Unlike many bands in the Southern California area, P.S. Island displays a variety of uniqueness in sound and style. The bands' repertoire includes a selection of songs ranging from Blues to Jazz. This broad base of sound is further enchanded through the use of Reggae, Brazillian, Contemporary and Original music.
Experiencing a performance by P.S. Island can best be described as electrifying, straight ahead, roots rubber dub, mellow and funky on the one experience.
P.S. Island "live" on stage is in a league of its own mainly because of the mystical magic of the instrumentation, the seasoned stage presence of the personnel and the ocean of sound dancing and swaying to climatic heights that spurs an audience to a groove then cools the energy down with mellow tones of smoothe vibratons.
Members include:
Bassist Ryan Cross--A recent graduate from the University of Southern California of Jazz studies where he studied under the great master bassist and arranger John Clayton. Ryan as a result is a very articulate and rhythmic player. He has performed with the Billy Higgins Ensemble, The Loca Hart Quartet, and several groups in Southern California and the Seattle Washington areas.
Drummer Dave Anderson--A high energy and sensitive player that catches all the accents. He has performed with the Rippingtons, David Benoir, Karen Briggs and many others.
Guitarist Ashante Mathews--Is a very dynamic and prolific player with deep roots in Blues, Jazz and Fusion music. He has worked with Gary Burton, Ray Charles, The Staple Singers, Sonny Rollins, and the Now Ensemble.
Onaje Murray originally from Beaumont Texas is a multi talented musician whose talents include playing Vibes, Marimba, Flute, Piano, Percussion and Vocals. He has toured and recorded with such giants as Hubert Laws, Gerry Mulligan, Walter Bishop Jr. Jean Carn, Ronnie Laws and the Lou Rawls Orchestra. In additions he scored the music to the film Bush Mama by Ethiopian Film Maker Halie Germa. Onajes' first album, "I Hear a Samba" was nominated for the N.A.A.C.P Image Awards. His most recent CD is entitled "Happy Feelin" on Sunchime Records.
The following Mini-Capsule is a Track by Track description of Onaje Murray and P.S. Island lastest CD release on Sunchime Records.
Track I. HAPPY FEELING: Urban Jazz groove of vocal lead with vibes counter melody in the (A) Section. The (B) Section finds the voice and the vibes in unison on the melody. This musical landscape is propelled with pulsating percussion, an accented rhythm section and the highlight feature is the 'Hot Vibe Solo'. Time---5:49
Track II. THEME FROM BUSH MAMA: This song is a remake taken from the first film of Ethiopian Film Maker Halie Germa in which Onaje scored the music. Mr Germa is best known for his most recent film Sankofa, however, Bush Mama received critical acclaim when it premiered at The Cann Film Festival in France. This song has an Afro-Cuban feel with a strong rhythm, highlighted with a plantive Flute Melody and punctuated with solos by Flute, Vibes, Guitar, and Percussion.
Time---4:51
Track III. STOP THE KILLING: A reggae Jazz Groove with Vocals which makes an appeal for the senseless street violence to stop. The feature on this track is the Guitar Solo. Time---4:12
Track IV. SMOOTH NIGHTS An Instrumental Smooth Groove which mood dictates relaxation, cool out, Romance and or Love Kindle Music and solos feature Flute, Vibes and Guitar. Time 5:07
Track V. LIVE AND LOVE: A love ballad with a strong vocal lead and a soaring Flute solo. This ballad has an Urban Soulful feeling in which the balladeer expresses the deep love he has to give. Time---4:32
Track VI. BYE BYE BARCELONA: A Bossa/Samba groove complete with Congas, Marimba, Percussion, Rhythm section and vocals which all mixed together paint a very romantic picture of Barcelona Spain and highlights a Marimba solo
Time---5:26
Track VII. SOUTH CENTRAL: An urban street groove vocal which runs down some of the various issues which confront some people of the Inner City. Features solo and guitar.
Track VIII. HEALIN FEELING: Driving up tempo Afro Cuban instrumental which features solos by Vibes, Guitar, Drums, Percussion, and Congas.
Track IX. TOGETHER FRIENDS: An instrumental 70's groove of Vibes, Bass and Drums which seem to serge on through space and time. Time---3:00
Track X. CONCERTO DE ART, HORACE, MILT Y RICHARD 5TH ST. DIX: is a musical salute to some great Legends of Jazz which include Art Farmer, Horace Tabscott, Milt Jackson and Richard Fulton. Time---2:40
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