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“Bandleader, composer and saxophonist David Hillyard has done more to advance the mix of reggae and jazz.than any number of big names in jazz who have tinkered with the Jamaican Sound” -
The African Beat Magazine
Tenor and soprano saxophonist, David Hillyard is one of the innovators of the American ska scene. His group, the Rocksteady 7, mixes instrumental Jamaican “roots” rhythms ala the Skatalites, Burning Spear, and extended jazz improvisation ala David Murray, Charlie Haden, and Pharaoh Saunders.
His latest cd, Get Back UP!, is a blinding tour de force of his Jamaican Jazz conception. The title track evokes the power of Coltrane's Love Supreme and is a screaming triumph over adversity. Through the baldhead reggae of "Death Ride", to the Brazillian Bingi, "Ca Purange", and a confident ska version of the 60s classic, "Sunny", Dave and his friends are at the top of their game.
Dave has been a professional musician for over 20 years. As a 17 year old youth he played with The Donkey Show, one of California’s pioneering ska bands. He also played with Hepcat which went onto become one of the biggest ska acts of the 1990's. He has also performed with ska groups like the Stubborn All-Stars, Skinner box, reggae artists like Cornell Campbell, Congo ‘Ashanti’ Roy and Johnny Osbourne, jazz artists like Roy Campbell, blues artists like Simon Chardiet, soul singers like Archie Bell (“Do the Tighten Up" ), and even punkrockers like Rancid.
But Dave is best known for his work with the Slackers. He continues to be a key member of that organization and has appeared on their 10 cd releases and 1,000s of live gigs. With the Slackers, he currently averages about 120-150 gigs a year in the USA, Canada, Japan, Latin America, and Europe
Through his diverse experience, Dave has developed an unique style. A mix of the warm island tonalities of Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook, the strident cries of John Coltrane, the smears of Sidney Bechet, the otherworldliness of Pharaoh Saunders, the honking blues of King Curtis, and the swing of Ben Webster, Lester Young, and Coleman Hawkins. As Jazziz magazine put it succinctly, “HILLYARD CAN PLAY ”
His band, Rocksteady 7, is a shifting collective of musicians featuring some of the best players in New York City. They have experience playing with everyone from Sting to the Skatalites. Senior among them is veteran percussionist, Larry McDonald. Larry began his career back at the inception of ska music with Carlos Malcolm’s Afro Jamaicans. He went on to perform on several classic reggae tracks such as Cherry Oh Baby, Funky Kingston, and Rivers of Babylon. Then he left Jamaica and played long stints with Taj Mahal and Gil Scott-Heron.
The Rocksteady 7's debut cd, Playtime (Hellcat/Epitaph), was widely praised for its innovative mix of Jamaican “roots” rhythms with Jazz and Latin influences. The title track, Playtime, where nyabinghi drumming met a jazz Miles Davis-esque waltz, was widely played on the National Public Radio show, “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”
The Rocksteady 7's second cd, United Front (Do Tell/Brixton), mixed free improvisation, reggae, and revolutionary rhetoric. The African Beat magazine referred to the group as “real musical revolutionaries” and stated that they “cut the competition.” Ragga magazine referred to them as “the magnificent 7.”
Their 3rd cd, Way Out East (Brixton), captured the powerful energy of the band live. Recorded in Jena, Germany this disc was noted by Worldmusic.com as a perfect Jazz/Reggae fusion and will leave fans of both in a "state of bliss."
In the meantime, Dave put out a japanese release that still has to see the full light of day in the rest of the world. Entitled "Hits of Jackpot", it features Dave playing over classic Bunny Lee and Lloyd Charmers rhythms. It was produced by Glen Adams of Wailers and Upsetters fame.
, "GET BACK UP!" is out on BRIXTON RECORDS in Europe, DISK UNION in Japan, and WHATEVSKI.ORG in the USA
Dave’s band has played numerous venues in New York City from SOBs, the Knitting Factory, Wetlands, Bbkings, and the Bottom Line. For most of 2005, they were regulars at Detour, a small jazz club on the lower east side of New York. They have also played at Los Angeles’ Whisky A Go Go, Knitting Factory, Echoplex (dub club), and House of Blues; the Toronto Jazz Festival; and numerous club dates in the eastern United States and Canada. Since early 2004, they have also completed 3 European tours, playing in Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Germany.
Websites:
www.myspace.com/davidhillyardrocksteady7
www.myspace.com/davehillyard
David Hillyard & Rocksteady 7 Discography:
Playtime (Hellcat/Epitaph) - 1999
United Front (Do Tell/Brixton) - 2002
Way Out East (Brixton) - 2007
Selected David Hillyard Discography:
w/the Slackers
Better Late Than Never (Moon) - 1996
Red Light (Hellcat) - 1997
The Question (Hellcat) - 1998
Live at Ernesto’s (Hellcat) - 2000
Wasted Days (Hellcat) - 2001
Slacker and Friends (Special Potato/Echo Beach) - 2002
Close My Eyes (Hellcat) - 2003
Upsettin Ernestos (LAE) - 2004
Afternoon in Dub (Special Potato/Echo Beach) - 2005
Peculiar (Hellcat/Epitaph) - 2006
Boss Harmony Sessions (Special Potato) - 2007
Self Medication (Indication/Moanin/Skaintheworld) - 2008
w/Glen Adams
Hits of Jackpot (Ska in the World, 2007)
w/other artists
The Donkey Show - Cant Get Enough Of (A to Y) - 1998
Hepcat - Out of Nowhere (Moon) - 1992
Rancid - Life Wont Wait (Epitaph) - 1999
Rancid - Beavis & Butthead Do America (Geffen) - 1996
Skinnerbox - What You Can Do & What You Cant (Moon) - 1997
Stubborn All- Stars - Open Season (Profile) - 1995
Stubborn All- Stars - Back With A New Batch (Profile) - 1998
