AKATZ ha estado en el cruce de caminos que hay entre Kingston y Bilbao charlando con el espíritu burlón del mardi grass de Nueva Orleans, quien les ha señalado nuevos rumbos para continuar su ruta creativa. Los no iniciados recibirán su nuevo álbum como pollos sin cabeza, como una feroz revelación, y los adeptos de toda la vida celebrarán el acontecimiento con ofrendas de humo, aguardiente y baile infinito.

Yuyu

AKATZ - La Misión

Ritmos y melodias antillanos bajo el paraguas del jazz, pero con un reverencial respecto a la esencia de ambas tradiciones.

DROP COLLECTIVE es una agrupación nacida en 2016, formada por diez músicos que fusionan música jamaicana y jazz en un repertorio de composiciones y arreglos propios, que no olvida la importancia de hacer bailar al respetable. Es una banda experimentada y rodada en importantes escenarios como el Nowa Reggae, el Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona, las Nits de Jazz a La Pedrera, las Festes de la Mercè, entre otros. Tambien ha compartido cartel con artistas como Toots & the Maytals, The Skatalites, Dr. Ring Ding, Doreen Shaffer, Ky-Mani Marley...

Come Shine

DROP COLLECTIVE - Come Shine

From the album WICKED DUB DIVISION Meets NORTH EAST SKA*JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Live Studio Session #1 (2022).

A surprising  collaboration between two prestigious Italian bands, the wizards of dub and the masters of big-band ska, in perfect symbiosis.

WICKED DUB DIVISION Meets NORTH EAST SKA*JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Live Studio Session #1

WDD Meets NESJO - Cascade

Track from the conceptual album RAWTOWN. Divided into four chapters, inspired by the phases of the moon, these 4 phases illustrate a cyclical process that goes from darkness to light, darkness being a reflection of individualism and light the symbol of the feeling of total community. The album narrates how the individual reinvents his spaces and learns to share them, drinking from the legacy of the generations that preceded us and putting everything learned collectively at the disposal of those to come. 

The plot line is musically armored by a succession of themes in which the band walks through a wide range of the styles of Jamaican music, always in a justified way, and with an intrinsic link to its own roots.

Rawtown

THE DANCE CRASHERS - Unity

BABILBON es un colectivo formado por músicos curtidos en otras bandas de Bilbao con la idea de aportar un aire actual a los antiguos ritmos jamaicanos, fusionándolos con ritmos dancehall y hip-hop además de otros estilos de música negra, sin ninguna pretensión de sonar puristas.

BABILBON cede el mic y alrededoresro, en este su primer álbum , a 10 artistas de Bilbao: Bita Akatz (como Bita Banton), Suprah, Mad Muasel, Xatiro, Belardi Rockers, Gatom, Reguilón, Fundación de Raperos Atípicos de Cadiz, Inés Pardo y Priteo.

Babilbon (10 Beats and Riddims Basque Label)

BABILBON ft. BELARDI ROCKERS - Nor Gara

Opening track of the debut album by Italian maestros NORTH EAST SKA JAZZ ORCHESTRA. Two classic jazz tracks  Blue Skies (Irving Berlin, 1926) and In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk, 1947) merged in a stylish ska-jazz performance.

The album Stompin' And Rollin' includes 10 remakes of jazz and swing classics performed in the Jamaican style of the 60's. From original ska to rocksteady and reggae, the young big band from Triveneto (north east Italy) conveys in this work energetic enthusiasm for Jamaican music, stylishly enriched by the coolness of the dance music of the golden era of swing. 

Stompin' And Rollin' features two outstanding collaborations: Mr. T-Bone (Africa Unite, Bluebeaters) and Olly Riva (Shandon, Olly Riva &amp; The Soul Rockets) who join forces with the voices of Freddy Frenzy, Rosa Mussin and  Michela Grena, the ten-piece brass section and the sound rhythm base of this young big band.  

The album has been recorded at Studio Jork in Koper (Slovenia) in March 2015 and mixed and mastered in The Volcano Lounge, Sherman Oaks (California) by Brian Dixon (ex The Aggrolites).

NORTH EAST SKA JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Blue Skies + In Walked Bud

“Everyday (Walking In Sunshine)” is an uplifting optimistic song included in "How Long is Now", the first studio album from the Texan trio JAMES & BLACK. The combination of Southern Soul and Hip-hop that the band produces has evolved from their inception in 2011 into a very cohesive and complete sound, live and in the studio. The harmonies and storytelling of Bruce James and Bella Black are the focus of the trio.

