March 16, 2007: Jamaica and Jazz
This week we pay tribute to one of the most influential bands in the Western Hemisphere: The Skatalites. Through the influence of American jazz and R&B, the Skatalites created the Jamaican style of music known as ska, which was, as Prince Buster says, “The Godfather of Reggae.” We’ll listen to samples of Jamaican music influenced by jazz and jazz music influenced by Jamaica music. Special guest “selecter” and UCSB ethnomusicology Ph.D. candidate, Gibb Schreffler, aka The Bootist, aka “Molten†Hulton Clint, aka “Sugar†Kane de Bane, aka the Bruiser from the East, aka Gene Scotte, aka Fat Boy, aka Gabbah Shareef “Bhalwan,†helps put the skavoovee into our Friday Riffings.
A one-time double bassist with a passion for be-bop, Gibb hopped aboard the Train to Skaville as a teenager, after first hearing the Skatalites and their version of Jamaican jazz. From 1993 to 1997, Gibb—under the influence of his idol Charlie Mingus—lead Concrete Gibsons, an avant-garde ska ensemble. In April 1997, Concrete Gibsons joined a symphonic orchestra and cast to perform Gibb’s 90-minute ska-opera, Brewed in Nova Scotia. Gibb now is part of the Santa Barbara Riddim n’ Bruise outfit, The Escalades. Gibb will help us approach the ever-fresh stylings of Jamaican jazzers from a new perspective.
The Skatalites perform live at SoHo this Friday!