my home page or you can go here.

05/31/17

• I’m back to working on the solo project after a great two weeks with Monty Alexander and HKE in England and France. My suitcase liked Europe so much that it’s still over there…argh.
• I recently recorded a video with upcoming artist Fari DiFuture for I Never Knew TV along with Blue People co-founder and JA music legend Larry McDonald, Little Bassie from Emperor’s Choice and…I’m sorry! I can’t remember the other drummer’s name! You can see it here.
• We’re going to Cali next week! Details here.

05/05/17

• This week has been about the studio. I’ve been mixing madly with Commissioner Gordon at his top secret studio location in the Boogie-Down Bronx. We have five songs almost ready to go, with five more left, then the inevitable tweaking, recrimination, and revision.
• I’ve also been working with Keisha Martin. I added guitar to two songs and bass to one for her upcoming album with producer Andre BG at his studio in Brooklyn.
• I’m heading to England and France in a couple of weeks with Monty Alexander. Details here.

04/29/17

• I’m back from the road, and getting ready for another trip with Monty Alexander in May. In the meantime, I’m playing around town and trying to finish my record.
• I’m now on Instagram. I’m not a great photographer by any means, but a lot of my friends and fans expressed interest in seeing pictures and footage of my travels. So I’ve joined up. You can see footage from our most recent trip to France and Senegal.
• More mixing of the solo project with Commissioner Gordon this week.
• I’m also working on another track for the wonderful LA-based keyboard player David Garfield’s solo project, long distance.

04/20/17

• I’m about to go to Paris and Senegal with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express! It looks like a busy summer. We will be going to France again, as well as South Africa and Ronnie Scott’s in Soho, London, UK. There is a short US West Coast run too. Details here.
• I’ve been working with the brilliant keyboardist/producer Sidney Mills from Steel Pulse on an album by Spice. One track features 80s DJ legend Sassafras. The record has an old school playing vibe but with new sounds. Sidney plays on a number of tracks on my album as well. He’s one of my favorite people and producers.
• I recently guested with New Kingston at their headlining show at the Highline Ballroom in NYC.
• I’m still obsessing over mixes for the solo album. I’d love to delegate this, but I can’t!

03/28/17

• I finally finished work on a song for LA keyboard wizard David Garfield (George Benson, Los Lobotomys, et al) in my home studio. It’s called “Winning” and features Alex Ligertwood, Steve Ferrone, Will Lee, David, Mike Finnigan, Lenny Castro, and James Harrah: all monsters! David wanted a reggae flavor so I did my best to evoke one of my heroes and mentors, the late Nearlin “Lyn” Taitt. He liked the parts I sent him; I’m waiting to see if he needs additional takes or tweaks. I find long distance sessions to be much harder as there’s no one in the studio to serve as an audience. It’s just me and the computer screen, which doesn’t talk back.
• I’ve been playing a lot of acoustic guitar live recently, as well as electric bass. It’s great to double! I performed at the Church Center of the United Nations on Tuesday with rising R&B star T-Kross and at Club Nabe in Harlem on Friday with Queen of Jamrock Soul Keisha Martin. I like the vocal/guitar duo format a lot; it’s all on me! I would have disliked that a few years ago. Now I enjoy the challenge.
• Next month I go to Paris and Senegal with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express, so I’m running around getting vaccinated. Most of the places I visit don’t require any special precautions. Senegal does, apparently.
• My solo album has been on the back burner for the last three weeks. Time to heat up the pots again.

03/04/17

• After a quiet winter, things are stirring on the gig front. I’m appearing with Junior Kelly tonight in the Bronx, and more shows are coming in daily, it seems.
• Mixing and mixing.
• I’m working long distance on a track for David Garfield’s upcoming solo album. David is the keyboardist and musical director for the iconic George Benson, so I’m fussing over this one!
• I’m still amazed how many people inquire about the records I made for the late Henry “Junjo” Lawes with Roots Radics. Very thankful that people still care more than thirty-five years later!

02/06/17

• Still more mixing! Recording the album is the easy part.

01/31/17

• More mixing sessions for my album with Commissioner Gordon Williams at his super-secret Bronx location. The project is really taking shape.
• I’m also starting to play the mixes for labels and business people, another step in the process. The early response has been positive.
• I also met with my cover artist, Earth, who used to work for Marvel and spent a long time making Sonic the Hedgehog come to life for Sega. Earth is also a fine keyboardist and producer, though he doesn’t appear in those functions on my album.
• I will be appearing with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express this weekend at the Jazz Standard in New York City. We will be performing a “Tribute To Studio One” as part of the proceedings. Details here.
• I did some session work for Louis Atlas’ new EP at Christian Cassan’s terrific studio in Williamsburg. My playing is all over his latest release, Arms of Heaven, which is available here. Louis told me that three tracks from the album are going into rotation at “Trop-Rock” radio. I didn’t know that Trop-Rock was a thing, but apparently it is, and they like us. Fine with me!
• Unbeknownst to me, the 2005 “Dukes of Hazzard” movie uses a song I did for the Wailing Souls back in 1980, “Oh What A Feeling,” as a non-featured sound recording. The good people at AFM/SAG-AFTRA sniffed it out and sent me a check for $11.30. I thought I had succeeded in living a life absolutely unrelated to Jessica Simpson, but it seems I’ve been mistaken. The check makes it all worthwhile though. I can’t imagine what sort of mind would put a Wailing Souls song in a Dukes of Hazzard movie, but then I live in the Bronx, not LA. There’s probably a reason for that.

1/8/17

• January looks to be relatively quiet in terms of work, so my focus is getting my solo album finished and mixed…then figuring out how to make it available in today’s wacky marketplace.
• I was recently interviewed by Junior Hinds of I Never Knew TV. Junior and his team did a terrific editing job and I’m very happy with how it came out. You can see it here.
• I was also recently interviewed by Howard Jay and his team. I’ll link to that when it becomes available. I used to be nervous about interviews, but it’s like anything else, you improve with practice.
• Lots of new additions to my Discography as well. I registered some of the various alternate spellings of my name with the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund in order to collect some performance royalties, and lo and behold, a number of new credits appeared on the www.discogs.com website! It took a couple of hours, but I entered them on the web page. A lot of them were sessions I was proud of at the time. But I had no idea they had been released.

