Easy Star All-Stars

Easy Star All-Stars

Easy Star All-Stars are a reggae and dub collective from New York, United States, active since 2003. The group forms around a rotating cast of musicians from the New York reggae scene, so its line-up changes from show to show and each performance has its own variation.

Formation and core members

The group begins in 1997 as part of the first recordings for Easy Star Records, and initially exists mainly as a studio project. The touring version develops after the success of its first major album. The collective is led by Easy Star musical director Michael Goldwasser, also known as Michael G, alongside production partner Victor Axelrod, also known as Ticklah, and Easy Star executives Eric Smith and Lem Oppenheimer.

Members named with the group include Kirsty Rock, Victor Axelrod, Patrick Dougher, Michael Goldwasser, David Hahn, Junior Jazz and Tamar-kali. The touring rhythm section commonly includes Ras Iray on bass and vocals, Junior Jazz on guitar and vocals, Ive-09 on drums, and Jeremy Mage on keyboards. Tamar-kali and Menny More provide additional lead and backing vocals, while the Chronic Horns add saxophone, flute and trombone.

Albums and projects

The All-Stars are known for album-length reggae reinterpretations of well-known rock records. Their debut major release is Dub Side of the Moon in 2003, a complete reggae version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. It becomes one of the most successful reggae albums of the 21st century and remains on Billboard’s Top Reggae Chart and Reggae Catalog Chart for more than five years.

In 2006 the group follows with Radiodread, a reggae version of Radiohead’s OK Computer. That album also receives strong reviews and earns praise from Radiohead.

Live performance and collaborators

The band plays in different combinations across tours and individual shows, with a dub engineer mixing live, usually Marcos Ferrari or Jocko Randall of John Brown’s Body. Guest musicians and vocalists who appear with the group include Victor Rice, Ranking Joe, Pam Fleming, Stephanie McKay, Jay Rodriguez, Stuart Bogie, Josh Driscoll, Ticklah and Michael G. The collective’s members also tour and record with artists including Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Gil Scott-Heron, The Toasters, The Meditations, Bernie Worrell, DJ Logic, MC Solaar, King Django, Antibalas, The Scofflaws, Diana King, Dennis Brown, Monty Alexander and Sister Carol.

International activity

Easy Star All-Stars play major festivals and headline shows across the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Chile, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, Croatia, Ireland, Egypt, Brazil and other countries. Their changing line-up remains a fixed part of the group’s identity, with a different mix of voices, instruments and soloing in each performance.