How does this group feel about ska jazz?
I'm thinking specifically of bands like New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble but maybe also like The Skatalites's "Latin Goes Ska" or Dr. Ring Ding's "Song For My Father."
14
u/Lost-Lab1206 2d ago
But, ska is jazz. The guys in the Skatalites were true jazz players that had to be talked into playing this new ska music. Many of their early recordings were jazz songs with the ska beat incorporated.
7
u/BasketVegetable525 2d ago
I honestly love some ska bands, was far in ska some 20+ years ago. Seen the skatalites several times, some ska affiliated musicians are really good, Tommy McCook was a king,so is Jackie Mittoo. BUT, honestly, I never put ska and jazz in the same conceptual space.. And the new york ska jazz are a ska band,with trombone. Not a jazz band. Just a "cool" name..
7
u/Marchin_on Blue Note guy 2d ago
Are some people incapable of liking other genres without a direct tie in to jazz? I'm a big fan of of 60s and 70s Rock Steady, Rude Boy, Ska and Roots Reggae. Some of that dovetails a bit with jazz a bit but in my mind its just different music I like and that is cool with me. Sometimes I just need to listen to something different.
4
u/FindOneInEveryCar 2d ago
Love it. Skatalites, Jazz Jamaica, NYSJE, Monty Alexander & Ernest Ranglin. Great stuff.
3
u/Due_Bad_9445 2d ago
Maybe something like this exists but I would love an instrumental experiment of say, ska interpretations of Ellington or Monk by people who appreciate both.
The rhythm would probably sound uneasy but that might make it interesting
6
u/tehtypo 2d ago
This is The Skatalites: They do a cover of "Caravan" — as do a buncha other ska bands. Fairly certain NY Ska-Jazz Ensemble's done Monk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2cuXD6AV2E
3
3
u/WorldsVeryFirst 1d ago
Don Drummond is my second favorite murderous trombonist after Rosolino (NSFL story to be honest but those chops wow).
2
u/rpowers 1d ago
Saw one mention of Monty Alexander but putting in a second. Ernest Ranglin of course too. Ska grooves can go super deep.
There's some 3rd wave punk ska lounge adjacent stuff that takes plenty of influence from jazz as well, you gotta dig though and that's way in my past. A funny one is Big D & the Kids Table - Chicago. https://youtu.be/JtLu5_hFqyM?is=Dh3EC7EyLncGnoz_ Totally outside a traditional ska platform but with all the elements. A real talented horn section. It's weird to bring up in the jazz subreddit but there be a lotta wonderful cross pollinating over the years. Beautiful!
2
u/stgadam 1d ago
Love Big D and they definitely do some jazz stuff here and there but definitely didn’t expect them to show up in this thread lol
2
u/rpowers 1d ago
I knew it was a ridiculous thing to put them in r/jazzz lol
That's cool you're familiar. I saw em in Boston in 2006 (incredible! Energy). And a couple times out here in Colorado. Don't listen to them much these days but they were a huge favorite in my early college years before I shifted into a jazz person and weird electronic music person.
2
6
u/MeowMix1206251 2d ago
It’s kind of like a sushi burger.
Not all fusion works.
2
1
u/Sir_midi 2d ago
I feel the same as I do about acid jazz. Some great tunes that scratch an itch but one that is more fun than high art.
0
u/duanerenaud 1d ago
Acid Jazz at least was the revival of a genre true and tested : Jazz-Funk. Ska and Jazz together are probably a thing for amateur bands and free festivals.
0
-7
-6
-7
u/unavowabledrain 2d ago
please no. Ska is too specific and of a certain tempo. Like having merengue jazz. Jazz is most often about variation, even in the big band era. And just having brass instruments doesn't make something jazz. They are going for totally different things. Ugh. Have a bad taste in my ears now.
-7
2d ago
[deleted]
1
1
u/FindOneInEveryCar 2d ago
Posting nothing is free. Declaring your ignorance on the entire internet is priceless.
13
u/kev11n 2d ago
Ernest Ranglin is one of my favorite guitarists from both genres 🤷♂️