SKA TREK

Today's tune of the day is the original 'One Step Beyond' by Prince Buster, made famous by Madness.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2JX6SE1ZsNGWDcb3kDZVfJ?si=43056ca882544042

We all know the version of this song by Madness but I'm sure a lot of you did not know that it was a cover.

Wikipedia says:

"One Step Beyond" is a tune written by Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster as a B-side for his 1964 single "Al Capone". It was covered by British band Madness for their debut studio album of the same name (1979). Although Buster's version was mostly instrumental except for the song title shouted for a few times, the Madness version features a spoken intro by Chas Smash and a barely audible but insistent background chant of "here we go!". The spoken line, "Don't watch that, watch this", in the intro is from another Prince Buster song, "Scorcher" — and is also used at the start of Dave and Ansell Collins' "Funky Funky Reggae" — whilst the next line "This is a heavy heavy monster sound" is taken from another Dave and Ansell Collins song, "Monkey Spanner".

So now you know.

So here is the other guitarist in the band. His name is Mark Crawford. He is Scottish (Aberdonian to be precise) and does actually smile occasionally.

We worked together, (he was my boss), at BIMM in Brighton, (before our department was unceremoniously shut down. 

In other news, the next stage of our progress is gathering email addresses to add to our mailing list. The prize for all those that do, as well as getting all the up to date info and goings on getting sent directly to you inbox, but you will also be emailed a link to download the first track of the album ‘Project Genesis’. 

That track will be ‘The Theme From Star Trek’. 

(With a name like ours it had to be done!)

You can join this mailing list by signing up at www.skatrek.com.

Today's quote of the day is:

"Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow."

Have a great weekend y'all.

Big love,

Maz

Today's tune of the day is 'Tribute to Jackie Mitto'  by Aba-ariginals or, to be more precise, Patrick Anthony Tenyue or Patrixx.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1yl6wQqBiWhoje6IA4xV8s?si=191c734093424c76

I had the pleasure of playing with Patrixx on the West End show ‘Soul Sister’ that also toured the uk. He is an immensely talented writer, arranger, producer and trumpet player who has worked with the likes of UB40, Maxi Priest, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, The wailers, Dave Stewart and Aswad, plus many many more.

We became good friends and he played on one of my tracks ‘Colour Blind?’ on my ‘Peace, Love & Funkiness’ album.

Keyboard virtuoso Jackie Mittoo was among the true legends of reggae - a founding member of the The Skatalites and an extraordinarily prolific songwriter, he was perhaps most influential as a mentor to countless younger performers, primarily through his work as the musical director at the famed Studio One. 

I don't actually know definitively what it is about this track that I love so much. Whether it's the gentle groove, the super smooth horns or infectious melody, I don't know but it has a special place in my heart and in my Desert Island Discs.

Today's tune of the day is the irrepressible Simmer Down by Bob Marley & The Wailers.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5f4Bc6bJWwUJ5Rtc8Sjrwo?si=e7ff9e7e01704a4b

Who doesn't know (and love) this tune?

Wikipedia says…"Simmer Down" is the first single released by the Wailers, accompanied by the ska supergroup the Skatalites and produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1963. It was the number one hit in Jamaica in February 1964.^{[citation needed]}

The song was directed to the "rude boys" of the ghettos of Jamaica at the time, sending them a message to cool down or "simmer down" with all the violence and crime going on in Kingston. The subject matter of "Simmer Down" made the Wailers stand out amongst their contemporaries. The ska sound of the single is a marked contrast to the slower reggae that the Wailers would later become internationally known for. The Wailers at this time contained Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Smith, and Beverley Kelso. It was Bob Marley's first hit and his career as a songwriter and performer took off from there."

It also featured in my favourite scene in the biopic film ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ in which Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is seen dancing uncontrollably on the mixing desk.

It is also one of the tracks on our upcoming album ‘Project Genesis’.

Today's tune of the day is 'Ska Reggae Hi-Bop' by The Skatalites. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/2JXdi2W7rzHvDzJXHTdlfm?si=bf4ec506c7124c6a

It's about time that I introduced a Skatalites tune and this is probably my favourite tune of theirs. If Ska Trek were to ever cover a Skatalites tune then this would be it. Lots of bounce and danciness that I absolutely adore - all 8mins 22secs of it. I have to admit that I'm not the best dancer but I would certainly give it a good go if a DJ dropped this at a party I was at. Enjoy.

“On alto saxophone, lets hear it for the lovely….Beeks!” Otherwise known as Beccy Rork, she completes the line up of the marvellous musicians that make up our uber talented horn section otherwise know as the Dilithium Horns, (working title).

And here is the, also extraordinarily talented Phoebe Bentham, our recording engineer/mixer/masterer who has Vulcan-like super sharp ears. A very valuable member of our team.

Today's quote poem of the day:

Invictus

Today's tune of the day is ‘54-46 (Was My Number)’ by Ernest Ranglin.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3UWidDMD5KcDBZevFGXm9Q?si=d3f86af2c0f5485e

Taken from the album Below the Bassline (Island, 1996), this cover of the Toots & The Maytals song, for me, is the stand out track on the album, not just because of the very familiar bassline but the light and infectious groove from the outset that puts a smile on your face and movement in you feet. This is certainly one of the tracks that have inspired me to put this band together and play the music we do. 

For all those that didn't know, here's how to dance authentically at ska gigs. We will be expecting to see audience members dancing in this fashion at our gigs, please.

I guess it's time to let you all know who I am, for all those that don't know already, and why I'm pushing this Ska Trek project with everything I have.

My name is Amaziah Davis and I am the double/electric bass player in the band. I also play trombone, helicon and have been known to sing a bit, but not with this band. I've been a musician for nearly 40 years and been a pro for 20 of those. I've been fortunate enough to play all around the world and I've written and recorded two albums for the band MOOOSE. More information, (should you be interested), can be found here.

There are many reasons why I'm doing this band. They include doing bigger and better ska gigs and tours than local ska bands that play in pubs, of which there are hundreds. I feel there is a gap in the market - ska-ing up older popular tunes and making them ‘danc-ier’, (who doesn't like to ska?). I love playing to a dancing audience that's having fun. I firmly believe that people will really enjoy this music. It'll bring smiles to faces and, at the very least, get heads bopping. It's also great fun to play. 

I do however feel that this is my last musical project, (I’m getting old) and I truly want to be in a successful, festival gigging and touring band.

To this end, I’m gonna do everything in my power to make this happen – give it full beans, maximum effort!

Today's quote of the day:

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.

Have a great weekend.

Big love X

Greetings. Today's tune of the day is the recently discovered Ho !

https://open.spotify.com/track/4IqlxmNau557nqtssI6Pdi?si=bb22bda4fed94c2d

https://youtu.be/yhU6mEUYEhY?si=ngAvHn79hk552hPS

...or indeed Hatcha

https://open.spotify.com/track/3XwfhCnD1RZLl7SjjOEONQ?si=f0809af27eb34245

https://youtu.be/fVfhMqBgEnA?si=HOGejENPL8SVUCYS

Discovered on my way to work this morning, these tracks, from the album 'Anachronisme' by the band Nancy Ska Jazz Orchestra from the Lorraine region of France are imbued with a huge sense of fun and great playing. Very much in the ska jazz orchestra vein these tunes, (indeed the whole album) feature great arrangements, gorgeous (trombone) solos and is well worth a listen if you need cheering up. They certainly put a smile on my face.