PRICE:
$15.50
NOT IN STOCK
1-2 Weeks
ARTIST
TITLE
Jamaica Ska
FORMAT
CD

LABEL
CATALOG #
CSM 249CD CSM 249CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
6/10/2014

Perhaps the most important figure the in history of Mexican ska, Toño Quirazco both introduced the genre to Mexico and, backed by his Hawaiian Orchestra, became its most important purveyor in the mid-'60s. Toño traveled to Jamaica himself, sent by Orfeon Records to learn the secrets of ska music and bring them back to Mexico. On his return, it was decided that some Jamaican ska was too slow for Mexican audiences so Toño speeds things up bit and the result is a very upbeat record, indeed! The album is largely instrumental although a few songs are vocal numbers like "Jamaica Ska" which introduced the new rhythm to the Mexican audience, saying you dance to it "as if it were cha-cha-cha," and the Spanish language version of the classic "Shame and Scandal." Though it has an irresistible, authentic Jamaican rhythm at its core, its and sound and charm are augmented by a lot of fun touches that you wouldn't find on your average Jamaican record of the period. For instance, a number of songs have their melody carried by a Hawaiian slide guitar (Toño's instrument) and there's the vaguely Russian sounding "Moscú Ska." Other tracks on this magnificent set include "Mérida Ska," "Tutricumbanchi Baila Ska," "La Múcura," "Ska Hawaiiano," a bouncy version of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" called "El vendedor de melones," "Ska de los Santos," and a cover of "Mack the Knife" here called "Pepe el navaja."