Jason Wilson

Jason Wilson’s music has been described as, among other things, “Jazz-Reggae”, "Folk-Reggae", "Global-Roots" and "Post-Reggae”. While none of these quite cover it, Wilson's art is, nevertheless, truly unique; it is a sound where the reggae portion is freely brushed – not strictly detailed – allowing space on the canvass for wildly divergent inspirations such as Bach, Scottish pibroch, folk-rock and bebop to peek through. In essence, Wilson combines reggae with the improvisational sensibility of jazz and then layers it with the storytelling quality of the Scottish and Canadian folk traditions.

Since his first public performance at age 14 with <a href="spotify:artist:6jdqbrNwm69bnE3hdYfr15" data-name="Messenjah">Messenjah</a>, Wilson has played over 2,500 concerts across Canada, the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He has recorded and/or shared the stage with the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:69MEO1AADKg1IZrq2XLzo5" data-name="UB40">UB40</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6RTCb5pWKinqlUyG2qacit" data-name="Ernest Ranglin">Ernest Ranglin</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6ogn9necmbUdCppmNnGOdi" data-name="Alanis Morissette">Alanis Morissette</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4nOsbPxGYii9IpCEfCCSbo" data-name="Pee Wee Ellis">Pee Wee Ellis</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0KOvrCGBNLoabTIkk8A2kR" data-name="Carl Harvey">Carl Harvey</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:6ZFv3wQwwWPiVDWhv0mjQK" data-name="Toots & The Maytals">Toots & The Maytals</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2TdzGitZtbe3Zw3BB4SFEH" data-name="Big Youth">Big Youth</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6mLXvSt7Xxy2r9uBba1O6Z" data-name="Dawn Penn">Dawn Penn</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3Ee0e4JrNXK0k9JvSt7I6I" data-name="Dave Swarbrick">Dave Swarbrick</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2wXBWJhbm1gfEVjyEEuhDH" data-name="Ron Sexsmith">Ron Sexsmith</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:11NyMIq0N1ozgqhwdAdWIK" data-name="David Francey">David Francey</a> and many more. Wilson is the protege of the legendary Studio One keyboard king <a href="spotify:artist:6UTUjmko5raD927Hbx960a" data-name="Jackie Mittoo">Jackie Mittoo</a> and served as the on-stage musical director for the acclaimed <a href="spotify:album:51rspZKDqOUuwRJ3z9tP48" data-name="Jamaica To Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974">Jamaica To Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974</a> live band.

An adjunct professor of history at The University of Guelph, Dr. Wilson has six books to his name, including the official Toronto Maple Leafs centenary book and his recent book on the history of reggae in Canada entitled &quot;King Alpha&#39;s Song: The Roots and Routes of Reggae in a Strange Land&quot;.