About Me
Saxophonist Tony Greene's life has been one long musical journey which started at the Alpha Boys' School in 1971.
That journey continued in 1990 when he made the decision to make a solo run on his trusty horn. The result was his first album, "Grooving Sax", followed by "Mean Greene" in 1995. With these 2 albums, Greene stayed close to home with instrumental, reggae-type songs.
In 2000, Greene went to his roots for a more rounded sound on his third album, "Square from Cuba". This one has a strong Latin feel as can be heard on Greene's covers of classics like "Papa Love Mambo" and "La Bostella". But, Green is quick to point out, "It still has a reggae flavour, it can be marketed anywhere".
Soon after completing his successful CD, "Square from Cuba", Tony Greene turned his efforts to recording his fourth - a 13-track Christmas reggae album, "Blessed", which was released in October, 2001.
His fifth album, "Evolution", was released in March 2003. Of the 14 tracks, 4 are Tony Greene-originals. In his liner notes, Bunny Goodison writes, "..." Evolution" features the exquisite and lyrical saxophone stylings of Mr.Tony Greene..."
Greene's eclectic taste should come as no surprize. He learned the musical ropes at the Alpha Boys' School, an institution that blessed Jamaica music with fellow hornsmen Tommy McCook and Don Drummond.
Greene developed his horn technique during a six-year stint in the Jamaica Military Band while in the military.
Upon joining the Bare Essentials Band, Greene immediately embraced the pop culture, before moving on to the jazz-based Sonny Bradshaw Seven
After a stint with Bradshaw, Greene again switched gears to the roots movement when he signed up with the Roots Radics unti who were then backing a rising singer named Gregory Isaacs. As part of singer, the late Dennis Brown's official band, Greene has helped to break reggae in areas where the music was unknown. But, it was with Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band that Greene had made the most impact, until he departed in May, 2001 to pursue his full-time solo career.
Commencing in 1976, Greene continued to find time to record with a number of leading reggae artists including the renowned Riddim Twins, Sly and Robbie, on whose Grammy-winning "Friends" album he played; Gregory Isaacs; the late Dennis Brown; Jimmy Cliff; Sugar Minott and Freddie McGregor - just to name a few.
Tony has shared the stage, providing musical accompaniment, with international artistes, including Aretha Franlin, Lou Rawls and Gladys Knight & The Pips. He has showcased his atistry from Norway to Africa and from the United States to Japan
Today, Tony Greene, along with Mallory Williams, and other musicians, is reaping success on his own as the Tony Greene Quartet
