Celebrating John Holt

A tribute concert by a full live band to the music of John Holt, the Jamaican singer whose reggae recordings shaped the sound of the island. Vocals are taken by Michael Mendez at The Jazz Cafe in London.

This is a tribute to John Holt, not a performance by the original artist. It honours the career of one of Jamaica's best-known voices, who wrote a body of original songs and added his reggae style to many of the period's popular hits. The evening centres on those songs, which the band performs with a full live line-up.

Vocals are taken by Michael Mendez, who has roots in Kingston, Jamaica, and began working as a backing singer for Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor and Sizzla. The band line-up is Pete Desmond on trumpet, Tom Hill on saxophone, Nathan Chenery on violin, Jamel Ellison on bass, Marley Drummond on drums, Ian Lewinson on guitars and Noa Rodrigues on keyboard. Michelle Cross Glasgow and Geraldine Reid provide backing vocals.

The Jazz Cafe is a London venue that hosts concerts and shows, and it is the setting for this reggae tribute.