Dean Fraser
Fraser is arguably reggae's best known contemporary hornsman and bandleader. Born Dean Ivanhoe Fraser on August 4, 1957 in Kingston, he first played clarinet in Jonestown at 12 with classmates (and future horn greats), Nambo Robinson and Chico Chin. "I learned to play in the National Volunteers' Youth Organization community club. My Aunt Juanita carried me to the music teacher, Babe O'Brian, on the corner of Love Street and Thompson Street in Trench Town. He switched me to sax when the time was right, going on to 15. My first band was called Sonny Bradshaw 7. Now my 'Youth Sax' nick-name actually came about from Jacob Miller. That was about 1978. At that time I also used to work at the Sheraton, and Jacob used to come like every night and hang out and jam with us. And he decided that I should record a song, and I recorded 'Take Five'. Ther was a mistake on the label of that record, and so it came out as Jah Devon, instead of Dean Fraser. I had one release before that with Tommy Cowan, 'Blue Moon,' under my name." From that point forward all his recordings have been as Dean Fraser, usually in conjunction with his own 809 Band, one of the true workhorses of modern reggae stage shows, recordings, and tours.
"Taking Chances"
RAS 3106
Recorded in Jamaica at Music Works & Mixing Lab
Mixed at Lion and Fox, Jim Fox, Engineer
Produced by Phillip "Fatis" Burrel and Dean Fraser
"Taking Chances" Credits
Catolog # RAS 3106, on CD & Cassette
"Dean Plays Bob"
RAS 3127
Recorded in Jamaica at Music Works
Engineers: Paul, Syl, and Garfield
Mixed at Lion & Fox Studios, Washington D.C.
Engineer: Jim Fox
Produced by Phillip "Fatis" Burrell and Dean Fraser for Exterminator Productions
"Dean Plays Bob" Credits
Catolog # RAS 3127, on CD & Cassette
"Dean Plays Bob Volume Two"
RAS 3106
Recorded in Jamaica at Music Works
Mixed at Lion and Fox, Jim Fox, Engineer
Produced by Dean Fraser and Phillip "Fatis" Burrell for Xterminator Productions
"Dean Plays Bob Vol. II" Credits
Catolog # RAS 3186, on CD & Cassette