12/10/16

• I will be returning to the scene of the crime…Kingston, Jamaica! Tomorrow I will be appearing with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express for a special show at the Pegasus Hotel on Sunday, December 11. I expect to see dozens of old friends and make new ones. The Pegasus holds many memories for me. I used to live in the neighborhood. It’s not far from Lloyd Parks’ house. It’s close to the infamous Holborn Apartments, home of J.C. Lodge and Errol O’Meally, Allah Lloyd, and the late Trevor Roper of Chalice back in the day. I was a frequent visitor. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays I would go to the Pegausus to listen to, and sit in, with the late JFM President Sonny Bradshaw’s group. I met the great Winston Grennan at the Pegasus too, beginning one of the deepest musical relationships of my life. I haven’t played in Jamaica for quite a while now, so to say I’m excited about this is an understatement. Details here.
• The solo album is still in the mixing stages. I’ve been keeping it close to my chest until it’s finished, but the early reactions from those who’ve heard it indicate I might have something.
• I’ll be appearing with Marcia Griffiths and Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band at the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY on December 17th. Details here.
• Recently I was interviewed by Junior Hinds of I Never Knew TV. Junior asked some great questions and we had a lot of fun talking about the early days. You can see the interview here.

11/23/16

• I’ll be in Chicago from Thursday through Sunday with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express. Details here.
• Commissioner Gordon and Sting International (the REAL Sting) are both working on mixes for the solo album. I hope to have it ready by the end of the year.
• I did a wonderful session for Ranch Entertainment (Shaggy’s company) with Sting International producing. We did eleven tracks in one day, just like old times.
• I will be returning to Jamaica with Monty Alexander to play a benefit for the University of the West Indies at the Pegasus Hotel on December 11th. No further details yet. Bookings are already coming in for Monty and HKE for next year. Work is good!

10/29/16

• I had a great evening reminiscing with Ras Midas a week or so ago. I’m on his new album, which means more additions to my Discography.
• We are finally mixing the solo album!
• More recording with Commissioner Gordon and Sting International (the REAL Sting) for Dajla Laila and Assassin, respectively. I used to be terrified of recording when I started out, even when I was doing it every day. Now I love it.
• I’ll be in Miami this coming weekend, and in Chicago for Thanksgiving weekend with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express. Details here.
• Both my sons, Ethan Bassford and Liam Bassford, are very musical. They also have interesting websites. Show them some link love!

10/09/16

• I just posted the first of an ongoing series about practicing, Howls From The Woodshed. It’s primarily for guitar players, though of course others may find it of interest. No guarantees though! Here’s #1.
• On Wednesday I recorded another podcast for Amps and Axes, a great website for guitar geeks and those who would hope to understand them. Both podcasts are online now. You can listen to them here and here.
• I’m playing bass a lot these days and loving it. Find out where you can see me do it here.
• There are a couple of new additions to my Discography as well.
• Uh, yes, there is a solo album in the pipeline.

09/22/16

• Yesterday I recorded a podcast for Amps and Axes, a wonderful guitar geek site hosted by Jeff Bober and Mick Marcellino, two experts on both. It was a lot of fun for me. I don’t know if they can use it, as I talked for an hour and a half and only got as far as 1980! But hopefully we can re-record it if necessary. I’ll keep you posted when it’s available.
• More gigs, as usual. Details here.
• I recorded a 45 (yes, a vinyl 45!) for the Far East called “Can We Make It Up.” The session took place earlier this year, and it’s now available. Josh Hahn recorded my part at one of my favorite studios, the Relic Room here in NYC. They were kind enough to credit me on the flip side, an event that’s only happened one other time in my long career. Here’s their website. And here’s where you can buy the 45.
• My teaching practice may be expanding in October. We’re working on it now. If you are interested, you can contact me through this website.
• More session work for the REAL Sting later today.

09/10/16

• You can now call me “Professor.” They did at SUNY Purchase, where I covered a songwriting class for the great Carl Sturken, who is on tour with Kandace Springs in the Orient.
• I’m playing a lot more bass these days, and really enjoying it. I’m finding soca/calypso bass particularly enjoyable.
• Some more dates with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express coming up, including a run at the Jazz Standard in February. Details to follow
• I did some session work for the REAL Sting (Shaun Pizzonia), Shaggy’s multi-platinum producer, playing slide on a Sanchez song, of all things. We’ll be working on a Beres Hammond project soon. Sting and Shaggy are great people to work with, and I’m looking forward to it.
• My own album? Sting has volunteered to mix it! He has most of the music. I’m still going to do mixes with Gordon Williams though…I want to make sure it’s good.
• There will be new additions to my discography when I can get a minute.

08/19/16

• Playing the Newport Jazz Festival was an iconic experience, that’s the only way to describe it. But now we look forward.
• I’ve been playing a lot of bass recently, and working with a new group of old friends: Overproof Cari-Jazz Collective, led by one of my favorite musicians and people, keyboard wizard Earl Appleton. Overproof is exactly what it sounds like: a high-octane dose of improvised music with a strong Caribbean flavor. The personnel vary, but everyone has strong roots in the Caribbean, and the repertoire is familiar to people from the islands. For gig details, go here.
• My overseas adventures seem to be finished for the year, but I’m super busy locally. For Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express fans, we will be at the Blue Note in NYC for what look to be our last appearances here of the year. Details here.
• I’ll also be appearing with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band backing reggae superstar Luciano on Thursday, September 1, at the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway. Third World and an all star cast round out the bill. We hit around 7 p.m. I think it’s free!
• I am also slated to work on the upcoming New Kingston album in early September. I’ve known these guys forever, and they are hitting new peaks, as their Reggae On The River 2016 performance proved. I’ve had cameos on just about every NK release but this is the first time I’m going to be involved all the way through. I’m really looking forward to this.
• My solo album? Ahem. Next question. I hope to resume work on it soon.

07/25/16

• I’m looking forward to playing the Newport Jazz Festival this Saturday with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express. The first non-symphonic concert I ever saw was at Newport in 1969: the bill was the Newport All-Stars with Tal Farlow and Ruby Braff, Miles Davis (with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, and George Coleman), Frank Zappa and the original Mothers of Invention, and John Mayall’s “Turning Point” band. Now I’m playing there myself, completing what has been a long, wide circle!
• I did some recording this week on acoustic guitar with Marlon Cooke and Noel Parks (son of Lloyd Parks) producing. Tracks were for reggae artist Pressure.
• I also did some recording with my old friend King Benj-I of TronicI Records for Jennifer Khan and a new artist whose name escapes me. (Benj-I told me but I didn’t write it down).
• Lots of fun around town with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band.

06/21/16

• I am back in town and gearing up for a weekend with Derrick Barnett & the Statement Band. Details here.
• On a sad note, my longtime colleague Mike Cacia has passed. Read about him here.

06/02/16

• Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express sold out all six shows at Ronnie Scott’s in London last week, as well as our show at the Tel Aviv Opera House in Israel the week before. A great honor!
• I’m getting down with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola all week. We have lots of special guests for this run, including Nyabinghi drummers Junior and Abba Wedderburn and Courtney Panton, vocalists Duane Stephenson and Wendell Ferraro, trombonists Andrae Murchison and Clark Gayton, keyboardist Earl Appleton, and guitarist Dan Wilson in addition to the regular crew. It’s a very crowded stage but I’m loving it. Details here.
• Next week we take the One World Groove Party with Monty and HKE to the Blue Note in Honolulu, Hawaii for six nights! Tickets here.
• I did a photo shoot for the cover of the upcoming solo project, and I’ve commissioned an artist as well. I did this instead of actually finishing the record, but in my defense I’ve been busy.

