Inspired by the great Motown songbook, Motorcity Roots features fifteen tracks of classic songs by Motown hit songwriters — including Holland, Dozier and Holland, Smokey Robinson and Barrett Strong — arranged Jazz Jamaica-style by members of the band.

With hits including ‘Dancing in the Street’, ‘What’s Going On’, ‘Easy’, ‘Just My Imagination’ and ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’, the album celebrates the legacy of the label that produced some of the finest pop songs of all time during its heyday from the early ’60s to the mid ’70s.

Led by bassist and Dune Records founder Gary Crosby, Jazz Jamaica’s infectious blend of jazz, reggae and ska has earned the band critical acclaim and a devoted fan base over the last decade and a half. Alongside jazz luminaries such as Soweto Kinch, Denys Baptiste and soul/R&B diva Juliet Roberts, the band’s new 12-piece line-up features some of the rising stars of the scene, including Abram Wilson and Zara McFarlane.

Also featured are special guests Sir Bill Morris (former leader of the TGWU), who narrates Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ and nu-soul pioneer Omar, who lends his inimitable vocals to ‘Just My Imagination’.

This project is a natural progression for Jazz Jamaica, whose music embraces the same cross-fertilisation of music from different cultures that led to the distinctive Motown sound. It’s also appropriate that Motorcity Roots should be released on Dune, the independent UK based record label that stands on the same principles as Berry Gordy’s label, with a tightly knit family of musicians and arrangers and, more importantly, an ethos of self-sufficiency.

• 28th January — Arts Depot, North Finchley, London
• 3rd February — De Montfort Hall, Leicester
• 9th February — St George’s Hall, Bristol10th February - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

• Gary Crosby - Double Bass/Band Leader
• Juliet Roberts - Vocals
• Abram Wilson - Trumpet / Vocals
• Mary Pearce - Vocals
• Soweto Kinch - Alto Saxophone
• Zara McFarlane - Vocals
• Denys Baptiste - Tenor/Soprano Saxophone
• Wesley Lucas - Vocals
• Harry Brown - Trombone
• Robin Banerjee - Guitar
• Satin Singh - Percussion
• Rod Youngs - Drums

Special Guests:
Sir Bill Morris (spoken word), Omar (vocals)

Additional Musicians:
Jason Yarde (alto saxophone), Andrew McCormack (piano), Pete Eckford (percussion). Rasiyah, Julie Dexter (Additional Backing Vocals), Alex Wilson (Piano/Organ)

Tracklisting:
1. I Want You Back - feat. Abram Wilson / arr. Abram Wilson & Jason Yarde
2. Dancing In The Street - feat. Juliet Roberts, Jason Yarde, Abram Wilson, Denys Baptiste & Harry Brown / arr. Jason Yarde
3. Signed Sealed Delivered - feat. Mary Pearce / arr. Abram Wilson
4. You Keep Me Hanging On - feat. Mary Pearce / arr. Jason Yarde
5. Easy - feat. Abram Wilson / arr. Alex Wilson
6. Just My Imagination - feat. Omar / arr. Kevin Robinson
7. Tears Of A Clown - feat. Juliet Roberts / arr. Soweto Kinch
8. I Was Made To Love Her - feat. Wesley Lucas & Denys Baptiste / arr. Harry Brown
9. What’s Going On? - feat. Sir Bill Morris & Soweto Kinch / arr. Gary Crosby & Denys Baptiste
10. My Girl - feat. Abram Wilson & Soweto Kinch / arr. Soweto Kinch
11. My Guy - feat. Zara McFarlane & Harry Brown / arr. Gary Crosby
12. Ma Cherie Amour - feat. Zara McFarlane & Wesley Lucas / arr. Kevin Robinson
13. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - feat. Denys Baptiste / arr. Gary Crosby
14. This Old Heart Of Mine - feat. Juliet Roberts & Alex Wilson / arr. Alex Wilson
15. War - feat. Juliet Roberts, Mary Pearce, Harry Brown, Denys Baptiste / arr. Alex Wilson

www.jazzjamaica.com