Open Eyes is a journey to find self.
fEAT: Talvin Singh,Jean Toussaint,Orphy Robinson,Larry Bartley,Ciyo Brown,Tom Skinner,Byron Wallen,Alex Wilson


11 Open Eyes

*HUMANITY*,  The 1st Single from the album:
*The Great Jamaican Songbook Vol.1* 
 a very timely release of
The Prince Lincoln & The Royal Rasses Classic (from the 70’s) given the GJS/ Watkiss treatment- for the times ✨

Humanity

Babylon Too Rough

VocalSuite:
Uk's premier Vocalist the Virtuoso vocalist,actor and composer Cleveland Watkiss presents VocalSuite:
is an a-cappella vocal improvisation performance that uses the atmosphere of venue to present a performance of the moment; seamless links between musical cultures from Africa to Europe go together to create human vocal soundscapes.Watkiss has performed with a host of diverse artists from around the world, including: Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder,Wynton Marsalis,The Who, Nigel Kennedy, William Parker & Hamid Drake,Project 23,Goldie,Y.M.V, and is a fellow musical collaborator of Black Top, to name a few.“(Cleveland Watkiss is the) Best male jazz singer in Britain” – EVENING STANDARD.

'Vocalsuite' The Studio Sessions

Flowers

Uk's premier Vocalist the Virtuoso vocalist,actor and composer Cleveland Watkiss presents VocalSuite:
is an a-cappella vocal improvisation performance that uses the atmosphere of venue to present a performance of the moment; seamless links between musical cultures from Africa to Europe go together to create human vocal soundscapes.Watkiss has performed with a host of diverse artists from around the world, including: Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder,Wynton Marsalis,The Who, Nigel Kennedy, William Parker & Hamid Drake,Project 23,Goldie,Y.M.V, and is a fellow musical collaborator of Black Top, to name a few.“(Cleveland Watkiss is the) Best male jazz singer in Britain” – EVENING STANDARD.

A Lonesome Wave

Satta Massagana

'So Near'
The version is from the duo album 'Mutual Serenade' by Vocalist Cleveland Watkiss & Pianist Nikki Yeoh
who both feature in the London Jazz Festival 2010 on 12th November @ the Royal Opera House.
http://www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=15046

So Near

'Open Eyes' by Cleveland Watkiss
From the Album 'Victory's Happy Songbook'
Written/Arr by Cleveland Watkiss Feat: Talvin Singh (Tabla) Byron Wallen (Trp) Orphy Robinson (Vibes)
Jean Toussaint (Soprano sax) Alex Wilson (Pno) Ciyo Brown (Gts)

Open Eyes

By Cleveland Watkiss From the Album: VocalSuite the studio sessions

This is an 'Accapella' version tribute to one of my all time femail artists.

'When Malindy Sings'
Music By Abbey Lincoln
Words by Lawrence Dunbar

02 When Malindy Sings...

Tribute to 'Sultan Khan' an Indian sarangi player and singer, who plays Hindustani classical music.

Mark Hodgson -BASS 
Shaney Forbes-DRUMS 
Cleveland Watkiss-VOCALS 

A possibly unique unit of voice, bass, and drums, the group nevertheless manages to convey the entire jazz aesthetic by musical implication, while at the same time having all the internal spaciousness you'd expect. JAZZ UK.

01 Dear Mr Khan

March 2022 marks the launch of ‘The Great Jamaican Songbook Vol.1 ’ album and tour, the new project by multidisciplinary artist Cleveland Watkiss. A truly inspirational figure in UK music and recent winner of the 2021 Ivors Composer Award For Innovation, Watkiss’ impact and legacy is felt strongly across an extremely broad spectrum of musical genres. In jazz, he is known as the co-founder of the hugely influential Jazz Warriors big band, as well as his work with the pianist and composer Julian Joseph and as a much-respected solo artist, regularly performing at leading venues both in the UK and internationally. As a drum and bass vocalist and MC, Watkiss became the voice of Goldie’s legendary Metalheadz label nights at The Blue Note, a relationship that would lead to residencies and mic duties at some of the world’s biggest and best dance music events, not to mention his work alongside US drum innovator Marque “the innamost” Gilmore and cut master DJ La Rouge, as a key member of the first ever live drum and bass band, Project 23. 

There genuinely is no other musician who has made a similar contribution or embarked on such a unique journey throughout their career as Cleveland Watkiss – achieving this by trusting instincts and refusing to be defined, pigeon-holed or to ‘fit the mould’. The proof of this is evident in his work, resulting in a veritable cornucopia of compelling and successful endeavours across these aforementioned genres and much more. Now Cleveland returns with a project that is close to his heart – a roots-reggae orientated showcase, interpreted and presented in a way in which only an artist with such extensive musical knowledge and experience could ever create. 

The Great Jamaican Songbook guides listeners through the origins and development of Jamaican music and culture, beginning with the legacy of The Alpha Boys school and under tutelage of ‘The Nun’ Sister Mary Ignatius Davis and expanding outward in a poignant tale of the life and times of many of the island’s most inspirational figures. Both the stories behind the work and the music itself enhance each other, culminating in a compelling experience destined to stimulate all senses. Recorded at Zak Starkey’s studio, The Great Jamaican Songbook features iconic songs from the greats such as Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Burnin Spear, but also shines a light on rare hidden gems from labels such as Studio One, Coxsone Dodd and TuffGong, producers like King Tubby and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, music from singers such as Delroy Wilson, Prince Lincoln and many more artists who receive less international recognition than they deserve. This ideal balance means that audiences can enjoy familiar music while discovering many other songs and stories for the first time.

Cleveland Watkiss

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