05/12/16

• Lots of great shows coming up with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express, Luciano, Marcia Griffiths, and Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band. I love to work! I will be going to Israel (for the first time), London, Hawaii, Manhattan, and Mount Vernon, among other places. I’m also performing with Monty at both the Newport and Montreux Jazz Festivals within weeks of each other. Since the first live jazz concert I ever saw was at Newport in 1969 (Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, John Mayall, and the Newport Jazz All-Stars with Tal Farlow), I’m pretty excited. Details here.
• Progress on my solo album has been delayed due to the aforementioned love of work. However, I have planned the front and back covers. (I will release the album in physical as well as digital form, just not sure what form yet. Maybe cassette?) The front will be a cartoon by a major league comic book artist, and the back will reference a classic guitar album. Intrigued? I hope so. That’s the idea. I haven’t decided on a label yet. My son Ethan Bassford‘s company, Bassford Holdings, is the employer of record.
• Photo shoot for the back cover is Saturday at Bassford Manor, the headquarters of Bassford World Enterprises, in the lovely borough of the Bronx, ancestral home of the Bassford family. The public is NOT invited.

04/14/16

• Tonight I’m at Birdland with the Robert Silverman Quartet, opening for Karin Allyson. Details here.
• I fought the IRS and the IRS won. You don’t want to know. I got zero work done on my album during the process. Anyway, they have their pounds of flesh.
• I’ll be appearing with Island Head at the Falcon, a terrific music venue in Marlboro, NY, on April 29th.
• A nice review of the Matt Anderson album I played on, “Honest Man,” here. It’s great stuff, a bit of a departure from what people know me for (and a departure for Matt, too). Buy it here.

04/01/16

• I’m trying to find time to finish up my album in the midst of tax season.
• I had a great mini-tour with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band, backing Jamaican dancehall gospel artists Lieutenant Stitchie and Minister Marion Hall (formerly Lady Saw in her secular incarnation). You can see videos from the shows on my Facebook page. Add me as a friend while you’re at it!
• I’ll be playing Birdland with the Robert Silverman Quartet on April 14. Details here.
• Lots of appearances coming up with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express, including dates at the Newport Jazz Festival (where I saw live jazz for the first time in 1969), Dizzy’s in NYC, and Ronnie Scott’s in London.

03/15/16

• I visited Jakarta, Indonesia, and Bern, Switzerland with Monty Alexander. The Bern show featured Houston Person on sax and Herlin Riley on drums…the concert was almost as much fun as the dressing room hang! Jarkarta is an astonishing place…I will upload photos when I figure out my new iPhone.
• I finally bought an iPhone (see above). The learning curve is steeper than expected, but I’m proud to be part of the 21st century.
• Work on the solo album has been delayed due to gainful employment. I hope to have it done by tax time.
• Three continents in two weeks: Asia, Europe, and Mount Vernon! This week I appear with Jim Wacker & Collateral Damage, rocking out at Big Billy’s on Thursday and the Bayou on Saturday.
• Also on Saturday, I’m recording with the Brooklyn Attractors at the Relic Room, one of my favorite studios.

02/21/16

• My recording debut with reggae legend Horace Andy has just been reissued by VP Records. I find this absolutely incredible. The story of how I came to record with Horace is perhaps even more incredible, but I’m saving it for my book. Anyway, this reissue has his approval and full participation. You can, and should, buy with confidence that the artist is actually benefiting from your support.
• I am gathering myself for the next stage of my recording project. We’ve finished all the basic tracks. There is one song that requires a bunch of guitar parts, then we have to edit and mix. I recorded almost everything live, so there isn’t much to add. A number of gigs have come in, so my recording schedule may be pushed back a bit. I was hoping to have everything done by the end of March. It’s still possible but I’m not taking bets.
• I’m very excited about my upcoming trip to Indonesia with Monty Alexander. I am much less excited about the twenty-five hours plus it will take to get there.
• New post about my solo project here.

02/01/16

• The long-delayed followup album to my 1985 hit single “Skateland Rock” is well on its way to completion. We finished the final band tracking date on Saturday. I’ll be posting a short video from the session soon.
• Lots of appearances coming up with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express.
• I’m playing with Robert Silverman at the Sugar Bar in Manhattan this Friday. Details here.
• On Saturday, I will be performing at B.B. King’s in NYC with the Cannabis Cup Band at the 20th annual Bob Marley Birthday celebration.
• On Thursday 2/11 I will be appearing with South African singer Christine Vaindirlis at Lucille’s Grill, also in B.B. King’s NYC.

12/21/15

• I’m trying to schedule the final tracking session for my solo project at Eastside Sound before the end of the year. It will feature Clark Gayton and many other friends. Then, it’s time to finish overdubs (there aren’t many, we did it mostly live), edit, and mix. The amazing “Commissioner” Gordon Williams is helping me out on the technical end.
• I did some recording with Orrin Bolton this weekend. I can tell you that there is more than one singer in that family!
• New additions to my Discography and Performance Videos pages, including a highlight from my one night stand with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. (You can’t see me, except for my right foot under the piano, but you can hear me!)

12/12/15

• The next session for the solo project is this Monday at Eastside Sound. It will feature three of my favorite guitarists, George Naha,  Al Street, and Mikey Chung as well as The Blue People and Sidney Mills of Steel Pulse. Big fun is expected!
• For more about the solo project, click here.

11/04/15

• I have a mammoth day of recording for my solo project scheduled for August 22. It will feature amazing talents on both sides of the glass.
• Of course, instead of writing charts for my album, I spent the last week recording with Matt Andersen, a terrific singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia. My longtime friend and colleague Commissioner Gordon produced.
• I’ve also been doing more studio work for hip hop artist Lanskey and reggae tracks for Tronic1 Records.
• I’ll be headed out west next week with the incredible Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express. We’re playing in Denver and LA, both of which are exciting prospects. Details here.
• Closer to home, I’m playing with Robert Silverman at the Sugar Bar in Manhattan this Friday and with Island Head at the Falcon in Marlboro, NY on August 20. Details here.

10/05/15

• The first sessions for my new record went well, I’ll be scheduling more this month. There will be notable special guests, and a large cast of characters. We’re tracking to 8-track analog. Fun!
• Upcoming shows with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band, details to follow. We’ve been hiding in various studios in the Tri-State area for a while but we will be hitting the stage soon.

