SKA TREK

Today's tune of the day is 'Eastern Standard Time' from Courtney Pine's album 'To The Eyes Of Creation'.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0aRano4Y0Sm7v1LoyMlWm7?si=c942e7b7af1b4cf2

https://youtu.be/DtSMAJlzYh0?si=jfYc_nw-VoB-qP9Y

The tune originally appeared on The Skatalites album 'The Skatalite! released in 1969 but Courtney Pine's 1992 version, with Dennis Rollins on trombone, is the version that got me listening to and playing ska and so has a special place in my heart. In fact, I took up playing the trombone in my 30's and played this tune on a gig 6 weeks later.

So, study and research is diligently underway to create the best possible crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter so that we can mix, master and print the album ‘Project Genesis’ and then prepare for the album launch gig. As always, watch this space to keep updated with progress.

Hopefully, you will have noticed that the social media campaign has started on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and this will be ramped up to another level in the next couple of weeks.

In other news, there is now merchandise for sale on our website. Lovely Ska Trek goodies...Mmmmm.

The next member of the bands to introduce to you is the lovely Matt Ellis, brother of Ellis, who we have already introduced to you, (see previous posts). Matt plays and teaches a smorgasbord of brass instruments which obviously include the trumpet you see here.

Today’s quote of the day: "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! Make each day your masterpiece of you-ness!”

Stay positive y'all and have a great weekend.

Big love X

There are three, (some say more), waves of ska music.

1^st Wave – Original ska from Jamaica in 1950s and 60s. A fusion of US jazz and R&B with Caribbean musical styles like mento and calypso. A forerunner to Rocksteady and reggae if featured artists like The Skatalites, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker and early Bob Marley.

2^nd Wave – Originated in Coventry, UK. Late 1970s to early 80s. It was a British ska revival and was a fusion of original 1^st wave ska with punk (harder edged rock sound of the day) and was dubbed 2 Tone. It featured bands like The Selector, The Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, The Beat.

3^rd Wave – From the US. 1990s onwards. Far less of the 1^st wave ska and more of a guitar led sound. Bands like No doubt, The Mighty Mighty BossTones, Bim Skala Bim, The Toasters, The Uptones, Reel Big Fish.

Videos to watch:

3 Generations Of Ska - (short)

https://youtu.be/uzHszWJomxw?si=Iw0tts_JZZchamvC

The Complete History Of Ska Music: From Jamaica To New England (from a US point of view) - (longer)

https://youtu.be/vEnTr3riXSw?si=Asp5yGxJ2X8yPCfE

Ska Trek very much play 1^st Wave original ska.

Well actually, to kick things off, we are gonna start with TUNES of the day.

The album 'Return Of The Big Guns' by The Skatalites. Follows the link below to hear the full album:

https://youtu.be/jSLNZ28EMfg?si=9yTeIkgoOxOEbrUI

This album has a nice relaxed feel about it, great guitar work by Jerome Haines & Dwight Pinkney and follows the classic melody-solos-melody jazz style format that Ska Trek employ in their tunes. Despite not being particularly 'dance-y' it is my favourite Ska album.

You know that “Change is the only constant” right?

So, I've finally realised that, financially, I can't do this alone so I'm gonna need some help, from my friends, which includes you because you've taken the time to read this - thanks. Therefore the planned social media campaign is gonna launch this weekend, a lot sooner than I'd originally thought, to hopefully galvanise some interest prior to the crowdfunding campaign that I'm am now furiously getting my head around.

Once again, watch this space for details of that crowdfunding opportunity for you to help with, if you are so inclined and able.

So, in. other matters, band member introduction time:

This here superstar, (of course no more of a superstar than previously mentioned band members), is Will Rumfitt on trombone. I also play trombone but he is light years ahead of me with regards talent so I shall stick to bass, both electric and double, (which I'm also furiously getting my head around - upright that is).

Today's quote of the day is, somewhat appropriately:

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.”

Yes things have changed, in terms of my plan, but I'm now just on a different path to the same destination!

Stay positive y'all and have a great weekend.

Big love X

Ah-ha. So I mentioned in a previous post that we have a new guitarist in the band, which now makes two. His name is Alex (Dark Lord/DL/Dielzibub) Backhouse and here is a brief video clip of him playing through the chord changes in one of the tracks on the upcoming album ‘Project Genesis’…

So, Who can guess what tune he is playing? Everybody will know this tune.

Anybody?

All will be revealed at a later date….(that later date being when the album is mixed and mastered and ready to be handed out to selected members of the media - which is when the social media campaign goes live).

Just to let you know, all the solos have been edited and now we're ready to mix. Watch this space!

So, in other news, I saw this quote recently and thought I'd share it with y'all.

“No matter how much you torment yourself with guilt, the past won't change. And no matter how much you consume yourself with anxiety, the future won't be altered. So don't ruin your present. Live in the now with determination and courage.”
Sylvester Stallone

More of such like quotes can be found here.

Have a lovely weekend peoples and enjoy the glorious weather (well it is in the UK).

X

We finished recording the horns on Tuesday and I'd like to say an exceedingly huge thank you to Ellis, our tenor saxophone player…

who managed to complete her horn section duties whilst being impressively pregnant. She is due to give birth next week!

So now the recording is done, it's down to me to edit the lovely solos, (we have more than we actually need for the tracks), so they musically flow together and it's mix time, by the also impressive Phoebe Bentham. Once the album ‘Project Genesis’ has been mixed and mastered, we'll unleash the social media campaign that is pretty much ready and waiting to go to draw attention to our album launch party.

Stay tuned y'all and have a great weekend.

So, it's been a while since the last post. Lots going on with comings and goings, some good, some not so good, but heading in the right direction and still moving forward.
After much to-ing and fro-ing, I finally managed to sort out the last recording sessions for the horns for the album ‘Project Genesis’. All set for the end of this month. And then the editing, mixing and mastering. Whew. A whole bunch of work.

I mentioned in the previous post that we have a new band member. He is a fine guitarist by the name of Alex (The Dark Lord or DLzibub) Backhouse with whom I've worked with in several bands including MOOOSE and Thumpasaurus. Welcome dude, to this emerging project.

Also, pretty much of all the social media campaign is ready to go once the album is done. We are actively seeking out a suitable venue in Brighton to hold the album launch party.

The album cover graphics are done too.

Watch this space.

Big love and happy Friday y'all

So, I have so much to learn about social media. I have just deleted our X (ex twitter) account because it is owned by Elon Musk, and we don't really want to have anything to do with him. I have compiled a list of over 300 people (bands, record labels, Star Trek actors, ska radio stations etc) to follow, because that's what you do apparently. The social media campaign will start in the next couple of weeks with videos, photos, more recording snippets, a 'Tune of the day' feature and much more. We can't wait to get started.
With regards to the recording, we had a very successful session on Monday and I reckon we have two more sessions to go to complete the process. And then onto mixing and mastering.

We have also just added another member to the band. Details to follow - watch this space!

Have an excellent Friday y'all.

Big love.

Have you ever wondered what music looks like from our perspective as it is created? This is a screenshot of Doctor Who in Logic Pro. Trust me, it sounds awesome!