Tribute To Studio 1's Musical Director: Jackie Mittoo

Anyone who has been following  Jamaican music over the years will come across references made to The Skatalites and Studio 1.  These two entities contributed greatly to our culture musically, and has helped put a piece of Jamaica  in the homes of many across the world.
Keyboardist Jackie Mittoo was a founding member of the Skatalites as well as the in house musical director at Studio 1 Recording Studio, Kingston Jamaica.  Though he passed away in 1990 his music and influence can still be heard wherever there is Reggae, Ska or Rock Steady being played and
in 2004 VP records released a tribute to this legendary keyboard player - Interpretations & Improvisations: A Tribute To Reggae's Keyboard King Jackie Mittoo

Quite a long name for an album (you think?). And the album it self carries on the pattern with eighteen tracks, even though it's only about 65 minutes long. Most albums these days are 55mins max (if my memory serves me correctly).
The album features cover songs that were either originally written and/or performed by Jackie Mittoo, played by some of Jamaica's most outstanding Keyboard players - Jazz Pianist  Monty Alexander, The Wailers' Tyrone Downie and Third World's Ibo Cooper to name a few. All accompanied by some of the best session musicians Jamaica has produced to date including Sly Dunbar (drums), Robbie Shakespear and Glen Browne (Bass).
This is a really easy listening type of album, nice Sunday evening instrumental Reggae music. I really don't have any favorites on this album, they're all really nice songs, well produced, arranged and compiled.

If you're into the history of Jamaican music or you're just in the mood to relax and take it easy, "mellow out" this is a great album to check out.



Here's Jackie in studio doing his thing.



Have A Great day!!

"Exodus, Good God Almighty! Movement Of Jah People" - Marley's "Babylon By Bus"

"Arguably one of the most influential live reggae albums ever, "Babylon By Bus" captures Bob Marley & The Wailers during the European leg of their Kaya tour in the spring of 1978." - Excerpt of an iTunes review.

Though I was only two years old in '78, when I started practicing and taking music seriously this album was indeed a big influence on me some thirteen years after it's release, and I'm sure it still influences and inspires many across the world today - "Babylon By Bus"

I remember when I first saw the CD by my father's house, curiosity struck at the sight of that unusual cover. Then I realized after taking a good look what the design actually depicted. I didn't listen to the album right away, must have been a few weeks or so when I finally asked to borrow it and got totally immersed in the whole album. For months I was a member of The Wailers, I could play the whole set at the drop of a dime. Truly an inspiration.

Thirteen songs performed in the set, though they might not be perfect representations of the recorded versions, the set is so kick ass that you forget about the recording and enjoy the performance just as the audience did in 1978 (which you can hear in the audio).  Bob, the I Threes & The Wailers throwing down 'high grade' Reggae music in it's purest form. Songs like "Stir It Up", "Is This Love?", "Exodus", "Concrete Jungle" & "Jammin" makes this album a real pleasure to listen. My favorites however include "Kinky Reggae", "Rat Race" & "Heathen".

Few artists manage to make a big impression on the world during their lives and even fewer continue to influence and inspire long after they have passed away. Bob Marley is one in a million. And "Babylon By Bus" is one of his best work which keeps reminding us of his Legend. In my opinion "Babylon By Bus" is a great album for you to check out today.





Bob Marley & The Wailers performing in Germany 1980




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Once A Man Of The World Now "Man Of God" - Junior Tucker

I've had the pleasure in my career as a musician to meet and develop relationships with artists which I admire and thus along the way doing work with them.  I remember growing up and hearing about a child star who later on proved that he was more than just a "child star".

Junior Tucker has seen success as a Reggae artist from a very young age and continued on that trend in his adulthood giving us hits like "Don't Test" , "Love Of A Lifetime"  and the cover of Benny Mardones' hit "Sixteen (Into The Night)".

These days however he's been singing songs of worship and praise since becoming a Christian several years ago. Junior has released several albums focused on the gospel, and his most recent project which I am happy to say I was a part of came in 2011 - "Man Of God".

