Killer Instrumentals from Studio One

The sweet reggae grooves on "Killer Instrumentals from Studio One," have roots reaching back to the 1930's with the birth of ska. In the aftermath of WWII, Jamaica embraced the jazz and R&B of New Orleans, later fusing it with elements of traditional mento and calypso. What emerged was a distinct, refreshing sound thriving on upbeats accented by guitar and piano rhythms. In the early 60s, the exuberance of Jamaica's liberation from the United Kingdom, Great Britain, created a celebratory vibe conducive to the growth of ska music. In order to meet popular demand, sound system operators and producers including Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and Duke Reid created music houses like the legendary Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica. Today, almost fifty years later, the birthplace of the first ska recordings commemorates the early roots of reggae on this collection of "Killer Instrumentals."

Long before the more soul infused era of downbeat, before the Maytals coined the term "reggae," Studio One was home to groups such as the Soul Vendors and The Sound Dimension and set the bar for ska, and rocksteady music. Poised at the dawn of reggae evolution, Studio One and its musicians paved the way for this music with undeniable jazz roots. Produced by C. Dodd, "Killer Instrumentals" offers the classics and a stimulating aural introduction to reggae from the Kingston studio where it all started. Who better to tell the tale than the originators?