Wednesday, June 02, 2004  

Duke Ellington, "Caravan"
from The Essential Collection, 1927-1962 (Columbia, 1999; rec. 1936)
The Skatalites, "Ska-Ra-Van (Take 3)"
from Ska Boo-Da-Ba: Top Sounds From Top Deck, Vol. 3 (Westside, 1998; rec. 1963)
Jazz Jamaica, "Skaravan"
from Skaravan (Ska Records, 1993)
The Skatalites, "Skaravan"
from Bashaka (Marston, 2000)

Ska von Jazz, day six.

Took the Chinatown Express up to NYC to see the Skatalites on Sunday. Show was fine, but that band has some backstage drama. Old interband beefs are still ragin' 40 years on. Still, it's amazing that a 70-something Lloyd Brevitte can smoke so much chalice and then rock that bass in double-time for 90 minutes. Interviewed Brevitte & alto saxophonist Lester Sterling; drummer Lloyd Knibbs was feeling too tired. Will this beautiful article ever end.

Gary Crosby's Jazz Jamaica All-Stars are some tite mofos; a bit like Mingus gone ska. I don't think Jazz Jamaica's Skaravan album is in print anymore, but I know you can buy their great CD Massive on Crosby's way-excellent Dune label. While you're there be sure to check out music & info on saxophonists Soweto Kinch and Denys Baptiste. (You can also get Dune discs from North Country mail order.)

The Skatalites's Bashaka is at Ernie B's. You might have to search a bit for Ska-Boo-Da-Ba; it seems to be out of print because Universal in the U.K. is starting a reissue series of all the Top Deck recordings. You can probably get it used from Amazon or possibly new from Reggae CD or a place I've been digging recently, Music Selection. Ellington, get it anywhere---but just get it.

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