Melbourne Ska Orchestra is fast becoming an institution in the Australian music scene with recent performances at the Byron Bay Blues Festival, WOMAD, Apollo Bay & Caloundra Music festival proving without a doubt, the international calibre of this mighty 30 piece orchestra. Band includes: 18 piece horn section, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, organist and 3 singers!
Fronted by Nicky Bomba (Bomba, John Butler Trio, Bustamento), with his professional, fun and impulsive conducting style, Melbourne Ska Orchestra is a fun-loving big band experience, with music from the golden ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. A massive hit at festivals everywhere, Melbourne Ska Orchestra is fast becoming a must-see institution.
Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s repertoire covers tracks from 1963 (Skatalites, Wailers) through to the British Two Tone craze (Madness, Specials etc) and anything positive or significant in between. With original tunes, reggae, rocksteady classics and Latin-based ska in the mix, MSO energises audiences, making dancing compulsory!
An explosive celebration of music unfolds, when the 30 odd piece orchestra hits the stage. Imagine the force of more than a dozen horn players, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, 2 organists and 3 singers and you may begin to understand what the skankin powerhouse, Melbourne Ska Orchestra is.
Members hail from some of Australia’s leading ska and reggae bands, with past shows featuring special guests including, Joe Camilleri, Jali Buba Kuyateh (Senegal), Dereb Desalegn (Ethiopia), Nadee (Haiti) and international reggae greats such as Carlos Malcolm, Dawn Penn and Stranger Cole.
Track Listing
Get Smart
Lygon St
Time To Wake Up
The Diplomat
Dean Went To Mexico
Learn To Love Again
He’s A Tripper
Third Time Lucky
While You Wait
Katoomba
Papa’s Got A Brand New Ska
Time For This Monkey
Paradiso
Best Things
Singalong Day