09/15/15

• Whew! After a whirlwind summer, things are slowing down a bit, which is just as well. Why? Because I’m working on my first solo album at the Relic Room.
• New additions to my discography.
• I added guitar to three different projects for Derrick Barnett’s Allman Town Productions on Sunday: a DB solo album, our Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band album, and another album by a legendary artist whose name I will not disclose now.
• More work for King Benj-I and Tronic1 Records this week.
• I did some weddings with Brooklyn stalwarts The Engagements and the EV Band, subbing for the amazing Matt Chertkoff on the latter gig.

08/18/15

• In spite of the fact that the volume of my session work has been way down for most of the year, I’ve started getting calls again. Praise the session gods with great praise! I’m finishing up King Benj-I’s latest album for Tronic1 Records, as well as a couple of other things I can’t talk about yet.
• I’m off to the south of France on Thursday for two shows with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express.
• The first session for my long-deferred solo album project is finally scheduled for September 19th at the Relic Room.

08/06/15

• On Sunday, August 9, we will NOT be appearing in Philadelphia with assorted I-Threes, et al, as previously announced. The show has been rescheduled to September 7th. Unfortunately I will be at the Detroit Jazz Festival with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express that day so I won’t be present…unless they reschedule the reschedule, which isn’t impossible. The working musician learns early on that NOTHING is guaranteed.

08/03/25

• I’ll be performing with two of the three I-Threes this weekend as part of Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band. We are at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, CT on Saturday, August 8, backing the legendary Judy Mowatt and opening for the equally legendary Beres Hammond and his great Harmony House band and singers. Details here.  I opened for Beres in Newark and Brooklyn last weekend as part of Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express and he was spectacular both nights.
• On Sunday, August 9, we’ll be backing Judy again, along with fellow I-Three Marcia Griffiths and young reggae lions I-Wayne and Kenyatta Hill, at Trench Town Rock, Bob Marley’s 70th Birthday Celebration, in Philadelphia at Fairmount Park. Details here.

07/23/15

• I’m recording with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express in Brooklyn for four days! We’re working on two albums simultaneously; I’m sworn to secrecy as to the contents. The legendary Steve Jordan, drummer/producer extraordinaire, is helping us out with the production.
• Monty and HKE will be opening for the mighty Beres Hammond on July 31 at NJPAC in Newark and August 1 at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn. Details here.
• I will also be opening for Beres yet again on August 8, with a different group, Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band. We will be backing the legendary Judy Mowatt of the I-Threes at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. Details here.
• The next day, August 9th, we back another legendary Jamaican songstress and I-Threes member Marcia Griffiths along with I-Wayne and Kenyatta Hill at the Philadelphia Jamaica Festival. Details here.

07/08/15

• Tonight and Friday, I’m playing with drummer Pat Van Dyke’s jazz/hip hop project PVD. This is a whole new area of music and musicians for me and I’m looking forward to it. Tonight is at City Life in Jersey City, Friday is at Duke’s Southern Table in Newark. Details here.
• I will be appearing at the Hartford Jazz Festival in Bushnell Park next Friday with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express. As a young musician, I regularly attended the free Monday night jazz concerts in Bushnell Park and wondered what it would be like to play there…now I’ll know! Best of all, it’s free.
• I played on a track for the excellent Japanese producer Fumibella on Sunday. The artist’s name is Hisatomi, no idea about the release date, but Fumi was in a hurry!
• Here’s a new post! About time.

06/26/15

• It happened too fast to post, but last Saturday I performed with the legendary Aretha Franklin at Caesar’s in Atlantic City. Video link here.
• Tomorrow I’ll be appearing at the Saratoga Springs Jazz Festival with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express.
• Sunday I’ll be appearing here with Judy Mowatt and Lieutenant Stitchie and a cast of thousands. I hear it’s sold out!
• A new addition (technically an update) to my discography!

06/15/15

• I have been back and forth to Europe a lot with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express recently. We will be appearing at the Saratoga Springs Jazz Festival on June 27.
• It looks I will be rejoining my old friend Derrick Barnett at Grooving In The Park 2015. Details to follow.

05/08/15

• This is a post from my friend Clark Gayton, one of the finest musicians I know, on an issue dear to my heart.
• I’m off to Europe on Sunday with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express for a week. We had a great time at the NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival last week, and I expect the party to continue. Find out about the shows, and other gigs I’m doing, here.
• Sessions for my solo album are proving difficult to schedule…

04/17/15

• I’m appearing with the Cannabis Cup Band tomorrow on the Rocks Off 4/20 Cruises. Go here and here for tickets and details.
• I will be appearing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at Koerner Hall in Toronto next Saturday and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 30. More HKE dates are in the works, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Details here.
• The long-threatened AB solo album is in the works! I’m starting to schedule sessions for May. May of this year, wise guys. I don’t want to say too much about it now, other than it could be described as old wine in new bottles.

03/23/15

• I’m appearing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express this Thursday through Sunday at the Jazz Standard in New York City. We have shows twice nightly at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m.
• We just played at the Burghausen Jazz Festival, Europe’s longest continuously running jazz festival. It was a wonderful experience, and was filmed for German television. Burghausen is a village of 18,000 people in Bavaria, on the Austrian border. How they came to host such a well-run and long-running event is a mystery to me, but it speaks to what a determined group of people can do if they put their minds to it.

03/05/15

• I’m appearing with the Robert Silverman Quartet at the Sugar Bar in NYC tomorrow night, and with Jim Wacker and Collateral Damage in Yonkers on Saturday. Details here. I’m also trying to figure out my newest (top secret) recording project…finances are always an issue, and never more so than in these days of nonexistent record sales.

02/03/15

• Big news!! For those of you who have been asking when I will do an Andy Bassford record, I now have an answer for you. I just did! At least I’ve started it. Go here to buy!

01/21/15

• I’m appearing with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band this Friday at A Place 2 Go, then on Saturday I’m off to Fort Lauderdale with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express to take part in the Jazz Cruise. (Sorry, it’s sold out!)

01/17/15

• After a thirty-year gap, I’m resuming my solo career. I’ve just mixed a solo acoustic 12-string version of “Rivers of Babylon,” which I will be releasing digitally as soon as I figure out how that works!

01/09/15

• The first post of the New Year! New year, new tablet-friendly website, new gigs with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express! Tomorrow night we will be at the Miami Beach Jazz Fest. The last week of the month we will be part of the Jazz Cruise 2015, along with a truly jaw-dropping lineup.
• I’ve written my first tunes for my new group, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy. We’ll be debuting them in February at the Jazz In’It series at Mystique Lounge in the Bronx.