Reggae, Christian & Gospel is the description on iTunes. This sums it up perfectly.  "Man Of God" brings "The Word" to the world in the form of Reggae. He's not the first artist to do this, but in "gospel" music there are several other genres that spread the word so it's only fitting that Christians across the world who love Reggae can have the opportunity to listen to "The Word" in a style of music that they love and appreciate.

Fourteen songs that touches your spiritual side (if you are so inclined). I am not a Christian but I do appreciate great music and this album has some great songs.  My favs are "Still In Love With You", "I Repent" & "Rescue".

Whether you are into gospel music or not, Christian or not, I believe music is a universal language which breaks through all barriers  - social, political, religious etc.  So "Man Of God" is a great album for you to check out in my opinion.


Here are two video performances, songs from his prior album.



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Billboard top R&B/Hip Hop Albums - #1 4/5/02 - 06/06/02: "Full Moon" Brandy

With the release of her most recent album "Two Eleven" in October 2012 I'm sure Brandy was hoping (as all artists do) to top what could be considered her best album to date. But the reality is that only a handful of artists ever manage to consistently release great albums with each better than the next. There might be a number of reasons for any particular album to be a hit, same goes for those that miss. However, be it the production skills of producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, writing styles of L. Daniels (a writer on the album) and/or Brandy herself, in 2002 all the stars were aligned in her favor and there came the hit album "Full Moon".
I must add - though prior albums sold more copies and won more awards (Grammy & Billboard), "Full Moon" had more chart success. 

I fell in love with this album when I first saw the video for the title track "Full Moon".  Just listening to the album as I'm writing this brings me back to that emotional state, the peace, calm, love I felt listening to her sweet vocals on the ballads - "He Is", "Come A Little Closer" and "Love Wouldn't Count Me Out". Sixteen well written and produced songs in what I'd call classic Brandy fashion - there is no mistaking a Brandy song. 
I could easily name ten favorites on this album, let's start with the cover of PM Dawn's "Die Without You", then of course "Full Moon", "I Thought", "When You Touch Me",  "Apart", "Nothing"......you get the idea. 

If you love and follow American R&B, this album should be in your collection.  If not, "Full Moon" is an album you should definitely check out in my opinion.


Here's the title track "Full Moon"




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Not Just "Another Rockaz Moment"- Morgan Heritage

Preparing dinner one evening in 2007 my cell phone rang and it was a call to sub for a guitarist in a band that I had admired and was a fan of for years - Morgan Heritage.  Lukes, their rhythm guitarist & the one who deals with most of the business side of things for the band laughed at how surprised I sounded to be getting the call from him. I accepted the job but the catch was, their schedule didn't permit any rehearsal so I had about two weeks to learn over thirty songs. I met up with the bass player who handed me some CDs with the instructions "just listen to all of them but the show will be almost exactly the same show on the 'Live' album" which turned out to be "Another Rockaz Moment".

They're one of the best Reggae bands on the road today in my opinion and are in leagues with  The Wailers, Third World, Steele Pulse and Inner Circle. The only thing which separates them seems to be that illusive hit record to open the doors to commercial success.

Morgan Heritage was formed in 1994 by five children of Jamaican Reggae artist Denroy Morgan. They grew up in New York and recorded their debut album there but moved to Jamaica  shortly after that and began working with some of the island's top record producers.  Since then they've gained some success and have recorded several albums over the years including two live albums.

"Another Rockaz Moment" lists 19 tracks which takes you on a journey that makes you feel like you're at their concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. Lead vocalist Peter Morgan delivers each song effortlessly with his kick ass band & siblings supporting him all the way.  Mojo, Gramps (his brothers) & sister Una takes the lead on a few numbers as well, showing us that they're all truly talented.  Songs from several of their albums were performed in the set - "Don't Haffi Dread", "Liberation", "Best Friend", "She's Still Loving Me", songs which were popular in Jamaica, the Caribbean, some parts of Europe & Africa.

All in all it's a great album. I grew up on Bob Marley's "Live" & "Babylon By Bus" and "Another Rockaz Moment"  in my opinion represents in our time what Marley's albums represented back then and still does - Roots Rock Reggae music in all it's Elements.
This album is not just "Another Rockaz Moment", it's an album you should definitely check out in my opinion.

Here's a performance of "Works To Do - Jah Works" (from the tour I did with them :-)






Have A Great Day!!