Reviving the Golden Era of Reggae in “Soul Jazz Records presents: 200% DYNAMITE! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk & Dub in Jamaica”
#souljazzrecords #vinyl #indiemusic
The year 2023 is all set to reverberate with the reverbs and echoes of Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk, and Dub that once defined Jamaican music. Soul Jazz Records, a London based label helmed by Stuart Baker, is taking us on a nostalgic journey with the re-vinyl release of the compilation “200% DYNAMITE! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk & Dub in Jamaica”. This body of work represents the intersection of reggae, jazz, funk, and soul, brought back to life on black vinyl after twenty long years.
As a known enthusiasts of various musical styles spanning reggae, house, hip-hop, punk rock, jazz, funk, bossa nova, and soul, Baker’s Soul Jazz Records has a reputation for unearthing and reviving classic sounds. The compilation, which bagged rave reviews upon its original release, has been embellished with bonus tracks for the 2023 edition, adding more depth to the wide-ranging musical voyage it offers.
Striding across musical genres with ease, “200% DYNAMITE!” ropes in iconic pieces like ‘Ring the Alarm’ by Tenor Saw–an anthem in the Sound Boy community, and the timeless ‘No, No, No’ by K.C. White, which resonate with reggae enthusiasts to this day. Johnny Osbourne’s contributions reflect on rocksteady vibes while Tommy McCook and Byron Lee take listeners through a masterclass in Jamaican jazz. The result is an intricately woven tapestry of sounds that mirrors the vibrant musical landscape of Jamaica.
The compilation also has a heavy dub influence, featuring masterpieces from the likes of Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Jackie Mittoo, and more. Notably, King Tubby and Tommy McCook’s work on ‘King Tubby Dub’ unites the spirit of reggae and the throb of dub under one roof. Rounding off the musical spread are ingeniously crafted renditions of Marlena Shaw’s ‘Woman of the Ghetto’ by Kim Harriott, and ‘Don’t Tell Me Tell Her’ by Sandra Reid, infusing the compilation with unexpected soulful covers.
With the release, “200% DYNAMITE! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk & Dub in Jamaica”, Soul Jazz Records doesn’t only have reggae and its associated genres on the offering. The compilation also features classic dancehall vibes with tracks like Sister Nancy’s ‘One, Two,’ and ‘Murder She Wrote’ by Chaka Demus and Pliers. These tracks, alongside classics from The Skatalites and The Abyssinians, portray a vivid aesthetic of Jamaican music that crosses boundaries and genera.
The prowess of Soul Jazz Records has been lauded time and again by key figures in the music industry. Figures such as Gilles Peterson of Radio 1 and Chris Blackwell of the Island Records, among others, speak highly of the label’s knack for digging into the past and reviving classics. It’s no surprise then that the 200% DYNAMITE!, in its 25th Anniversary edition under the Soul Jazz Records banner, stands to be another vibrant addition to the portfolio. With this release, Stuart Baker and his label are ready to blow up the sound waves, painting a vibrant picture of Jamaica’s diverse musical heritage.