11/17/14

• New tablet-friendly website coming soon! Now that I’ve had my website up for a couple of years, I’ve realized what parts of it people are responding to, and what parts have been replaced by such things as Facebook. It’s also a different viewing world now, so I need to adapt accordingly. Webmaster to the stars Jeff Macaluso is implementing my  new vision, as he did the current one; I’m sure you’ll like it.
• I think I just set a personal record for distance traveled between consecutive one nighters. Here are the steps:
  • Wednesday night show with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at the
    Jazz Club in Bülach, Switzerland to hotel: .5 miles
  • Thursday morning drive from hotel to Zurich airport: 7.1 miles
  • Zurich airport to Amsterdam airport: 375.5 miles
  • Distance between gates in Amsterdam airport: .5 miles
  • Amsterdam airport to JFK terminal 4: 3637.9 miles
  • JFK terminal 4 to JFK long term parking: 3.9 miles
  • JFK long term parking to the venue, Treme in Islip, NY in time for a Thursday night show with Island Head: 37.1 miles.

This brings us to a grand total of 4062.5 miles by car, train, and plane. I’m not complaining, I love what I do! But there is a certain amount of effort involved behind the scenes.

10/15/14

• New additions to my discography. These include the newly released New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble’s “Free As A Bird,” which you can buy here.

10/13/14

• Sad news from Jamaica: The great Roots Radics drummer Lincoln Valentine “Style” Scott is dead. My memories of him are here.

09/23/14

• A quiet week coming up, after ten HKE shows at Dizzy’s, I’ll take it!

09/15/14

• It’s ON! Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express will be appearing at Dizzy’s Clup Coca-Cola, one of the world’s great jazz venues, this week from Wednesday through Sunday night. Get details here.
• After the last show I will be racing up to the Country Kitchen in Pelham Manor to sit in with my group the Jazz Conspiracy. The wonderful George Naha will be subbing for me. Details here.
• We had a wonderful show in Salt Lake City on Saturday. The JazzSLC Foundation, led by Gordon Hanks, did a fine job and the Capitol Theater reminds me of the Bushnell Auditorium in Hartford, where I saw dozens of concerts growing up. Gordon is a lovely man who does great work to bring the music to a place that you don’t normally think of as a jazz mecca. I look forward to going back some day.

08/22/14

• Tonight! Island Head at my favorite venue, A Place 2 Go! The legendary Mikey Chung will be rejoining us on guitar. Our show last night at Treme was great fun, and very well attended. Thanks to everyone who came out.
• Lots of new gigs with with Monty Alexander and others coming up.
• The long-threatened tablet-friendly website design has taken another step towards completion, courtesy of Jeff Macaluso, web designer to the stars.

08/06/14

• A lovely review of Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express here. Thanks!
• Our tour of the Medical Marijuana States continues with a show in Vail on Thursday, two nights in Aspen on Friday and Saturday, and San Jose on Sunday. Then we end at the Marciac Jazz Festival in France. Details here.

07/18/14

• Tonight! A rare live Island Head live show at my favorite venue, A Place 2 Go! We are still getting regular airplay on Sirius XM The Joint.
• My band The Blue People is now available for booking here, along with many other great acts.
• Here I am live at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express!
• Playing live at the Westchester Tavern with Jim Wacker and Collateral Damage for Jim’s CD release party on Saturday. Buy it here so you can sing along!

07/01/14

• Here’s a very nice article about Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express albums. Thanks!
• I had an amazing time at Groovin In The Park this Sunday, backing L.U.S.T. along with the rest of Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band. Air Supply, Beres Hammond, Chronixx, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Judy Mowatt, Ken Boothe, Tony Gregory, and lots of my old Kingston musician friends were in attendance. My Facebook page has pix of some of the fun.
• My band, The Blue People, is available for summer bookings. Check us out here.

06/23/14

• Wow! Too busy to update! I just got back from Ronnie Scott’s in London with Monty Alexander. A good time was had by all.
• My band, The Blue People, is appearing this Thursday at a benefit for these folks. Details here and here.
• I’ll be with Derrick Barnett at A Place To Go this Friday and we’ll be backing L.U.S.T. at Groovin’ In The Park on Sunday.

05/15/14

• Lots of recording and performing recently, two of my favorite things. I’ll be with Derrick Barnett at A Place To Go this Friday, playing with The Engagements at a private event on Saturday, and with my new group, finally named Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, on Sunday. Click here for details.
• I’ve also been in the studio with Michael Tate’s 3D, roots producer Fatta, and Howard Erskine for Trackheadz Entertainment.
• I removed a lot of older entries from this page, in preparation for the tablet-friendly redesign of this site, now in progress.

05/02/14

• The trip to Tokyo with Monty Alexander was a blast! St. Lucia Jazz Festival in two weeks.
• I’ve updated the Performance Videos and Video Jukebox pages, cleaning up broken links and including dub versions where available.

04/21/14

• The second “Jazz In’it” concert at the Wembley Athletic Club in the Bronx, featuring my new project, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, was a success. The wonderful George Naha filled in for me until I could get there from my 4/20 boat ride with the legendary Cannabis Cup Band. We’ll be doing it again on May 18th and June 15th.

04/16/14

• Here’s an interview I did about the genesis of “Boxing” by Cornell Campbell, a record that people still listen to.
• More dates with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express! It looks like I’ll be traveling more this summer than I have in a while. Fine with me! I love the Bronx but it’s nice to get out and about to see what the rest of the world outside the NYC Metro area is doing.

04/14/14

• I just recorded an EP with the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. Look for it to be released soon.
• I’m going to Japan with Monty Alexander! Details here.
• The new Monty Alexander album is out, meaning that I have updated my discography. You can buy it here.
• Before that, I’m on a boat with the Cannabis Cup Band for 4/19 and 4/20. Details as above.
• We’re doing a Blue People video shoot next week for the AFM Local 802 booking agency. The group recently did a private party at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, a new area for us.
• My new jazz project, Andy Bassford’s Jazz Conspiracy, will be performing in the Bronx at the Wembley AC. I’ll be joining them as soon as I can get there after the CCB boatride. Again, see here for details.

03/28/14

• I will be appearing with Monty and the crew at Brooklyn College tomorrow night. Details here.
• My gig at Xpressions was a blast, and more dates as a leader are coming up soon.
• I’ll be all over the map with Monty Alexander this summer. So far we have confirmed dates in Japan, London, NYC, Colorado, Seattle, St. Lucia, France, and Italy! Details to follow.

03/20/14

• I have my own gig as a leader!! I’ll be playing jazz this Sunday night in the Bronx at Club Xpressions from 7 to 11 p.m. with some great friends and musicians. Go here for details.
• The new Monty Alexander Harlem Kingston Express 2: The River Rolls On album, on which I played, is coming out in April, but you can preview and preorder it here.
• I will be appearing with Monty and the crew at Brooklyn College next Saturday night. Details here. Plus we’ll be on the road a lot this summer, so more of you will have a chance to see us. There’s nothing like playing an NYC jazz club, but I’ve been off the road for a while and look forward to doing it again.
• The design for the more tablet-friendly www.andybassford.com site is coming along well. Soon we’ll be smaller and more mobile. I wish I could say the same about myself!

03/09/14

• For the last two days and nights, the New York City reggae community has been celebrating the life of the late great Philip Smart, who passed a few days ago. This is an incredible loss to all of us, and in honor of his memory I wrote a tribute to him here.

