Day 1 of The London Intl Ska Festival 2013, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, kicks off with the legendary Jamaican trombonist, member of The Specials and Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra - Rico Rodriguez MBE performing his timeless and classic 1976 album Man From Wareika.

Originally released on Island Records Man From Wareika went onto be the only reggae album released on America's famed Blue Note jazz label. After recording one track, "Africa", in London with engineer Dick Cuthell, for label owner Chris Blackwell, Rodriguez was offered a contract to record the album in Jamaica. After 15 years Rodriguez returned home for the first time. The resulting nine self-composed tracks spawned sublime Jamaican roots rhythms and also helped to define a new genre, Jamaican Jazz. It bucked musical trends of the day and provided the world with one of the genres defining moments.

Rodriguez was born in Cuba and grew up in Jamaica, where he was mentored by his classmate and trombone master Don Drummond at The Alpha Boys School. He was soon recording for all the great Jamaican producers of the day; Prince Buster, Coxsonne Dodd, Duke Reid, Lee Perry, Vincent Chin and following his Rastafarian faith worked closely with rasta drummerCount Ossie. In 1961, he moved to the UK and became an In demand session player in not only reggae circles but also teamed up with Georgie Fame, playing in his Blue Flames band. Following critical acclaim for Man From Wareika Rico teamed up with The Specials in the late 70′s and went on to perform on many of their biggest hits, including A Message to You, Rudy,a track which he also played on the original Dandy Livingstone cut some years before.

In 2007 he was awarded an MBE for services to music, and in 2012 he received the Silver Musgrave Medal by the Institute of Jamaica in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican music. He still tours the world regularly as a solo artist and with Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. We are honoured and delighted to have Rico Rodriguez performing Man From Wareika for the first time in 35 years.

Support from London's number one practitioners of rocksteady The Sidewalk Doctors, who will be showcasing their forthcoming album. Selecting the evenings soundtrack is world renowned author, journalist and DJ David Katz.

Tickets available now from www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/tickets
£18.50 + booking fee

Only 100 tickets left! Grab yours now and come celebrate this great mans career and classic album.