The Skatalites Albums (18)
What The Critics Say
A return album of sorts from the Skatalites, recorded in between tour dates across Europe in December 2001. While there are only two of the original members still on the roster (Lloyd Brevett and Dizzy Johnny Moore), a number of one-time players and such have joined the band in recent years for touring purposes, and here join in for the album as well. Will Clark does a good job of mimicking Don Drummond's old trombone work while still attempting to hold a bit of his own style. The jazzier guitarist Devon James works admirably with his own sound, though it doesn't fit into the whole quite the way Jah Jerry did in the past. Other players appear and disappear as necessary, including Lloyd Knibb, the creator of the one-drop hit on drums (an important development for Jamaican music). Overall, it's a pretty good album, though there are certainly other Skatalites albums that should be heard prior to this one, such as the Ball of Fire compilation. The Skatalites were and are the premier ska band throughout Jamaican music history, and their work is what led directly into reggae proper. Despite this, though, the band begins to show its age in this album, with the replacement players acting more as tribute musicians than full members in the band. There are a couple of entirely new songs here for the true collectors, so pick it up as a completist or as a crazed fan, but not as a newcomer to the Skatalites or ska in general. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It's impossible to criticize the music on any Skatalites disc; without them, the course of Jamaican music would probably have been very different. Largely because of that importance, music is littered with Skatalites compilations, some exceptional, some awful, but most, like this, fairly average. There are definite good points here, like their version of "You Can't Sit Down," which would morph into the Specials' "Ghost Town," and their take on Duke Ellington's "Caravan." Most of the cuts here come from the time they recorded for Justin Yap -- considering that the original Skatalites were only together 14 months, they did a lot of recording for a lot of people -- and while all the material might not be wonderful, the performances are, like Don Drummond's "Marcus Junior." The trick is to not consider Nucleus of Ska a greatest-hits collection (which it doesn't purport to be), because the truly classic tracks and takes aren't on this. But that doesn't lessen the enjoyment of Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso's sax, Don Drummond's scintillating trombone, and one of the tightest and most inventive rhythm sections ever to emerge from Jamaica. Accept this on its own terms, and it will pay you ample rewards. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ball of Fire finds a reunited Skatalites reworking their greatest hits, playing long, extended passages that allow the band to demonstrate their substantial instrumental abilities. Fans of the punchy early singles may find this approach a little unsettling, but anyone who gets into the groove will find Ball of Fire to be a delight, a thoroughly respectable comeback from one of ska's greatest groups. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Stacked up against many recent Skatalites reissues and compilations, this lean import doesn't really qualify as a viable collection of the band's prime work. However, the 12-tracks here do make for a tidy sampler of some of best sides the group cut for producer Duke Reid during the last days of Jamaican R&B and the early ska period. Featuring several players who would later people a number of Reid's rocksteady and early reggae studio bands -- namely tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook -- the material takes in such ska milestones as "Eastern Standard Time," "Don-De-Lion," and "Yard Broom." And besides some stellar shots by McCook, there are plenty of choice contributions from tenor saxophonist Roland Alphonso, pianist Jackie Mittoo, trombonist Don Drummond, and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore. In lieu of finding this at a bargain rate, though, curious listeners should check out Trojan's Music Is My Occupation to get a really good taste of the Skatalites' work under Reid. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide
'Greetings from Skamania'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 11
Label Shanachie
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
So you like vintage ska, with its galloping, proto-reggae backbeats, its massive horn sections and its whanging, hip-shaking drum sound? You like the jazzy solos, the catch phrases shouted out at the end of each chorus, the ever-so-slightly out-of-tune guitar? Then you like the Skatalites, the Jamaican studio collective that perfected the big-band ska sound while backing some of the finest ska and rocksteady artists of the '60s. Every ten years or so a new young generation catches on to the primordial hepness of ska, and the Skatalites get another fifteen minutes or so of renewed cachet. When that happens, smart labels like Shanachie get them into the studio before they can start fighting amongst themselves and break up again. There aren't actually that many original members left -- trombonist Don Drummond is sorely missed, for example -- but legendary saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso are still going strong, as is drummer Lloyd Knibbs. This time out they've brought along a few youngsters who, to their credit, have clearly done their homework and play solidly in the old school tradition while bringing a fresh, energetic sound to the mix. Most of the tracks on this album are instrumentals, but some feature the fine (though not earth-shattering) vocals of Doreen Schaeffer. Overall, this album is highly recommended -- next time you have friends over, put it on and watch them party like it's 1969. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Over the years, the Skatalites went through their share of personnel changes. In the 1990s, their lineup ranged from newcomers to survivors of the band's classic 1960s lineup, including saxmen Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso, bassist Lloyd Brevett, and drummer Lloyd Knibbs. But the 1990s personnel were quite faithful to the spirit of the 1960s band, and Hi-Bop Ska bears that out. Recorded 30 years after the breakup of the original Skatalites, Hi-Bop Ska finds the band's blend of R&B, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean music continuing to sound healthy and exuberant. On this project, the Skatalites are joined by distinguished guests who range from Jamaican icons Toots Hibbert (of Toots & the Maytals fame) and Prince Buster to such jazz improvisers as trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxman David Murray, pianist Monty Alexander, and trombonist Steve Turre. Bowie and Murray were best known for avant-garde jazz, but you won't find any dissonant, quirky outside playing on this album; from Alexander's "Renewal" and Murray's "Flowers for Albert" (dedicated to free jazz explorer Albert Ayler) to remakes of "Man in the Street" and "Guns of Navarone," the music on this mostly instrumental CD is quite accessible. The jazz guests get room to blow, but they are aware of the fact that Hi-Bop Ska is a ska project first and foremost. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