JAMES & BLACK - Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)

Title track of the second full album by Norwegian band WILD MANN RIDDIM and first release of WMR on Brixton Records.

Worldwide Frequency album (2017) was recorded in the old fashioned way: live, on tape in 7 hours, and reflects WMR as they further explore the links between ska, jazz and reggae. Rhythms flow around and create a solid sound that also allows the search for new ideas without hesitation. 

The track Woldwide Frequency is a melodic theme that reflects the dynamic sound span of the band, a perfect example of the deep link between the tradition of the Scandinavian jazz school and the passion for ska and reggae sounds that WILD MAN RIDDIM inpersonate, a worldwide musical frequency.

Worldwide Frequency

WILD MAN RIDDIM - World Frequency

The new generation of Italian ska-jazz maestros indulge themselves with a collaboration with the two sax heroes of the contemporary ska scene: David Hillyard (The Slackers) and Fred "Rocksteady" Reiter (New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble).

Each of the guest stars delivers an own penned composition in one of the sides of this limited 500 copies vinyl edition, leading the emphatic big-band into a tour de force in which both Hillyard and Reiter show, each in his own way, their personal expertice and know-how. Two exciting tracks showing that big-band ska-jazz is in full force!

NESJO Meets David Hillyard & Fred Reiter

Prime Suspect

NORTH EAST SKA JAZZ ORCHESTRA feat. FRED REITER - Prime Suspect

After eight years of touring the globe, Los Angeles-based band, The Aggrolites are proud to reveal their first live album, "Unleashed Live Vol. 1." With five previous studio releases under their belt the next logical move for the band was a compilation of their favourite songs recorded live from recent shows at The Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA and The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. "Unleashed Live Vol. 1" features songs from all previous studio releases plus a version of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Banana” by the legendary reggae artist, Roy Ellis. Available in CD and gatefold double LP trough Brixton Records.

THE AGGROLITES - Don't Let Me Down [Live]

The Mood a.k.a. is a sextet from Stuttgart (Germany) active since the late eighties playing 60s reggae and ska. The band has grown naturally, step by step, from the underground. During this period they have released a handful of tracks in sampler records and 7"s and the band’s constant live presence in clubs and festivals of Central Europe has given them the opportunity to share stage with the likes of Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker, The Aggrolites... 

In 2011Brixton Records released their first full album: 100% Soul Grown.12 tracks sung in English, selected for the occasion and showing their rude way of performing, ska, reggae and rocksteady. The influx of early-reggae, 2-tone and the American revivalists is palpable as it is as well plain the sheer personality of the rotund voice of frontman Josi “Dreadskin” Hoger, the supporting vocals of bass player Li Wunsch and the percussions of William Omar. 

Lyrics deal with unity, binge, hope and romance but with the edgy side of an interracial band that has grown in Germany during the 90s. Testimony of the The Mood’s militancy is the guest appearance of Roddy Moreno, frontman of The Opressed and introducer of SHARP in Europe, singing in the track Rudy Don’t Care. These are twelve tracks of a forceful sound packed with commitment and feeling, aimed to your feet but also to your head and heart. Available though Brixton Records.


THE MOOD A.K.A. - We're In The Mood

The story of LA THORPE BRASS starts in Tarragona (Catalonia) in 1993 when a bunch of restless musicians meet with the purpose of creating a big band doing Latin-soul music but having Ska as main riddim. After recording a few demos and doing a lot of gigs all over Spain the band shaped quite a big reputation and received especially good reviews from press, radios and specialized reggae media. So the band went into the studio to capture their first 4 songs in a maxi-cd, Today Is Hot (1998). 
  
Hundreds of gigs followed and new songs were coming through and due to the continuous requests from their large following La Thorpe Brass soon decided to return to the studio to record their first full album ALL THINGS MOVE (originally released by Tony Trash but soon acquired by Brixton Records). The release of the record produced a big blast and the band went up doing tons of gigs and touring Europe. Available trough Brixton Records.

LA THORPE BRASS - El Boogaloo Egoista

BDF - Basque Dub Foundation started in the early 90s as studio project by Iñaki Yarritu, a London based reggae musician originally from the Basque Country. Iñaki moved into music production in the late 80's having been previously involved in Reggae since the late 70s as a radio DJ, journalist and promoter. In their early days BDF toured (as a sound system) supporting Mad Professor in the first ever Dub sessions to take place in Spain. 

