Jamaica: Rhythm & Blues 1956-1961

The years 1956 and 1961 brought two key events to Jamaica’s musical history. The dates also provide well chosen bookends for this compilation, giving a Caribbean (Jamaica had yet to gain independence) twist on what American radio stations were playing. In 1956 Coxsone Dodd formed The Blues Blasters, whose members feature extensively. Rock’n’roll, boogie-woogie and doo-wop hits had their R&B shuffles tweaked into skanks – a rhythm defined by an emphasised off-beat – as Jamaica, reacting to a failed Caribbean unity attempt by the West Indies Federation, developed a unique cultural identity. Saxophonist Roland Alphonso, trombonist Rico Rodriguez and pianist Theophilus Beckford all began their careers as Blues Blasters, and all three went on to work with legendary producer Duke Reid on tracks like ‘Parapinto Boogie’ and ‘Let George Do It’. In 1961 a delegation of Rastafarians was invited to Ethiopia to discuss repatriation. This personal initiative from Emperor Haile Selassie was considered a huge success for the movement, who looked to Africa instead of the US for musical inspiration. One of the results was Nyahbinghi, a powerful worshipping style incorporating African hand drums and drumming patterns. No better representative could have been picked here than chanter/lead drummer Count Ossie; ‘Duck Soup, ‘Another Moses’ and the genre-shaping ska track ‘Oh Carolina’ are all excellent, and hint towards the sounds and lyrical themes that would evolve into roots reggae. Other recurring names include Laurel Aitken, Owen Gray and Derrick Morgan, who later became famous as a rocksteady singer.