Customer Reviews

Studio One Scorcher

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Soul Jazz's "Studio One Scorcher" is one of the finest offerings of classic Jamaican instrumentals ever collected. In fact, in the context of "various artist" sets, "Scorcher" exists in the rarified atmosphere shared only by the Heartbeat label's magnificent "Downbeat The Ruler," also a collection of Studio One instrumentals. The selections here are truly phenomenal; glorious skanking grooves culled from the Studio One era of ska, rocksteady, and early reggae in the mid-to-late sixties and early seventies. The brass-laden music encompasses the aforementioned styles and more, liberally incorporating jazz, funk and soul into the mix, as well as touches of world musics from Latin to middle eastern. Funky bass and roiling hand-percussion abound. The range of textures, colors, moods and tempos here is wonderfully eclectic. Alongside righteously skanking rave-ups such as "Coconut Rock," and "Bugaloo," we are treated to moody, minor-chord masterpieces such the spooky "Jericho Skank" the mysterious "Money Generator," and the profoundly evocative "Black Up." "Mun-Dun-Gu" is the very definition of soul-funk, with wicked sax skanking over a grooving sea of hand percussion and funky bass. "Namibia" features virtuoso horn statements over an urgent, pounding double-time rhythm. There are two interesting tracks here where old Skatalites tunes were extended by the insertion of extra material recorded a couple of years LATER, and placed in strategically chosen locations. Tunes such as "Red Blood" couple supremely laid-back horns with shifting, dancing beats. The driving "Last Call," deftly incorporates subtle dub mixing techniques whilst remaining firmly organic and funky. Of course the musicians represented form a virtual roll-call of Jamaican greats, including Jackie Mittoo, Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling, Leroy "Horse Mouth" Wallace, Karl Bryan, Pablove Black, Vin Gordon, Don Drummond, Cedric Brooks, Count Ossie, Ernest Ranglin, and many, many others.

Sound wise "Scorcher" is very good, though not always perfect, especially in comparison with Heartbeat's miraculously clear "Downbeat The Ruler" set. Nonetheless "Scorcher" is a remarkably high quality release, and a deeply edifying listen. Sleeve notes are very good, with track by track info that only lets us down as far as recording years and session musician names. The CD itself is nicely presented with a standard jewel box inside of a cardboard slipcase.

There is soul transforming magic in these sounds that any music lover MUST HEAR. What confluence of forces descended upon this little island (just the size of Connecticut!) during these years to produce art of such power and beauty? We may never be able to fully explain HOW Jamaican music exploded with such glory during this time, but with superlative releases such as "Scorcher," we will never forget that it did, and how truly spectacular it was.

If you like "Studio One Scorcher," you'll definitely want to check out it's follow up "Studio One Scorcher vol. 2," as well as these other scorching selections:

*Downbeat The Ruler - Studio One Killers (Heartbeat)
*Man From Wareika - Rico Rodruigez (Blue Note/Island)
*Last Train To Skaville - Jackie Mittoo/Soul Brothers (Studio One/Soul jazz)
*The Keyboard King At Studio One - Jackie Mittoo (Universal/Studio One/Soul Jazz)
*Alpha Boys' School - Various (Trojan)
*Trojan Instrumentals - box set (Trojan)

great instrumentals from the legendary studio one studio; showcasing a variety of bands and styles (ska, rocksteady, jazz, soul, roots, dub). Most of the tracks that appear here are not available elsewhere. Standout tracks: Coconut Rock; Shockers Rock (a compelling 12" mix of a stomping ska tune, based on Roland Alphonso's "Cleopatra"); Ringo Rock (which is like a slowed down ska tune); Jericho Skank mysterious sounding rocksteady; Money Generator - nice saxophone; "Heavenless" again a hypnotic 12" mix of the timeless rhythm; Sidewalk Doctor is an extended organ cut of the "Woman of the Ghetto" rhythm; "Last Call" is Studio One's answer to the rockers sound of Channel One and "Black Up" a jazzy duel between Karl Bryan's saxophone and Jackie Mittoo's keyboard set to the background of nyabinghi drumming by Count Ossie.
Another recommended soul jazz release is "studio one discomixes".

How on earth, that at the writing of this review, there existed only two reviews (and positive ones, rightly so) of this gem of a cd, (released since 2002), is beyond me ! Is it that people do not have the ability to appreciate good music, or are they selfish, and thereby unwilling to expose this 'musical treasure' to the world, by way of reviews !
As one who appreciates good music, spanning from Early, The Baroque and Classical periods onwards, I do most highly recommend this compilation, to any true lover of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae music.
It certainly was a thrill discovering this cd, (many thanks to the previous reviewers), especially at a period in history when music seems to have lost all the emotional evocative diversity (sweetness) that it once had !
Truly a blessing to have this music made available again; a joy for old timers, and a rude awakening for the uninitiated, as to what good music was, and IS all about ! Most highly recommended !!

THANKYOU to the people who keep this stuff alive. I am stoked to bits and play this album often and still love it. If you are sitting on the fence and enjoy Bob Marley and the Wailers, you should keep digging, cas there are some artists on THIS album who have a similar feel from the same era...and it might open up more windows to find more music that you love. If you are looking for something old and funky, here is one from Studio one.