Soul Jazz レコード& CD

Review: It's been a while since Soul Jazz tapped into the seemingly bottomless well that is the Studio One archives. This latest trawl through "Sir" Coxsone Dodd's landmark label focuses on the Jamaican imprint's ska output in the "downbeat" period between 1962 and 1965. It was in this period that the ska movement, reflecting Jamaica's newfound independence from the UK, truly began to find its own voice. While that alone makes Studio One Ska Fever worthy of further inspection, it's the tracklist - heavy on early scene classics such as "Freedom Sounds", "Marcus Garvey" and "Mad World", as well as lesser known gems and early works from Lee 'Scratch' Perry and the Wailers - that makes is essential listening.

Review: Studio One are already undoubtedly the most eminent label and studio to have ever put the reggae of Kingston, Jamaica on the map. As if it wasn't obvious enough, this new 2xLP compiles the most legendary productions to ever ooze from the Studio's walls, thanks to the guidance of producer Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd. Rare music from Horace Andy, Jackie Mittoo and Sound Dimension all abound on this ground-shaking CD, which lies somewhere on the intersection between funk and dub.

Review: A few years ago, Studio One explored the links between Jamaica and James Bond (where the famous fictional spy's creator, Ian Fleming, famously lived) on Studio One 007, a limited-edition box set of seven-inch singles. Now they've revisited and expanded the compilation, adding more ska and rocksteady interpretations of Bond themes (as well as Bond-inspired Jamaican music used on other films of the late 1960s) and the label's usual extensive liner notes. Our picks of a great bunch include the Soul Brothers' ska interpretation of the 'Thunderball' theme song, their collaborative take on the main Bond theme with Jackie Mittoo, a young Lee Perry on the mic (alongside Bob Marley's backing band, the Wailers) on 'Pussy Galore', and Roland Alphonso and the Studio One Orchestra's 'From Russia With Love'.

Review: First released way back in 2005, Soul Jazz Records' tribute to the female artists and vocalists who recorded at the legendary Studio One studio in Kingston, Jamaica, returns on CD for a limited time. It's a compilation that's well worth picking up, for two equally valid reasons. Firstly, it features some of Jamaica's greatest female solo singers and vocal groups - the likes of Marcia Griffiths, the Soulettes, Angela Prince and Jennifer Lara. Secondly, the mix of styles on offer - not just rocksteady and roots reggae, but also dub, ska and disco-reggae - delivers an enjoyable lesson in the vibrancy of Jamaican music during the 60s and '70s. Throw in a chunky booklet packed with insightful liner notes, and you have a genuinely must-have compilation.