In 1997 BDF released their debut album "Sustraidun Roots Dub" ( Massive Sounds - 1997). This album gave BDF an underground reputation for its blend of original 70's style Dub with 90's digital influences. After this release BDF, evolved into a live band specialising in Roots Reggae and Dub. BDF's live shows capture the unique feel of the golden era of the 60's,70's and 80's sound, the era before the digital technology took Reggae music into a different phase. BDF supported international tours by major artists such as The Wailers, Culture, Burning Spear and Lee Perry. Their live performances have been enthusiastically reviewed, drawing praise for being one of the few bands that plays original 70's dub with live (real) instruments. 

In 2002 BDF released their second album "BDF meets Loud & Lone" with Brixton Records. A musical collaboration with Loud & Lone (Roberto Sanchez & Borja Juanco) "inna Showcase Style" (vocal plus dub). "BDF Meets Loud & Lone" recreated with amazing precision the genuine and atmospheric sounds of Roots Reggae's golden era. Using only live instruments and analogue recording, playing the music they love in the same style as the artists that have influenced them so much. This second album increased BDF's international following between the more discerning Roots Reggae audience.

BDF | Basque Dub Foundation - Time to Give

Begoña Bang-Matu was born in Madrid; she's been in touch with music since her early childhood. Despite there were no full time musicians in her family, they all were talented for dancing and singing, particularly her mother, who encouraged her to study music. She started up her career in music with R&B band "LA NOCHE DE LA IGUANA". She enjoyed the band as much as rehearsing till late at night when she wasn't old enough for going out in the night! In September 93 she was told that Madrid-based ska band "MALARIANS" was looking for a singer. She got the job and Begoña turns to be the first Spanish woman to sing classic ska. She combined Jamaican music with jazz, recording and performing with jazz project "JAZZ ENTRE DIVAS". She's been honored to play hundreds of gigs and meet many Jamaican artists, legends of Reggae and Ska. With Malarians she recorded albums "Mind the Step" and "Hostal Caribe" before the band split up in September 2000. Begoña has sung as well together with Italian band "RAMICCIA", with whom she recorded the album "Ramiccia meets Begoña". She's been touring with Laurel Aitken and recording backing vocals for his album "Laurel en Español". She's been part of Spain's older Reggae band "POTATO", recording three albums with them, as backing vocalist and composer. In 2002 she records "INKOMUNIKAZIOA" with Fermin Muguruza and she tours the entire world in 2003 with the latter's band "KONTRABANDA". She's been recording with Amparanoia, Arpioni, Skalariak, Skaparapid, and performing with Belgian/Chilean ska band PROYECTO SECRETO. In 2001 she recorded her first solo album "MAGIA NEGRA", backed by jazz musicians and former components of Malarians. Since then, they've been touring all over Europe.

In 2005 she records her 2nd album released in 2006 by Brixton Records as leader: "I'M THINKING ABOUT YOU". In this album Begoña Bang-Matu proves again that shee is an excellent jazz singer doing smoth ska-jazz and reggae with stong influences of soul and gospel. But she is also composer, producer and leader of one of the most interesting offers in the modern ska-reggae-oldies scene. Just check and compare. 

BEGOÑA BANG-MATU - Wanna Say Good-Bye

AKATZ - Razón de Vivir (featuring Miriam Quiñones)

Akatz started as a reggae band in 1992 when some friends decided to get together to scape from the cold winters of Basque Country. The idea was to find their own personal style in reggae and to be able to defend their own songs live. 

As a big-band their set line always consists of 8 to 12 members. Therefore counting with a lot of different musicians that during this period frequently come and go. This is the reason why there is a large Akatz family all over the area and some of the best Basque musicians have played in the band as established part of the team.

After so long the band still remembers hundreds of concerts in bars, pubs, clubs, open air festivals… and also tons of friends that makes it a very experienced combo. During the period that goes from 1992 to 2004 the band also self-publishes cd-demos and participates in several sampler records as: "Brixton Cats + the Rudies" (2 tracks); "Global ska 2"; "Brixton Cats + the Reggaeboys"; "Spanish Town Reggae".

