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 The
septet centring around singer and trombonist Richie Senior a.k.a.
Dr. Ring-Ding was founded in the summer of 1993 as a session band
with varying line up. Meanwhile, they represent an important part
of the European Ska- and Reggae scenes.
The debut album „Dandimite", released in 1995, gained
the band international acclaim. It was licensed by the US-American
Label Moon Records on whose web site Dr. Ring-Ding & the Senior
Allstars – in the American way of understatement – were
simply declared as „best band in the world"...
That light skinned Teutons can well play Jamaican music is proven
by the co-operations of the band with many legendary musicians of
the genre. Among others, they have collaborated with the „Godfather
Of Ska", Laurel Aitken, trombonist Rico Rodriguez, Derrick
Morgan, and Skatalites singer Doreen Shaffer live as well as in
the studio.
The second Album „Ram Di Dance" (1997) emphasized the
complex development of Dr. Ring-Ding & the Senior Allstars.
The mainly self-penned tunes span from traditional, sometimes jazzy
sixties-Ska to Reggae in the style of the seventies to modern Raggamuffin.
The different styles have been blended together to a pleasant harmony.
With „Diggin’ Up Dirt" from 1999, Dr. Ring-Ding &
the Senior Allstars surprised with a (for non-Jamaican ears) extraordinary
project: reworked recordings of the basic tracks of recordings from
the sessions for their own albums and those for Doreen Shaffer,
Lord Tanamo, and Judge Dread. With the help from a couple of friends,
they have produced completely new „versions", dubs and
remixes with which the band attested their knowledge of Dub and
Ragga.
Mai 2001 saw the release of „Big Up" that has as well
been highly acclaimed, especially awaited by the fans after the
release of various solo-projects of the band and the singer (H-Blockx
vs. Dr.Ring-Ding 'Ring of Fire', The Senior Allstars 'Nemo').
They have taken the style a step further, blending different Jamaican
musical styles together, adding Soul and Jazz elements.
Their
live activities have been and are to date extensive tours through
the whole of Europe. Dr. Ring-Ding & the Senior Allstars know
how to party, and it is a known fact that the Doctor truly is one
of a kind when it comes to entertainment and comedy.
In october 2002 the band says good-bye to all the fans and with a final tour and a last album 'Golden Gate' they will celebrate their parting from the ska-stages...
Dr.
Ring Ding & The
Senior Allstars are
Dr. Ring Ding a.k.a. Richie Senior - voice, trombone
André Meyer - bass
Oliver Wienand - tenor sax, vocals
Bernd Westhoff - trumpet, horn
Arne Piri - piano, organ, vocals
Thomas Hoppe - drums
Markus ‘Kobam’ Dassmann - guitar, vocals
Discography
(Excerpts):
CD/LP: 'Golden Gate' (CD/LP: Grover Records, 2002)
'Big Up!' (CD/LP: Grover Records, 2001)
‘Digging Up Dirt - the version album’ (CD/2-LP: Grover
Records, ’99)
‘Ram Di Dance’ (CD/LP: Grover Records, ’97)
‘Dandimite’ (CD/LP: Grover Records, ’95)
M-CD: 'Fever' (Grover Records, 2001)
‘My Sound’ (Grover Records, ’97)
7" diverse
Compilations:
OST ‘Bang Boom Bang’ (BMG/D, '99)
Pop 2001
Ska Island, Island Records
www.ringding.de
24.09.2002
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