03/05/14

• Gigs! See here! Including Island Head‘s second live show ever! We are still getting regular airplay on Sirius XM The Joint.
• I seem to be developing a parallel career as a panelist/radio guest. I appeared at the Coalition to Preserve Reggae’s panel discussion on the music’s future last Thursday evening in Brooklyn, and I have another offer to appear on a TV show, which I am trying to fit into my schedule. Strange, but not unpleasant.
• The redesign of the website is still in progress…
• Lots more Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express shows in the pipeline.

Newish nostalgia. Here’s what I was doing, more or less play by play, over the last year or so.

02/13/14

• Tonight I return to the Coalition to Preserve Reggae’s Real Talk show with host Carlyle McKetty. Topics of discussion will be the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown, with whom I was privileged to work for eight years early in my career, and the future of reggae. I’m not quite sure how I’m getting to Brooklyn yet, where the show originates, but I’m leaving early. The show airs from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight, the guests usually come on at 8. The last time I was on this show, we went more than half an hour overtime because it was so much fun. Carlyle is a terrific interviewer and asks really thought-provoking questions. To listen, go to www.cprreggae.org and click on the CPRLive link. You can blog and ask me questions in real time if you like!
• More Monty Alexander shows in the works! In the meantime, I’m appearing around the area. Click here to see all confirmed shows.
• Working on a guitar solo for legendary reggae drummer Paul Douglas of Toots and the Maytals fame’s upcoming solo album in my home studio.

02/06/14

• It’s Bob Marley’s Birthday! And as is customary, I will be appearing at B. B. King’s with the Cannabis Cup Band for two shows this Saturday. If you can’t wait to see me, I will be appearing with Derrick Barnett on Friday at A Place 2 Go. Click here for info on these and other upcoming shows.
• More Monty gigs coming! Details when I have them.
• I’ve added the next chapter of my ongoing serial, “Why Do You Have So Many Guitars?” here.

01/27/14

• It was an amazing weekend of music at the Blue Note. I played with Monty Alexander‘s Harlem-Kingston Express along with special guests Ernest Ranglin, plus the wonderful young reggae singer Chronixx and his band. Every set had special moments, I wish everyone could have been there. The shows were very successful, which hopefully means we will repeat them!
• Part of being a working musician is being so busy sometimes that you don’t have time to update your website! But webmaster to the stars Jeff Macaluso is working on a new, more tablet-friendly version that we will hopefully roll out in the next couple of months.
• This week we start rehearsals for the annual Bob Marley Birthday shows at B. B. King’s with the Cannabis Cup Band. Don’t forget that there is an All Ages show at 4 p.m. the same day, with more kid-friendly volumes and repertoire. There are some surprises this year!

01/13/14

• Tonight I appear with the legendary Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at the Blue Note in New York City! The first show is sold out but you can still get tickets for the 10:30 show.
• I have already done my first recordings of 2014, working on a new album by King Benj-I for Tronic 1 records.
• It’s finally here! The long-awaited reworking of my legendary MySpace series “Why Do You Have So Many Guitars?” More than you ever wanted to know! Go here for part I.

12/27/13

• What a year it’s been! No New Year’s Eve gig yet, which is fine. After last year’s debacle, I don’t care if I ever play another one. However, tonight I appear at A Place 2 Go in New Rochelle with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band in my last public appearance of 2013.

12/7/13

• In a frenzy of CD relocation and assembly, I found three previously overlooked additions to my discography.
• Many of you have been asking when I will write my long-threatened memoir of my time in Jamaica. Well, I have started compiling the emails and assorted writings on the subject that are scattered throughout my virtual universe, as of last night. This is an essential first step. It’s almost time for New Year’s resolutions and I think I know what one of mine will be.
• A very busy week coming up! Mostly recording and private events, but I will be appearing in public as well. Go here for the latest.

11/12/13

• I’ll be appearing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express in London on Tuesday, November 19 at the Barbican on a double bill with Courtney Pine. I love London and have been away for far too long. Really looking forward to this.
• In other Monty news, the new Harlem-Kingston Express album will be out soon. We have a version of “What’s Going On” that I can’t wait for people to hear.

10/30/13

• I’ll be appearing with The Engagements for Halloween, here.
• I found a new YouTube performance video from my appearance with Monty Alexander at the North Sea Jazz Festival earlier this year. Go here to see it, as well as lots of other videos from my checkered past. Some of the little pictures have vanished, but the links work. (I’ll be fixing that soon, but things have been busy of late.)
• I’ll be appearing here with Monty in London next month. London is one of my favorite cities, and I haven’t been there since my Maytals days, so I’m really looking forward to this.
• Closer to home, I have a lot of NYC area shows this week. Go here to find out more.

10/18/13

• I’ll be appearing with Dajla Laila, a singer/songwriter from Tunisia by way of London, tonight here.
• Tomorrow, I’ll be with the Brooklyn Attractors at Two Boots in, of course, Brooklyn!

10/8/13

• I’m going to update this site soon. In partnership with web designer to the stars Jeff Macaluso, we are going to slim things down a bit and make it more friendly for people who use hand-held devices for their web fix. Hopefully we’ll be rolling it out by the end of this year.
• I will be appearing in the video shoot for Keisha Martin‘s “Ghetto Prince” next Wednesday. Keisha is a wonderful singer who’s been cruising under the radar in NYC for some time now. The video has an 80s dancehall theme, so I have to look at old photos to figure out what I was wearing back then. I probably still have some of the clothes!
• Gigs this month with Gyptian, Derrick Barnett, and the Brooklyn Attractors. More coming in, I hope. If not…time to do some home recording.

9/21/13

• Island Head’s “Punky Reggae Party”  is #89 on the iTunes reggae chart!
• I appeared at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on September 1st with Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band as a last minute substitute for the band from Jamaica that was supposed to back Capelton, Shabba Ranks, and Lady Saw. Twelve hours’ notice, no rehearsal! Hence no time to announce it. The show went well, all considered.
• Lots of private gigs this month.

8/29/13

• Tonight I appear live on the Coalition to Preserve Reggae’s internet radio show “Real Talk.” Host Carlyle McKetty and I had a most interesting discussion during a CPR live broadcast at a street fair in Brooklyn a few months ago, and he suggested that we continue it on his show later. So said, so done, and tonight is the night. CPR’s radio station broadcasts a variety of conscious music and talk 24/7. You can check them out here. Click on the CPR Live graphic at the top of the page to start receiving the broadcast.
• I’m playing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express this Saturday night at, oddly enough, the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival in Easton, MD. Our show is at the Avalon Theater at 8:00 p.m. It’s sold out, but you may be able to find tickets for the other fine performers on the show here.
• I also did some recording with Monty and the HKE a couple of weeks ago at Avatar Studios in NYC for our followup record to the Grammy-nominated Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express Live!

