5. Wilton Gaynair
Gaynair, another Alpha Boys School alum, began his career in the 1950s playing tenor saxophone with Redver Cook, “the Count Basie of Jamaica.” Though he had the opportunity to back international acts like George Shearing and Carmen McRae in Kingston, eventually Gaynair left for England to try his luck on the international stage. By the time of his arrival in 1955, there was already a strong network of Caribbean musicians in London, and he was able to secure gigs through friends (and Alpha Boys School classmates) like Dizzy Reece.
Though Gaynair, who eventually moved to Germany, would go on to play alongside artists like Gil Evans and Freddie Hubbard, his own releases showcase his bop mastery and fiery licks. He pursued formal studies in composition in Europe, and produced a number of original pieces for his records Blue Bogey and Africa Calling (with Shake Keane), both long-forgotten hard bop classics that showcase his distinctive sound. Gaynair even shouts out the West Indies with songs like “Kingston By Pass” and “Ogetnom” (Montego backwards). See him performing live in Germany below:
