Ras Dakarai
El Portal, Florida, United States | SELF
Music
Press
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Discography
"Summertime"
"I don't want to be a junkie"
"Mr.Horn-Man"
"I Rasta Soldier"
"Dance your worries away"
"Let's rock the dance"
"Jah Jah Say"
"Rock the dance"
"I want to hear your voice"
"Reggae vibes"
"Desert wind"
"With a little Love"
"Nyah-Man Vision"
Photos
Bio
“Ras Dakarai” is a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist, who ushers in a refreshing blend of mellow Reggae-Jazz-Fusion, and Romantic Ballads to his audience. From his humble beginnings in the tiny island of Grenada aka (the Spice isle of the Caribbean); performing on bamboo flute, steel-drums which he designed and made. He surprised his friends and the masqueraders at one Carnival celebrations with his creativity, blowing melodies with the conch shell. At the age of 11 years, he was introduced to the cornet-(from the trumpet family), by the military band professor (Rupert De couteau) who was attracted and amazed with his musical prowess and mentored him. Dakarai then migrated to the USA and pursued his studies in music.
*Music schools attended: *Brooklyn School of Music, Jazz Mobile workshop, Muse Jazz Workshop, Kingsborough College. During his travail, he forged great friendship with some of the greatest musicians - former members of the Count Basie Band amongst others; who inspired him and helped to hone his theoretical and practical skills.
*Instructors: *Frank Williams, Charles Tolliver, Jimmy Owens, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster,Ray Copeland, Dizzy Reese, Charles Sullivan.
Musical experiences :*Carlos Garnett & Cosmos Nucleus Orchestra featuring trombonist (Steve Toure) and pianist (Kenny Kirkland) (USA) *Calypso Rose(Trinidad),*Beckett(St.Vincent),*Skah Shah #1(Haiti)*Ajamu(Grenada),*Arrow(Monsterrat)**Opening act w/(Spice Roots Band) *Third World, *Burning Spear, *Bunny Wailer, *Mighty Diamonds, *Valentino,*Eddie Lovett.
* Formed “Spice Roots Band in 1982....New-York City, New-York !!!
Tours :*Puerto Rico, *Virginia, *Grenada Jazz Festival, *New-York, *Miami, *Connecticut, *Boston, *Trinidad International Soca Monarch, *Grenada D’Mardi Gras, *New-Orleans D’Mardi Gras, *Calgary.
* Recordings: *Attack of the Cartoons (single),*Love me one more time (single),*Free Nelson Mandella (single), *Nyah-Man Vision (album), *Grass Roots Reggae (vol. 1 album) featuring YellowMan & Lee Scratch Perry ( LA Records). Soon to be release *The Sphinx rises again" (new album). *Studio sessions w/ various artists.
N.B. Dakarai also produced and managed the "Grenada SpiceJazz Festival"(1989-2002) featuring George Benson, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Gerald Albright, Roy Ayers, Nicholas Payton, Freddie Jackson, Virginia Mayhew, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse, Third World, Culture, Inner Circle, Boo Hinkson, Eddie Bullen, Aurturo Tappin, Nicholas Brancker, Aurturo Sandaval, Dean Fraser among others.
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