Haseeb Iqbal Presents: Vin Gordon + Q&A
TBC 65 mins + Q&A 30 mins
TBC 65 mins + Q&A 30 mins
In an old stone village on the outskirts of Paris lives one of the most prolific reggae musicians in the history of Jamaica. Vin Gordon, the 75-year-old reggae titan, chooses to live an unassuming life. He spends his days walking in nature and teaching the trombone to young students, a world away from the hustle and energy of Jonestown in Kingston, Jamaica, where he made his name as one of the most impactful brass musicians to ever hail from the island.
With him, he keeps a catalogue of forgotten stories from an illustrious period of music history. As one of the only musicians to play extensively from the development of ska into rocksteady, and consequently reggae, Vin Gordon's legacy paints him as arguably the most featured musician in the legendary record label Studio One's history.
In this one-hour film, broadcaster, author and DJ Haseeb Iqbal traces down this overlooked figure and spends an afternoon with him in his humble apartment in rural France. They share conversation as Vin opens up about what he learned by playing in Bob Marley's band for 13 years. From the intricacies of Bob's character, to recording the legendary albums Kaya and Exodus together, Vin even reveals the trauma of being in the room during the assassination attempt of Marley.
Constantly accompanied by his trombone, Vin backs up stories with songs throughout, as Iqbal asks him to explore the never-discussed relationship between reggae and jazz. Vin's response, citing the influence of Sun Ra and John Coltrane bridges a gap hardly appreciated by journalists historically, as the pair celebrate how the African Americans and Jamaicans were united in the same struggle despite creating different sounds.
"The purpose of reggae music is to uplift people. But to remind them not forget the past too," he shares in response to one question.
This documentary is an uplifting and honest snapshot into the voice of one of reggae's forgotten heroes. One of the final living figures to play throughout the sound's evolution, Vin Gordon's stories bring to life a rich period of musical history that entails little digital footprint away from the music. It is a story that sheds light on a unique and magical period of sound. A period where sunshine music stemmed from struggle and healed the masses.
Presented by Haseeb Iqbal
Directed by Nicholas Collee
A Studio Crumb Production