About Adrian Xavier & Ska Island
Backed up by the full force of the mighty Ska Island band, the conscious reggae fusion of Seattle's "Crown Prince of Reggae" Adrian Xavier explodes off the stage like never before! Adrian's uplifting lyrics and soulful singing soar over the driving groove of the locked-in rhythm section, punctuated by beautifully harmonized horn lines, hypnotic dub sections, and mesmerizing solos. This exhilarating new supergroup has been in development for the last two years in relative secrecy, with an all-star crew of players from across the PNW pilgrimaging to idyllic Lopez Island - home of Adrian's long-time conga player J'aime Cordova and Ska Island's bassist and band manager Kev Zed.
Adrian is one of Seattle's most dynamic and accomplished reggae artists of the last 20 years, and his genre-bending music brings a message of hope, peace and love in this troubled times. The Ska Island band started as an exploration of the timeless work of the legendary Jamaican group The Skatalites, and as a side project of many of the members of Bellingham's iconic Yogoman Burning Band. Andy "Mr Cakes" Codrington (trombone - Bellingham) serves as musical director of Ska island, with veteran players Richard Brown (drumset - Vancouver, BC), Johnny Toulouse (guitar - Olympia), Orion Lackey (keys - Bellingham), Matt Nash (tenor & baritone sax - Whidbey Island), Pat Doran (alto & baritone sax - Lummi Island) rounding out the band."