All this experience and their own personal way of playing ska, rocksteady and roots reggae took them to releasing their first official album entitled "12 Años de Éxitos" ("twelve years of hits") as a compilation of their top level tracks. The special appearances of great musicians make this album a outstanding work of their capabilities: Fred Rocksteady Reyter from NYSJE, Miriam Quiñones as vocalist in the incredible "Razon de vivir", Alain Michel, Roberto Sanchez.....

AKATZ - Razon de Vivir

The first preview of the new MAROON TOWN album [out on April 26th 2018] comes in the form of a single called "REBEL"

MAROON TOWN fuses the spirituality and cinematic sound of classic ska with contemporary street rap and a cheeky slice of Latin funk. The eight-piece explosion of ska, rap and brassy dub has been tearing up audiences around the world for thirty years with number one tracks and extensive radio play around the globe.

Freedom Call

Rebel

MAROON TOWN - Rebel

Debut solo album of one of the best reggae Spanish established singers, deep and soulful old school reggae with positive lyrics and good vibrations. In this album Bemjammin reviews different reggae flavours with a powerful sound quality and fresh vocal work. A very special CD for roots modern music followers.

Benjammin was planted in London 1970 and was rooted and raised in Brighton where he became a Roots Reggae addict at the age of 13. He began singing and MCing with local reggae soundsystems in blues dances, clubs and parties inthe late eighties. Through the early 90’s, based in Glasgow and Brighton, hedeveloped his versatile vocal style as well as playing a funky saxophone and flute, singing and blowing over roots, lovers and ragga rhythms in dancehalls across the UK. Co-founding the celebrated and kicking RootsGarden club. Benjammin moved to Barcelona in 1994 where he budded and continued to spread his lyrical positivity and soulful sounds, performing and recording with artists, bands and sound systems in Spain and all over Europe....Benjammin has recorded and released records with Professor Angel Dust, The Pepper Pots, Lone Ark, Ambassah, Beat Nation, Roty 340, Gravsound and many more...

BENJAMMIN - Va Va Voom (featuring Hermano L)

 "You Give Me Fever" is the debut album from this great ska and rocksteady band from Barcelona. Like in the golden era of Jamaican music, this album makes you dance, feel, and enjoy the real ska ridimm.

Soweto`s original songs take you to the best traditional 50`s and 60`s tunes of Jamaica. And track after track you can taste different flavours performed by skilful reggae musicians playing that same music that they enjoy listening. Soweto goes deep into the roots of reggae making this record a very special gift for the old school ska, soul, and reggae fans. As special guest you can find in this great album the legendary BB Seaton from The Gaylads - singing two Jamaican classics. 

SOWETO - Honey Ryder

Lone Ark is Roberto Sanchez' solo musical project. Roberto is a young Spanish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer-engineer. This talented musician has been for the last decade the driving force of the Spanish reggae scene, having recorded 6 albums as a crucial member of the top spanish Reggae bands 

Recorded at his A-Lone Muzik Studio, "Countryside (Sounds from Nazarin Street)" is a non-compromise Roots album, in a classic 70s style. Every track is an original, written and sung by Roberto Sanchez, who also recorded, arranged, mixed and produced them. He also plays bass, guitar and keyboards, while his long-time musical comrades take care of the rest of the instruments. Vocally, Lone Ark brings back memories of the unique harmonising of the classic Jamaican vocal trios such as The Heptones, The Paragons, The Gladiators, Wailing Souls and Cultural Roots. Also included is a vocal collaboration by UK based deejay Afrikan Simba, on the track 'Artificial life'. Lone Ark reflects Roberto's vision of the classic reggae sound: analogue, raw and organic. Combining the influences of Studio 1, Black Ark and the UK roots sound of which this crew of musicians have been devout disciples for many years. 

Brand new Roots music with a strong old-time feel. "Real" instruments instead of sequencers, raw analogue rhythms where the bass and drums dominates. Dubs from the old school like in the days of Lee Perry or Dennis Bovell 

LONE ARK - Cool & Calm

There is a band in Bilbao that for almost 20 years has assumed with pride and hard work one of the leading roles in the Basque Jamaican scene: AKATZ. Rejecting impersonations, AKATZ has been forged in a thousand battles, concerts and recordings creating its own individual musical personality. A planet packed of good vibes and music for the dance floor with plenty of satellites of black music rotating around it: ska, soul, rocksteady, jazz R&B, roots… But what AKATZ was missing in its career was “the definitive recording creation”. An album they could point at in the firmament and clearly identify as its own. What a famous 60’s band called a “Masterpiece”. And that piece is without a doubt RUDO BILBAO (Rude Bilbao).

