| Have you heard... |
|
|
|
|
(Issue 6 - January 2010) Catch up on some seriously good riddims with the following six albums… 1 Rock Steady: The Roots of Reggae This stunning soundtrack to the recent documentary movie about the history of Rocksteady features JA legends including Leroy Sibbles, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, and Hopeton Lewis. But this isn’t just nostalgia; an all-star studio band led by the incomparable guitarist Ernest Ranglin breathes new life into 15 rock-steady classics. Essential. 2 Extra Raw: The Best of Lady Saw Lady Saw is notorious for raucous riddims and XXX-rated lyrics, and this album is a highly-recommended sampler of her output since she burst on to the dancehall scene in the mid-nineties. But be warned, it’s not for the easily offended. 3 Tarrus Riley: Contagious Lyrics that make you think and melodies that make you hum were seldom a formula for success in the world of reggae in the dancehall era, but Tarrus Riley, son of the veteran Jamaican singer Jimmy Riley, is making a serious impact combining roots sensibilities with contemporary riddims on this great album. 4 Calypso Rose: Calypso Rose After making music for more than half a century Calypso Rose decided it was time for a change of pace. This eponymous CD is the result. The rhythms, from start to finish, are laid-back – a decided change from the full-tilt soca and calypso she’s famous for. A delight from start to finish. 5 Jimmy Bosch: A Million Sizzling salsa dura is the speciality of Jimmy Bosch, a New Jersey-born trombonist, band leader and in-demand guest instrumentalist with strong Puerto Rican roots. But Bosch’s jazz-infused repertoire includes many other Latin genres, and the nine tracks on this self-produced CD also embrace chacha, rumba and mozambique. 6 Keep It Down to Earth: Masud Sadiki Masud Sadiki, who is at the forefront of the vibrant music scene in the tiny island of St Kitts, makes reggae that’s often imbued with a touch of dancehall along with frequent nods to ska, all with killer riddims courtesy of his fresh young Kala Bash band. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|