MR. T-BONE – Sees America – CD

Label: Brixton Records
Catalog Number: BR-014-CD
Format: Compact Disc, Album
Released: 2005

Always in love with ska and reggae music, he began collaborating with the top Italian exponents of this scene. Naturally, Gigi was immediately hired as a full member of “Africa Unite”—Italy’s most famous reggae band—and “Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters,” a fantastic rocksteady combo. Recording and performing with both bands, he experienced 3 years of brilliant success. During this period, he also took part in recording sessions with: Vallanzaska, Civic Jazz Big Band, Casino Royale, Scisma, Platinette, Vinicio Capossela, Persiana Jones, and Wah Companion.

In the summer of 2002, Mr. T-Bone joined The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble as a trombonist for the prestigious American band’s European tour. Once the tour ended, he decided to accompany them back to New York and participate in the recording of NYSJE’s new album, Minor Moods. Following the album’s recording, he continued performing live with them.

After such an intensive period, Mr. T-Bone found himself in peak form and felt it was the right moment to gather the finest musicians from the Italian and New York ska scenes for a “super jam session.” MR. T-BONE SEES AMERICA was recorded live “inna Jamaican style” in Brooklyn at Coyote Studios, and it includes fourteen new tracks composed, performed, sung, and arranged by Mr. T-Bone. He was the “boss” of an ALL STARS BAND that included musicians from The Skatalites, The Bluebeaters, The Slackers, New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Africa Unite, David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7, Reggae National Tickets, Casino Royale, and Easy Star All-Stars… and produced by Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers, Rancid). It was recorded in 2004 and released in January 2005 to great public and critical acclaim, as proven by the fact that many songs from this album were selected for commercials and compilation albums in Japan, the USA, Germany, and Italy. High-quality rocksteady, ska-jazz, and reggae—pure Mr. T-Bone at his best.