This album exhibits AKATZ in its sheerest expression showing in 10 tracks their first-rate taste and at the same time stating with sense of humour but also with delight their “Pride of Bilbao”. All the intensity of their live sound has been faithfully captured at “A-Lone Muzik Studio” and produced with the collaboration of Roberto Sánchez aka LONE ARK. Instrumentation is done with passion á la Jamaican “big-band” and lyrics created by singer, composer and frontman “Unai Quecedo aka Bita” on tracks like “Rudo Bilbao”, “Luces” (Lights), “Na de na” (Nothing at all) and guitar player Josu Santamaría in “Así eres tu” (The way you are) and “Predispuesto a ska” (Tendency to ska) make the whole album sound distinctively urban. Scenery of the nightlife in town, of the clubs, of the streets. Stories of impossible love affairs, of too much drinking or of night encounters at the back of a bar. Songs that will surely recall your own experiences in your own town. Specially if you are from Bilbao since this disk shows Main Street of Jamaican Bilbao, of “Rudo Bilbao”.

AKATZ - Así Eres Tu

THE GRAMOPHONE ALLSTARS band was born in 2007 in Barcelona and their musical proposal is a mixture of ska music and jazz, but also keeping a close eye on styles like rocksteady, soul and boogaloo. All this musical universe can be found in their concerts. They also use the name of "SIDE B" for the shows in which the band experiments with diferent formats, new arrangements or curious sceneries. 

Their first album entitled Just Delightin' (Silver Bullets-Brixton Records, 2008) features twelve tracks – eight own penned compositions and four covers – that display the most prominent styles practiced by Jamaican musicians during the sixties: ska, ska-jazz, rocksteady, reggae and a bit of soul and latin stuff. Although we are talking about a very young band, their members have long experience in the Jamaican music scene of Catalonia as well as playing other music styles such as jazz, fusion, rock, pop and funk.



THE GRAMOPHONE ALLSTARS - A Night In Tunisia

The band from Valencia KI-SAP has been regularly on the stages of Spain, Germany, France, Holland and Portugal for almost 15 years. Five albums released (4 recorded in the studio and one on stage). 16.000 copies sold, a real record if we consider the present times and bear in mind that are self-published discs and managed alternatively by non-commercial distributors and social squat centres. Around 100,000 free downloads from the band’s web site. Through this period their musical evolution has covered the path that goes from Ska-Punk to the Reggae-Roots/Ska-Rocksteady, their present approach. On stage or at the studio the band’s mode has always been intensified by themes of instrumental ska in the classic fashion. An this is what produced the birth of a parallel project, THE SHAKE IT UP’S that enables them to penetrate in that “vintage” side.

In 2007 they decided to deliver a 100% instrumental album in which they go more deeply into what has happened to the style since its birth in the Caribbean at the beginning of the decade of the 50’s: Ska-Swing, Ska-2Tone, Ska-Jazz, Rocksteady, Dub… These are the elements that shape the 12 cuts included in this work where influences of the likes of the Skatalites, Rico Rodriguez, Don Drummond, Augustus Pablo, New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, can be found. Also counting with guest collaborations from “Skaparapid”,“Benifajazz Big Band” or jazz trombonist Toni Belenguer.

As said, this CD is their personal view of what has happened to Ska since its birth until the present moment when Ska is a beat but also a way of understanding music that is practiced all around the world. Produced by J.L.Shipley (except Reggae-Dub cuts which are also co-produced by Dr. Jau). Music to think with the feet and dance with the head.

THE SHAKE IT UP'S - Dub 125 (feat. Linton Kwesi Johnson)

Tenor and soprano saxophonist, David Hillyard is one of the innovators of the American ska scene. His group, the Rocksteady 7, mixes instrumental Jamaican “roots” rhythms ala the Skatalites, Burning Spear, and extended jazz improvisation ala David Murray, Charlie Haden, and Pharaoh Saunders.

His cd GET BACK UP! is a blinding tour de force of his Jamaican Jazz conception. The title track evokes the power of Coltrane's Love Supreme and is a screaming triumph over adversity. Through the baldhead reggae of "Death Ride", to the Brazillian Bingi, "Ça Purange", and a confident ska version of the 60s classic, "Sunny", Dave and his friends are at the top of their game¨.

