Upright Dub Orchestra

Uprite Dub Orchestra is a six-member band featuring a solid rhythm section of guitar, bass and drum kit complemented by tenor sax, trombone, and trumpet with occasional appearances of keyboards, melodica, and the upright bass. Drawn together by their love of instrumental music and the lengths to which it can be explored, the Uprite dub sound is a cross breed of Jamaican beats loosely based in the dub styles pioneered at Channel 1 studios and Lee Perry’s Black Ark. In late August 2001, founders Ryan Bley and Brandon Hutson had a vision inspired by the likes of Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, The Skatalites, The Specials and Sublime.

Brandon and Ryan recruited some good friends and fellow musicians and formed the Uprite dub Orchestra. Finding the other members of the band was not a problem, as all the members of the band were from Mt. Hood Community College's Jazz Band, with the exception of Jeremy who played together with Ryan in a band from Spokane, WA called Longview. The lineup features Taylor Aglipay on Tenor Sax and Guitar, Jeremy Jauchius on Guitar, Mike Montgomery on Drums, Justin Partney on Trumpet and Keys, Brandon Hutson on Trombone, Keys and Melodica, and Ryan Bley on Upright and Electric Basses. Uprite dub Orchestra officially formed in December of 2001.

After a few months of practice, their first gig was the Red and Black Cafe in Portland, OR on February 12, 2002 with the Hip Hop group Money & Lovin'. Soon after, the band had polished off a few tunes around March of 2002. Along with Money & Lovin’ they founded and co-hosted a weekly night of Dub and Hip hop featuring the finest Djs and artists from the local Portland metro area at the Mount Tabor Pub, the Tuesday Night Special. Uprite dub Orchestra also performed at the “Land and Freedom” benefit concert for Dignity Village, a tent city transition for the homeless. Inspired by the plight of Dignity Village, Uprite dub composed and dedicated a song entitled "Land & Freedom Dub”. In March '03 along with Universal Roots Records shop, Uprite hosted a monthly series called “Kulcha fi de Massive” which featured Uprite dub as well the best reggae, dub, and dancehall Portland had to offer such as Roots Revolution, Instigators, Earthforce, Alter Echo and DJs Cansaman and Magneto.

The song list from Uprite dub Orchestra stretches from tight arrangements of Augustus Pablo and Don Drummond songs; with the original sweet horn harmonies, to fresh original material; tales of struggle, oppression, and freedom from the Machine. Be it Dub Reggae, Ska, or Hip-hop; Uprite dub Orchestra knows how to “get the party started right”.

Uprite dub has worked on a handful of small recording projects and look out soon for a full-length album.