So what is Jerry Dammers up to?
Recent blog posts here documenting The Specials recent reunion tour without their main songwriter and resident genius got me wondering.
Turns out Dammers is fronting an 18 piece extravaganza called “The Spatial A.K.A Orchestra”. Looks like there are no plans to bring it stateside for the time being, as this project has been in place since 2007! However, they are currently flooring fans and critics alike in their homeland.
http://www.jerrydammers.com
The group is doing among other things, reinterpretations of material by Sun Ra, The “Batman” theme, Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” and Specials classics like “Ghost Town”.
The orchestra, highlighted by Jamaican jazz legend Rico Rodriguez on trombone are serving up a pot pourri of brilliance if the notices on his website are any indication. It would also appear that this is just too eclectic of a mix for US audiences to understand much less shell out coin for tix. I for one, wont hold my breath waiting for it to make it’s way here. Sure wish it would, though.