David Hillyard has been a professional musician for over 20 years. But Dave is best known for his work with The Slackers. He continues to be a key member of that organization and has appeared on all of their cd releases.

DAVID HILLYARD & THE ROCKSTEADY 7 - Sunny

Following the critical and audience acclaim for their 2015 debut album Stompin´& Rollin (Brixton Records) and a string of explosive performances the 18-piece orchestra releases now their second album simply entitled North East Ska Jazz Orchestra. Nine brand new own-penned tracks further investigating Jamaican sounds from the perspective of a contemporary big band.

The outcome is a mixture of sonorities and textures to which all of the band members have contributed. The three singers deserve a special mention: Freddy Frenzy and his unmistakable style always faithful to the tradition of original ska, Rosa Mussin showing her powerful and soulful discharge in tracks like the fast-ska "Share With You All" and Michela Gena who steps forward without fear in "oldies" land.

North East Ska Jazz Orchestra

Shocking My Life

North East Ska Jazz Orchestra - Shocking My Life

They were not born in Kingston and did not study at Alpha Boys School. They have never stepped into Federal Studios or performed in the Ward Theatre, but through their veins runs blood charged with ackee & saltfish and the sounds of 60’s Jamaica flow into their ears.

“South West Town” is SOWETO's second album, a record that proves again the true passion SOWETO feels for Jamaican ska. The devotion can be sensed in all details that create a sound that brings you to the purist, traditional and jazz style of the classics. “South West Town” has the original sound but with own penned tracks that could have been composed in a Trenchtown yard in the early 60’s. Just one honourable exception, the guest appearance of Derrick Morgan one of the brightest living stars of Jamaican music. The Barcelonan band delivers 12 new tracks that will make you dance, vibrate and dream from the first note.

SOWETO - Go Gal Go

Dance-crashing British 8-piece, The Indecision, were raised on the soulful ska of Studio One. Authenticity coupled with deft songwriting skill, and forward thinking respect for the sounds of 1960s Jamaica. 

Give It Up! is now released in LP+CD format and digital downloads, and shows the madurity of this young band that assumes the British ska and rocksteady tradition without effort, providing irrsistible spontanieity to energetic and contagious tracks. Quoting The London International Ska Festival: "One of the best new UK bands about".

Give It Up!

Leave a Light On

THE INDECISION - Leave a Light On

After ten years in the scene here it is, ROOT DIAMOONS’ second album “Tot Al Seu Temps” (“Everything In Its Own Time” in the Catalan language). This new record comes in a culminating moment of the band’s career, a moment in which its members are totally in tune with each other and also in tune with the guests that have visited them at the studio. Following times of adjustment, of changes in the line-up, ROOT DIAMOONS are in peak condition and each track shows the mutual understanding among musicians. The sound is slick and refined allowing lead singer Berta Gratacòs to display her talent reaching the vocal ranges of a great lady of jazz. 

The album features collaborations by well-known musicians like the ones of Gregg Lee from Californian band Hepcat, New Yorker David Hillyard from The Slackers, or Italian Mr. T-Bone. Guests fit in naturally, becoming part of the sound of ROOT DIAMOONS. Geographical and generational barriers fall down connecting musicians trapped in the same passion.

“Tot Al Seu Temps” is a work favouring seduction.  Subtle. Elegant. Sophisticated. With a romantic flavour. Exploring the corners where music with class (Jamaican jazz, rocksteady, American jazz..) is to be found and sharing the findings with the ones that are able to cherish them.  Getting lost in the grooves of this new record is something that is really worth doing. Absolutely worth doing.

ROOT DIAMOONS - Not That Easy (feat. David Hillyard)

With the unambiguous title of “LA FIESTA SKA” 12 unreleased tracks recorded in 2005 and 2006 are now disclosed. The scheme at the time of the recording was to integrate into the band a lot of friends that at the same time were musicians and singers in love with ska and reggae. In short, invite a lot of guests to turn the studio into a party.

