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Dossier on... The Skatalites
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Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dossier on... The Skatalites >>
NAME: Skatalites
BACKGROUND: There would be no second-wave or third-wave ska without the Skatalites. No Madness, no Specials, no Selectors, no HepCat, no Mighty Mighty Bosstones, no No Doubt. In fact, it's pretty safe to assume, the Skatalites defined and popularized the horn-driven, syncopated style of ska music around the world, second only to Bob Marley as legendary musicians from Jamaica.
The fast-paced reggae found an audience in the '60s, again in the '80s, and yet again at the end of the '90s. As set/studio musicians, the Skatalites taught Alton Ellis, Toots & the Maytals, Delroy Wilson, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff a thing or two about rhythm, when those guys were still young and coming up.
CURRENT STATUS: The Skatalites have released a new CD "From Paris With Love," featuring five original members. "Paris" is the closest recording in a long time to the raw-sounding Studio One recordings and harkens back to the original Skatalites sound. The disc contains classic ska cuts like "Glory to the Sound" and "Rock Fort Rock."
TRIVIA: Ska music came out of the military style Alpha Cottage School for wayward boys, established in 1880 and run by Roman Catholic nuns in Jamaica. With its own band of top-notch musicians, the school's reputation peaked during the swinging '40s. When trumpeter Dizzy Moore heard a friend playing music and asked where he learned. The boy said, "Alpha, but you have to be bad to go there." Dizzy replied, "That's easy, man."
LYRICS: It's all about the horns.
RENDEZVOUS: 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 16+show with the Expendables opening. Tickets are $12, $14 at the door. Details: 423-1336. 04/24/03 >> go there
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