Get to know the Bristol Reggae Orchestra | LOUD Magazine
Posted on: 05 May 2020This article was first published in the second edition of LOUD Magazine, 365Bristol's dedicated music publication.
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Bristol Reggae Orchestra
Inclusivity, community and passionate musicianship are at the heart of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra, perhaps the only group of its kind in the world. LOUD meets the hard-working artists at the helm of a truly unique collective
Started up in Autumn 2009, the Bristol Reggae Orchestra emerged from a community steeped in musical heritage. From roots reggae artists to classical performers, St Paul’s is home to a wealth of musicians - a perfect fit for such an ambitious project.
Following a community meeting on potential schemes to bring people together in and around the area, it was agreed that an orchestra would have the potential to tap into an extensive population of musical people. A team of 15 founders - including Black Roots lead singer Charlie Bryan and acclaimed reggae guitarist Leroy Forbes - formed the group, and immediately set to work putting their first performance together.
Percussionist Barrington Chambers, another of the founding members, is with me as I wait for the band to arrive at the Malcolm X Centre for a Monday night band practice in St Paul’s. Looking back on the group’s origins, he tells me it wasn’t until March 2010 that the orchestra played live for the first time, but once word spread they had no trouble building a buzz.
“When we get together and do it on a big stage, it really is something special”
- Arden Tomison
The group sold out its first-ever show at St George’s Concert Hall in less than a week. “Once we got the word out and people started hearing about us, thinking ‘a reggae orchestra – I wonder how that works’, it just grew and grew,” he remembers. In the ten years since then, the Bristol Reggae Orchestra has maintained a strong core group. To date, they’ve performed at venues and festivals across Southern England and Wales, in London, Cardiff, Devon and Southampton as well as Bristol.
Today, the group is made up of 36 musicians, led by musical director Ben Jenkins. The group has all the hallmarks of a traditional orchestra, with a few additions that would never have a place in a traditional arrangement. You won’t find a saxophone in a classical orchestra, for example, but nothing is out of the question here until it’s been tried and tested. “There’s such excitement whenever a new instrument joins the orchestra,” Ben says. “What will it bring to the table? What’s the untapped potential of a reggae bassoon? Or a reggae harp?”
.jpg "Percussionist Barrington Chambers, one of the founding members of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra. Photo: Michael Lloyd")
Percussionist Barrington Chambers, one of the founding members of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra | Photo: Michael Lloyd
Most of the band’s songs are covers of well-known reggae tracks – think Bob Marley or Toots and the Maytals – or homages to the key figures of Bristol’s original roots reggae scene of the 70s and 80s. Ben says, though, that the songs that often get the best reception are original productions written by group members. Arden Tomison, baritone sax player with the orchestra for the last eight years, estimates that “around a third of the music we play is written or composed by members of the group.”
“In my kitchen,” Barrington adds with a smile. “A lot goes on in my kitchen.”
The music, however, only tells half the story of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra. Staying true to the original vision for the group, there’s a big push to involve members of the local community and put together a collective made up of people from all walks of life. “We have a huge mix of nationalities and musical experience in the orchestra,” Ben tells me. “There are people with a great feel for Jamaican music, people with a classical background, and, of course, those who just love a bit of reggae.”
The Bristol Reggae Orchestra performing at St George's Concert Hall | Photos: Michael Lloyd
The group are keen to work with BAME members of the community, who might not necessarily be aware of what the group does, but may be able to benefit from being a part of such a unique musical project. Even the membership fees – which usually cost £5 per person, per practice – are flexible to accommodate people who struggle to get the money together.
“We want to be as inclusive as possible,” Arden explains, “so if people can’t afford the membership for whatever reason, we do our best to work around that. We’ve had people come who are homeless, who are in difficult personal circumstances, but we do what we can to support local musicians to the end.”
With a busy summer to look forward to, as well as 2020 performances in London confirmed, the Bristol Reggae Orchestra’s doors remain open to new members. Musicians of all disciplines can get themselves down to a practice session, see what the group is about, and potentially get involved in the truly one-of-a-kind collective. “It’s so relaxed here, genuinely friendly and the atmosphere is always really warm,” Arden says. “And when we get together and do it on a big stage, it really is something special.”
Find out more at bristolreggaeorchestra.com, or contact membership@bristolreggaeorchestra.com to get involved.
Main image: Michael Lloyd
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Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