These recordings have no additives or preservatives but conserve all properties after this time in the tin can and are now served for everybody to taste. At the time it was impossible to consider a lot of takes or subtle touch ups due to the assortment of guests some of which were literally kidnapped to the studio. The scheme was to steam a totally new dish with multiple familiar ingredients that had never been combined in that way and that required immediate consume. The formula was not included in any manual so guided by the wise lessons of the great chefs of Jamaican music the band cooked what we can now taste, a non-purist creative banquet. What's more, kids and grow-ups love the main ingredient: POTATO. 

POTATO - Ska-Acid

BDF - Basque Dub Foundation started in the early 90s as studio project by Iñaki Yarritu, a London based reggae musician originally from the Basque 
In 1997 BDF released their debut album "Sustraidun Roots Dub" ( Massive Sounds - 1997). This album gave BDF an underground reputation for its blend of original 70's style Dub with 90's digital influences. After this release BDF, evolved into a live band specialising in Roots Reggae and Dub. BDF's live shows capture the unique feel of the golden era of the 60's,70's and 80's sound, the era before the digital technology took Reggae music into a different phase. BDF supported international tours by major artists such as The Wailers, Culture, Burning Spear and Lee Perry. Their live performances have been enthusiastically reviewed, drawing praise for being one of the few bands that plays original 70's dub with live (real) instrumentsCountry. Iñaki moved into music production in the late 80's having been previously involved in Reggae since the late 70s as a radio DJ, journalist and promoter. In their early days BDF toured (as a sound system) supporting Mad Professor in the first ever Dub sessions to take place in Spain.

In 2002 BDF released their second album "BDF meets Loud & Lone" with Brixton Records. A musical collaboration with Loud & Lone (Roberto Sanchez & Borja Juanco) "inna Showcase Style" (vocal plus dub). "BDF Meets Loud & Lone" recreated with amazing precision the genuine and atmospheric sounds of Roots Reggae's golden era. Using only live instruments and analogue recording, playing the music they love in the same style as the artists that have influenced them so much. This second album increased BDF's international following between the more discerning Roots Reggae audience.

BDF | Basque Dub Foundation - Judgement Time

The Starlites go back into the studio to capture what would then be their first complete album: “Bikini Groovy”. The disc received a big up from the reggae international media and was a stepping’ stone for the band to take off as a first division band among the ones in modern ska and rocksteady. French specialized magazine Ragga Magazine rated it as “a modern classic” and was number 1 in the best records of 2002. In Japan the album also raised great expectation. The Starlites toured all over Europe with their own mixture of rocksteady, soul and funky-reggae to deliver their new songs.. 

“Bikiny Groove” includes a claim of origin (“1969”), a homage to the legendary "Melodians" (“Swing & Dime”), as well as large dosis of rocksteady, boggie ska, swing, rhythm & blues, reggae and jazz. Great vocal harmonies and tons of fabulous music from 8 musicians in love with the Jamaican grooves. As special guest: Coolie Ranks.

THE STARLITES - 1969

First preview of the forthcoming album (out on September 2020) by Swiss-French band JAH JAZZ ORCHESTRA.

JJO consists of nine jazzmen with a true devotion for Jamaican music from the 60’s, as well as for the big band tradition. Exploring the threads between these genres to create a unique blend of groove and improvisation, in this case Duke Ellington's classic "Just Squeeze Me".

Just Ska With Me (single)

Just Ska with Me

JAH JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Just Ska With Me

BRIXTON RECORDS is an independent record label specialized in Jamaican sounds founded in 1998 as the natural offspring of an existing record store. From its humble origins releasing material by a new generation of ska and reggae enthusiasts it has evolved to be a reputable brand including renowned international acts like The Aggrolites, The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble and David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 and also The Starlites, Soweto, The Pepper Pots, Root Diamoons…. Brixton Records owns two sub-labels (Silver Bullets and Guns Of Brixton Records) and also acts as concert promoter and band manager.

BRIXTON RECORDS es una compañía discográfica independiente especializada en sonidos jamaicanos, fundada en 1998 como evolución natural de una tienda de discos existente. Desde sus humildes orígenes publicando material de una nueva generación de músicos entusiastas del ska y el reggae se ha convertido en una reputada marca incluyendo a renombradas bandas internacionales como The Aggrolites, The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble y David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 además de The Starlites, Soweto, The Pepper Pots, Root Diamoons….Brixton Records cuenta con dos sub-sellos (Silver Bullets y Guns Of Brixton Records) y también actúa como promotora de conciertos y manager de bandas.

Popular tracks by Brixton Records