8/15/13

• I’m playing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan all week. Details here.
• Sirius XM The Joint has live versions of songs from the Island Head interview/exclusive performance in heavy rotation. Check it out!

7/31/13

• The Island Head interview/exclusive performance airs tomorrow, August 1st at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Sirius XM The Joint.
• I’ve been rehearsing all week along with the rest of Derrick Barnett and Statement Band for the Luciano shows with Beres Hammond at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan on Friday and NJPAC in Newark on Saturday. Go here for details.

7/25/13

• Island Head recorded live for Sirius XM The Joint yesterday.
• Tonight with Simone G at Club Ella in NYC!

7/16/13

• It’s pretty quiet this week, but there are some great gigs coming up next week that I thought you should know about.
• First, the debut gig of Island Head will be happening Wednesday, July 24, at the new Cutting Room in Manhattan. Here’s the link for tickets.
• On Thursday, July 25, I will be appearing with Simone G, a fine young reggae singer who’s sung with Marleys of all stripes and is now venturing out on her own, at Ella Lounge. Here’s the link.
• On Friday, I will be backing Coasters’ lead singer Early Clover at Jesup Green, Westport, CT, along with my friends from Collateral Damage. Early is a terrific old school R&B singer and puts on a wonderful show. Plus, it’s free!
• Coming up…Luciano!

7/10/13

• I am very excited to be performing with Monty Alexander again this Friday night at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Here’s the link!
• In other news, a second Island Head show has been added in addition to our live debut at the Cutting Room in NYC on July 24. This one is on July 27 at 78 Below. Go here for all the IH details. Jamband radio and Sirius XM the Joint are still playing our debut CD, Punky Reggae Party. Buy it here or here!

7/1/13

• Today is the anniversary of the great Dennis Brown’s passing. I’ve written a brief tribute here.
• I’ll be appearing in Rotterdam with the amazing Monty Alexander in two weeks, with a Saturday night off in Amsterdam! I think I can live with getting home a day later…

6/25/13

• Still more additions to my discography.
• I’m playing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at the Rochester International Jazz Festival on Saturday. It’s free!!

6/13/13

• I have a new blog post on a topic that surfaces occasionally.
• Lots of gigs next week!

6/4/13

• Island Head’s first live gig has been booked, with all original members on board! We’ll be at the new Cutting Room in Manhattan. Here’s the link for tickets.
• It’s June, so I’m doing some weddings. Unlike a lot of musicians, I like playing weddings, but that’s probably because I almost always play them with the Engagements!
• Session work for the Ovations at Courtney Panton’s Kingston Studio.
• I’m playing with Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express at the Rochester International Jazz Festival later this month.
• I’m planning a site redesign soon. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments on this one, but the changing technology of smart phones means that it’s time to rethink things.

5/14/13

• More additions to my discography.

5/11/13

• A real reggae lover and genuine nice guy named Ingmar from the Netherlands has a great blog dedicated to Joe Gibbs productions called Pressure Beat. He did an interview with me about Cornell Campbell’s big hit “Boxing” for the label, which was one of my earliest recordings. Of course, you can listen to the song on my Video Jukebox page. It’s in the lower right hand corner.
• Check out the rest of Ingmar’s blog too. Fans of my old group Cool Runnings will enjoy his post on lead singer Patrick Burke’s former group ElPedio and the Sonics,

5/7/13

• With Monty Alexander’s Harlem/Kingston Express at Birdland all this week!

4/30/13

• Nice reviews for both the Mike Lefton (here) and Mister Fred (here) CDs I produced.
• Not many gigs this week, but I’m appearing with Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express all next week at Birdland in Manhattan. Go here for tickets.

4/22/13

• Lots of gigs this week!
• The Laura Haykel and Hopeton Hibbert projects are done, for now. (Hopeton’s album is supposed to drop in May.) More practice time! Or there would be if there weren’t so many gigs.
• A nice review of the Mike Lefton CD here. Mike has already had to restock his CD five times on the CDBaby site. He’s playing out regularly too in support of the project.
• More airplay on Sirius XM the Joint and Vassar College Radio for Island Head.

4/10/13

• Tax time has slowed my updating considerably, but the end is in sight. I’ll be back here more regularly.
• Doing yet another track for bassist/vocalist Hopeton Hibbert (son of Toots) for his debut album and finishing up a track for Laura Haykel at home.
• After a period of quiet, I have three recording sessions this week! Are the Eighties back?
• My band, the Blue People, will be performing a fundraising event for the YAI Network at Scallywag’s in Manhattan on April 25.
• I’m doing a very rare gig as a leader the next night at Park 143 Bistro in Bronxville, featuring some of the other Blue People.
• The Island Head CD keeps going and growing as more and more jamband radio programs are adding it to their playlists. We are planning live shows for the summer and a festival appearance in Jamaica in August.

3/27/13

• More work on Hopeton Hibbert and Laura Haykel projects at home. I need to come up with a catchy name for my studio.
• The Island Head CD is at #6 on CMJ’s World Music Chart!
• Almost finished with the second Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express CD. We will be appearing at Birdland in NYC in May and then it looks like we will be doing a show in Jamaica!
• Gigs! With The Engagements, Derrick Barnett, and a special guest shot on Sunday night with songbird Simone G at the Shrine in Harlem.
• Thinking about a redesign for the website to make it more compatible with mobile devices, among other things.

3/18/13

• My custom designed guitar picks from D’Addario showed up. They really do a great job. I’m not a D’Addario endorser (GHS for me!) so I am not being compensated for this endorsement. I’ll put a scan up if I think of it, so you can see what they look like.
• Things have been quieter than they’ve been for a long time. I did do some recording with Eddie Parkins (of Alton and Eddie fame, for you Jamaican music history geeks.
• Hopeton Hibbert loved the tracks I did for him at home! He sent me another one to work on; his album is supposed to drop in May. Hopeton and I go way back so I’m happy I’ll be on the record.
• Producing a track for Laura Haykel of iFlourish Consulting. Laura has a wonderful voice and a distinct point of view. I am excited to hear what people think of it.

3/2/13

• Bill Messinetti and I visited Cable Man Dan‘s show on Tuesday to talk about the Island Head CD and lots of other fun things.
• Dan likes to play a different version of “Rivers of Babylon” on every one of his shows, so he asked us to do one live. We did, but when he said he wanted to use it as a drop I told him I wanted to do it over. I’m sending this to Bill to put percussion on, but you can hear the solo version here. It’s in the Sounds section.
• More studio work on both the new Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express CD and the debut CD for jazz singer Caterina Zapponi (a.k.a. Mrs. Monty Alexander). Not sure of projected release dates for either.
• The Mike Lefton EP I produced, “What Are We Waiting For,” is getting terrific response. And people are buying it! You can do so here.

