Monday, May 24, 2004  

The Skatalites, "Malcolm X"
from Skatalites & Friends at Randy's (VP, 1998; Randy's Records, 1964)
Lee Morgan, "The Sidewinder"
from Live at the Lighthouse (Blue Note, 1996; recorded 1970)

Most of the Skatalites were jazz-trained players, which is why they were such in-demand studio musicians---you could just set them up and they'd go, which is why they created a remarkably large body of music in their relatively short time together. And of course, the music they produced is the root of all Jamaican music since. (That guy up there on top of this Web site is the Skatalites' trombonist, the Cosmic One, Don Drummond.)

This week I'll be posting a few ska songs and their immediate jazz blueprints. Today's Skatalites cut is "Malcolm X," which is a direct copy of Lee Morgan's soul-jazz classic "The Sidewinder," heard here live in 1970 rather than in the more familiar studio version from the 1963 LP of the same name. You can find "Malcolm X" on both the Skatalites & Friends at Randy's CD and The Rough Guide to Ska: Classic Jamaican Ska From Randy's Vaults. While the most celebrated Skatalites tunes come from Clement Dodd's Studio One, Prince Buster and Duke Reid's Treasure Isle, the records produced for Justin Yap's Top Deck label, King Edwards and Randy's Records are equally as great. Both of the CDs that feature "Malcolm X" are collections of music from Randy Chin's studio, compiled by his equally talented son Clive Chin, who produced records for the likes of Augustus Pablo.

Buy these CDs now.

If you'd like to read more about the influence of jazz on the creation of ska and, therefore, reggae, read the July/August issue of JazzTimes (on sale July 7). If I ever finish it, that is.

Some cool linkz:

Reggae Riddims is a huge database that tracks which riddims have been used on which tunes. Did you know that Paul Desmond's "Take Five" (via Dave Brubeck's quartet) provided the riddim for at least nine reggae cuts? Then head over to JamRid, which gives descriptions and listings of some of the most popular riddims and allows you to hear samples.

Weightless Animals is a series of sonic space cartoons by Mandy McIntosh, Kaffe Matthews, and Zeena Parkins.

Sasha FrereHypenJones tools on Nick Hornby for his recent NY Times whine. SFHJ makes good points and good jokes along the way. This beatdown = good times.

Roots Archive is a comprehensive and searchable database covering roots-rock reggae albums from 1970 - 1985.

Jazzman Records is a tite soul/funk/jazz label.

Posted by CP | Link |

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