Friday, August 6, 2010

Concert Review: Skatalites Mix Original Ska with Reggae Classics

courtesy of http://www.NewEnglandSka.com
The Skatalites Mix Original Ska with Reggae ClassicsLast weekend, I was able to catch the legendary Skatalites at the Ocean Mist in Matunuck, RI. If you haven’t been, you should head down for a show while there’s still summer left to speak of. They have some great ska and reggae acts planned for the rest of the month, including Badfish, the RI-based Sublime tribute playing tonight, and reggae groups Inner Visions and the Mintones playing Thursday nights to close the month. The bar boasts an amazing outdoor deck, which runs the length of the bar and reaches out over the water to give the illusion of a cruise ship, only with better bands.
The Skatalites were a great fit for the crowd, a mix of young and middle aged people filling the front of the house, cascading from the heedless dancers in the front to those at the back of the bar carefully thinking every note to leave a soloist’s horn.
The band was equally eclectic, a pleasant surprise for my first time seeing them. The youngest of them, and clearly the newest member of the Skatalites, was Azemebo “Zim” Audu, playing tenor sax with a very fast, technical, straightahead jazz style. The other horn players, trumpet player Kevin Batchelor and trombone player Andrae Murchison mixed their extensive technical abilities with a much cooler, more hip ska style. Founding Skatalite alto sax player Lester Sterling remained the crowd favorite, and acted as the bandleader and crowd hype man, although I’m not sure how much of the crowd understood him. Kevin also sang lead vocals on the songs that required it, which were few. The rhythm section was held together by the rock solid Lloyd Knibb, who has been the drummer and the face of the Skatalites since 1964. Pushing 80 years old, Lloyd played the set with a dark, confident look that commanded the respect of his fellow performers and fans. His style changed perfectly from the upbeat ska to the slower reggae tunes with the ease of someone who has been the master of his craft for decades. The rest of the rhythm section was impressive, bass player Val Douglas, guitarist Nattie Frenchie, keyboard player Cameron Greenlee, and aux. percussionist Bob Heffernan, keeping the sound alive like it was Kingston in the late 60s.
The early part of the setlist was what you would expect. Classic, instrumental Skatalites tunes, just fast enough to keep the crowd moving in step. As the night progressed, they stepped up the energy a notch with a few of their more well known hits, including Rockfort Rock, Phoenix City, and the famous Guns of Navarone. They also included some reggae/ska classics to get the crowd moving for the finale, including Take Five, Rivers of Babylon, and A Message to You Rudy.
After leaving the stage for some added excitement, keyboard player and manager Ken Stewart came back to indroduce the members of the band. Once all on stage and playing, there was a pause. The musicians all froze in their places. The crowd stopped dancing and even speaking. Then, with some direction from Kevin the trumpet player, the crowd and band began to chant… 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… FREEDOM! The party started back up immediately, with enough power to squeeze Freedom Sound, Dick Tracy, and El Pussycat into the danced-out crowd. After the show, the band members happily came off stage to greet their fans face to face for pictures and some co-mingling. The Skatalites are on a tour through the U.S. right now, see where at http://www.Skatalites.com.