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Dennis Bovell: Wise Music in Dub

by Dennis Bovell MBE

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Dennis Bovell – aka Blackbeard – has changed the face of UK music. A bold claim, and one he might be shy to agr with, but true nonetheless. Born in Barbados in 1953 and moving to South London when he was 12, after forming his band Matumbi in the 70s, guitarist, singer, bass player and producer Dennis went on to work with a Who’s Who of modern music and was a key figure in UK Lover’s Rock while he was at it. Now as he celebrates his 72nd birthday, Dennis is releasing a brand new album that shows he’s in the best musical form he’s ever been.

    Featuring tracks that are neither strictly dub nor instrumental but manage to incorporate elements of both, Dennis brought together a peerless team of musicians to collaborate on Wise Music In Dub. In full splendour here are vocalists Carroll Thompson singing on a cover of Minnie Riperton’s Les Fleurs, Imagination’s Leee John providing vocals on The Stylistics You’re A Big Girl Now, Papa Dee on Don’t Stay Out Late, while Winston Francis and Brinsley Forde feature on My Heart Is Gone and Black And White respectively.

    Included here also are drummer Perry Melius, who has contributed to Aswad and African Headcharge and is a member Billy Ocean’s current live band, Robin Hopcraft on trumpet and trombone and Idris Rahman on saxophone, both of whom are members of Soothsayer’s. Sarah Tobias played flute, Nick Straker was on keyboards, John Kpiaye on guitar, Duke Baysee on harmonica and Ras Happa on repeater. Swizz The Panist played steel pans on Dutchie dUb and dUb Delight, Fabio Marchiori played organ on dUb hEaD, and Ian Alleyne provided acid guitar for dUb Season.

    By blurring the distinctions between dub, vocal and instrumental music, Dennis has breathed new life into the genre. He explains, “I wanted to give the listener an insight into what dub means in the 21st century, so I pushed and pulled on all the right stops to create a bang up to date but unmistakable dub record.”

    On Wise Music In Dub Dennis proves his enthusiasm for new challenges and musical escapades, combined with his irrepressible talent and playfulness, remains undiminished.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Dennis Bovell: Wise Music in Dub via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Download available in 24-bit/48kHz.
    ... more
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      £29.16 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card
    Download available in 24-bit/48kHz.

      £9 GBP  or more

     

1.
2.
dUb Season 04:05
3.
Dutchie dUb 04:38
4.
dUb Together 03:09
5.
6.
7.
8.
dUb hEaD 05:25
9.
10.
11.
dUb Delight 06:49

credits

released July 25, 2025

RECORDED AT: Wise Music Studios (London)
RECORDING ENGINEERS: Jonas Persson and David McEwen
MIXED BY: Dennis Bovell, assisted by David McEwen and Jonas Persson

MUSICIANS
DRUMS: Perry Melius
GUITARS: John Kpiaye, Jonas Persson and Ian Alleyne
BASS GUITAR: Dennis Bovell
PERCUSSION: Ras Happa, Dennis Bovell
STEEL PAN: Dougie “Swizz The Panist” Dallaway (Tracks 3 & 11)
KEYBOARDS: Nick Straker, Fabio Marchiori, Jonas Persson, Dennis Bovell
TRUMPET and TROMBONE: Robin Hopcraft (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11)
SAXOPHONES: Idris Rahman (Tracks 1, 3 ,4, 5, 10, 11)
FLUTE: Sarah Tobias (Track 2, 6)
VIOLIN: James Welland
CELLO: Tessa Seymour
HARMONICA: Duke Baysee
VOCALS: Dennis Bovell
LEAD VOCALS ON “DON’T STAY OUT LATE”: Papa Dee
LEAD VOCALS ON “MY HEART IS GONE”: Winston Francis
LEAD VOCALS ON “BLACK AND WHITE”: Brinsley Forde
LEAD VOCALS ON “YOU’RE A BIG GIRL NOW”: Leee John
LEAD VOCALS ON “LES DUB”: Carroll Thompson
GUEST VOCALS ON “DUTCHIE DUB”: The Wiselings

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Dennis Bovell MBE London, UK

Dennis Bovell MBE is a British Reggae legend. He is one of the originators of Lover's Rock and the producer of big hits such as 'Silly Games' (Janet Kay) and 'After Tonight' with his band Matumbi.
He is also a singer, multi instrumentalist and sound engineer known for his dubs in a unique style and creativity where he experiments with various styles and musical influences.
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