Jazz With A Jamaican Accent
By
Matt Fleeger |
KMHD-FM
Friday, August 30, 2013
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or
Flash plugin.
Here we are in muggy late August — what the ancient Romans called the "dog days" of summer. For many of us, the season requires a certain soundtrack. Maybe it's bossa nova, upbeat R&B or chilled-out electronic music, but for me, the perfect summer sound has a specific origin: the island of Jamaica.
While the island nation's most famous musical invention is reggae, the pulse of all Jamaican music (including ska, dub, dancehall, mento and rocksteady) feels like summer. Each of these genres possesses infectious, upbeat tempos that inspire a relaxed feeling.
The selections here draw from these Jamaican musical inventions and meld them with the feeling of jazz. In each of these songs, one can hear the unmistakable tempo of ska, the precursor of reggae. Ska originated in the late '50s and drew heavily from both American black music (including jazz) and Caribbean calypso.
Here we have an interesting situation where music that grew out of mid-century jazz has itself been re-interpreted, creating a new jazz sound in the process. It's a sort of full-circle take on a little summer playlist.
View this story on npr.org
Monty Alexander & Ernest Ranglin
"Pressure Drop"
From 'Rocksteady'
Perhaps the most famous and successful Jamaican jazz musician of all time, Monty Alexander has often included musical nods to his homeland in his recorded output. While he's known for his Oscar Peterson-influenced straight-ahead stylings, Alexander's bright piano work also shines when he's playing something with a ska or reggae rhythm. Here, he works with legendary jazz and ska guitarist Ernest Ranglin and vocalist Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals.
Jazz Jamaica All Stars
"Dolphin Dance"
From 'Massive'
This 30-piece (!) ensemble makes a big sound. And, while there's nothing new in the decision to reshape a jazz standard — in this case, Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" — the Jazz Jamaica All Stars do something truly special with this cut. This session was recorded and mixed in spectacular fashion, rewarding the listener with superb audio dynamics.
Courtney Pine
"Kingstonian Swing"
From 'House Of Legends'
Here's an upbeat sound from one of the U.K.'s leading saxophonists. Courtney Pine is a multi-instrumentalist who has produced many fine leader records over his career and even more stand-out appearances as a sideman. Pine's parents were Jamaican immigrants, and one imagines that the skanking rhythm found in "Kingstonian Swing" was a part of his musical memories from childhood.
Lennie Hibbert
"Village Soul"
From 'Village Soul [single]'
The only "vintage" track on this list comes from the underappreciated vibraphonist Lennie Hibbert. His 1969 Studio One masterpiece Creation is a perfect blend of jazz, reggae, ska and R&B. In "Village Soul," Hibbert's resonant cadence on vibes follows a rhythm section that sounds like a perfect fusion of American soul-jazz and early Jamaican reggae.
Floratone
"Floratone"
This group, put together under the direction of producers Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine, matches the chameleon-like guitar work of Bill Frisell against Matt Chamberlain's skillful and creative percussion. This track, which also features trumpeter Ron Miles, owes much of its sound to dub reggae, especially the reverberating drum beats.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today