2/21/13

• Here’s a brief article I wrote about getting started in the music business. Not just for musicians.
• Working on guitar tracks at home in my studio for Hopeton Hibbert (a great bass player and singer) and DB & Statement Band keyboardist Raymond Stewart.
• I just ordered custom designed guitar picks from D’Addario. Curious to see how they come out.

2/19/13

• The wonderful people at Akismet have repaired my sp*m problem. Comment away!
• It looks as though Island Head will be appearing live in Jamaica on August 10. Details to follow. The CD is still in rotation on Sirius XM and is gaining ground on jamband programs too.

2/12/13

• People have nice things to say about Clark Gayton’s new CD, Clark & the Superslicks, which I played on. Clark is the first call tubaist and trombonist to the stars (he’s currently touring with Bruce Springsteen, a genius musician, and an all around great guy. Buy the CD here!
• I did a radio interview with the Night Nurse, Amy Wachtel, at Radio Lily. You can listen to the show here if you missed it live.

2/5/13

• I just found out that a gig I did with Toots and the Maytals at the New Orleans Jazz Festival in 1991 has been reissued by Island as “Toots Live.” This means I had to update my discography.
• If any of you have commented on any of my posts and not seen your comments, please accept my apologies. The sp*m problem is quite serious here behind the scenes and I am trying to clean things up.
• My favorite young reggae band, New Kingston, releases their new album, Kingston University, today! (Yes, I played on it.)
• The Island Head and Roots Nation CDs are getting airplay all over the world, and tour dates are being discussed. Many thanks to all the DJs, most notably Pat McKay and Dermot Hussey of Sirius XM The Joint, for all their support!
• In bad news, the Monty Alexander concert in Jamaica, scheduled for March 10, has been cancelled.

2/4/13

• I played a session on Friday for Monty Alexander. We’re finishing up the followup to the Grammy-nominated Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express Live! Gary Bartz played alto sax on a version of the Marvin Gaye classic “What’s Going On” that I’m really happy with. Not sure of release date yet.
• The Cannabis Cup Bob Marley Birthday shows at B.B. King’s were very successful. CCB will be playing the Rocks Off 420 Cruise on, naturally, 4/20.
• I played on a track for a great young artist, Gabi Wilson. Hope it makes the record! Gabi is amazing. She sings, plays guitar, piano, and bass, and babysits her little sister, all with great skill and aplomb. They watched the session (at Oz Studios) via Skype, a first for me.
• More work with Karl Wright on the Nova CD.
• The Mike Lefton EP I produced, “What Are We Waiting For,” is at the manufacturing plant and should be available this month.
• Giles Guitars rock! I visited their shop last month and liked three of the prototypes very much. They are still tweaking; more on this as it develops.

1/14/13

• A lovely review of the Mister Fred CD that I produced, Golden Age, here.
• I recorded bass and acoustic guitar tracks for an exciting new artist, Nova. Karl Wright produced, brilliantly. I’m not sure how far along the project is, but the five or six songs I’ve played on so far for her really smoke. If you like Etana, you will really like Nova. Still no electric guitar played in the studio yet this year.
• Over New Year’s weekend I also recorded guitar tracks in my home studio for Fred Locks (produced by Duplex Music) and New Kingston, my favorite young reggae band. (I’m also on their new album, Kingston University, which drops 2/5/13.) New Kingston totally rocks live and they are on tour now. Check them out!
• Yet another addition to the discography.
• If you want me to record tracks at home for your project, email me through my contact page for details and rates.
• Finishing up the Mike Lefton EP I’m producing. Final mixes this week, mastering on Monday, pressed and ready by February 1. I’ve played it for some people I respect a lot and the reaction so far is everything we could hope for.
• Playing in New Hampshire on Wednesday with NY Ska-Jazz Ensemble.

1/4/13

• My New Year’s Eve gig was a total disaster. I’m still waiting to get paid.
• I recorded two acoustic tunes with Ras Karbi last night, they sound a little like a reggae Blonde On Blonde. The studio was great, The Kennel in Brooklyn. Wharton Tiers produced.
• Inspired by the events of NYE, I created a new post. You can read it here.
• More mixing for the Mike Lefton EP with Jeff Ganz. We missed the Xmas shopping season, thanks to Hurricane Sandy, but we’re near the finish line.
• I’ll be meeting with the people at Giles Guitars later this month to consult with them about their new line of instruments.

12/28/12

• I’m trying hard to keep it interesting around here! So I present an opinion for your dissection.
• I have to repeat myself about this! Listen to Island Head here at 8 p.m. Eastern time tonight!
• Gigs already coming in for next year. Whew.
• Still more additions to the discography. I’m glad Clark Gayton has released (as Clark & the Super Slicks) some of the great instrumentals we recorded for various projects that never saw the light of day at the time.

12/26/12

• Nice reviews of the Island Head and Roots Nation albums by Tom Orr here. They’re down in the middle of the page, but they are there. Thanks, Tom!
• Jamaican broadcasting legend Dermot Hussey will be featuring a number of tracks from the Island Head album on his Internet radio show this Friday at 8:00 p.m. US time.  (7:00 p.m. JA time.) You can click here to listen.
• My favorite guitar-related publication will be interviewing me soon! I can’t say more until I’m sure the article is in the production process, but stay tuned.
• Gigs with Derrick Barnett and Statement Band at the Shrine in Harlem this Sunday and with DB & SB backing Singing Melody and Gramps Morgan on New Year’s Eve at Amazura in Queens. We will be opening for the legendary Sanchez.
• The Felix da Housecat CD I worked on is in the mixing stages. Hope my tracks make the final cut! You never know until you hear it.

12/10/2012

• Here’s a link to an article I wrote quite a while ago about living frugally on the road. My friend Justin Rothberg is about to go on a tour and I found it for him. It then occurred to me that others would find it useful.
• Lots of gigs coming in!
• Island Head  will soon be available as a physical CD on CDBaby. Sirius XM The Joint is playing it regularly. Great item for holiday giving!
• More entries to my discography.

12/03/2012

• Lots to report. First, the gigs are coming back. New Year’s Eve with Derrick Barnett and Statement Band backing Gramps Morgan and Singing Melody at Amazura in Queens is confirmed. Lots of our old haunts too. Go here for details.
• We finished tracking, so Jeff Ganz and I are doing the mixes for the Mike Lefton EP. Goal: finish before year’s end!
• Legendary reggae DJ and music authority Dermot Hussey will be playing Island Head on his Jamaican radio show (he told us so)! Here’s the info, not sure when he’s playing it though.  FRIDAYS: 7.05 PM JA TIME, 8.05 pm US SUNDAYS:  5.15 pm JA Time, 6.15pm US LIVE STREAM : WWW.NEWSTALK.COM.JM(CLICK) ON LISTEN LIVE)
• Big support from Sirius XM The Joint for Island Head! You can buy it on iTunes.