It wasn't until 1983, thanks in part to the Ska revival in Great Britain brought about by the success of The English Beat and Madness, that they even attempted a reunion concert. Their appearance at Reggae Sunsplash that year went over so well Island records offered them a contract to start recording. In 1984, twenty years after their formation, they finally began to achieve international recognition they deserved for their contributions to the music of Jamaica.
Now, more than forty years after their formation they are still going strong. The line up for their latest release, On The Right Track on the Australian label AIM International is a combination of the old and the new.
Lloyd Knibb, the man credited with inventing the reggae drumbeat, still anchors the rhythm for the band he helped found, just as Saxophonist Lester "Ska" Sterling and vocalist Doreen Schaeffer provide the continuity up front. Joining them are other veterans from the Studio One days of the early sixties; Karl "Cannonball" Bryan on tenor sax, Vin Gordon on trombone, Val Douglas on bass, and Devon James on guitar. They might not have been in the original Skatalites but they have walked the same roads for so long they bleed and breathe Ska just as the three originals do.
Rounding out the band are Ken Stewart who's been the band's manager since the 80's and plays Hammond B3 organ, and Kevin Batchelor on trumpet who is a veteran of reggae bands like Steel Pulse. In other words this band is as tight and hot as any bunch of young bucks out there.
You only have to listen to the opening and title track of the disc to know that this is not just some nostalgia act put together to cash in on a name. This is one of the tightest bands I have heard in a long time. Yet at the same time manage to convey a feeling of incredible looseness and relaxation. That's always been one of the miracles of Ska as far as I'm concerned, never a note out of place but creating music that makes you want to let go of all your troubles.
Unlike some of the more modern Ska bands who equate speed with proficiency, the Skatalites understand the need to go slow so the groove can permeate. Maybe you can listen to the first couple of songs without getting to your feet, but slowly and surely, almost without you noticing it begins to work up your spine.
Article comments