Irie!
Last week ZonaReGGae radioshow, comin’ strong in podcast version available now!
-Jamaican style Roots & Culture music back on track, featuring tunes from: King Stitt, Earth Roots & Water, Mikey Dread, Augustos Pablo…and big classics from Peter Tosh, remembering one of the most important and rebel for a cause, names in the history of Jamaican reggae. Another Steppin’ Razor earthday passed by, past 19th October, he would be 65 years old now! Respect!
-Modern Roots and Dub sounds over a Great selection, wid recoveries for: I-Plant, Nazarenes, Dubmatix, Solo Banton…New sounds coming from Ras Bruno & Mystic Warrior, Dan-I-Locks, WebCam Hi-Fi & Roberto Sanchéz, and don..t forget to check the new:
-Issac Maya & Bandulu Dub – Sea of Love EP, the latest release from Portuguese dub master, Bandulu Dub, this time in combination wid Mexican Isaac Maya. A 4 track EP that blends Dub, Jungle & Drum’n’Bass, available for free download at, yet another new net label, ELECTROFILIA RECORDS!
-Over the weekly highlight to new releases, there’s a pleasant return to the always fascinating Ska-Jazz Revival sounds, wid David Hilllyard & The Rocksteady 7 new album, Get Back Up!
Basque label, Brixton Records, keeps on their awesome efforts to bring back, and promote, the best being done in the world of Revival Jamaican Ska music! Another big chapter coming on the way, wid the 4th album release, from virtuous saxophonist David Hillyard alongside The Rocksteady 7.
In the professional circuit for more than 20 years, David Hillyard is one of the most influent and respected presences in north-american Ska scene, virtually belonging to anyone worth of mention from Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars, Skinner Box, Rancid to, off course, the worldwide renowned The Slackers.
Combining the Jamaican roots, wid Jazz, African and Latin influences is one of his biggest trademarks, that made him a innovator of is own, especially in the project along with The Rocksteady 7.
Their new album, Get Back Up!, is an intense instrumental journey, where Jazz music themes tradition and improvise mix up, providing the best display of Jamaican Jazz we have heard in years!
Hillyard’s expertise playing Saxophone (Tenor, Soprano and Baritone), leads Get Back Up! new original 11 themes, bringing back to mind Jamaican originators Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook or north-american favorites John Coltrane or Pharaoh Saunders.
Over such a constant tripping, he could not ride alone, and The Rocksteady 7 are superb company in the way they aren’t just any backup band. Always shifting but always presenting the best from NY city musicians, this guys have a blessed understanding off Jamaican music, and sometimes we can surely state they sound like the best thing second to the everlasting Skatalites!
Their ska-jazz mastering is presented all over tunes like, Change of Plans, Sunny, Soul Thing for Ray or Death Ride.
Bingi Drum tradition is remembered and enhanced over tunes like RNA; Ca..Purange; Rocksteady fashion seems well alive over 7 years of Plenty and Get Back Up!; and original roots music is stronger than ever in the marvelous Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am.
One vocal tune appears in this new release, ‘Esta Tarde’, a kind of lover rock sound, where Jamaican veteran percussionist Larry McDonald sings in a kind of Brazilian-Spanish-Portuguese mix, very pleasing to be heard over this side of the ocean;)
Difficult to say if Get Back Up! is their best achievement to date (once previous releases: Playtime, United Front and Way Out East are all equally excellent!), but one thing is sure, if you like true and original music, this project will never disappoint you, on the contrary, each new release always surprises and brings something new into Ska-Jazz revival!
Improvise and you will win, this is the way from David Hillyard and The Rocksteady 7…
“One Day you’re up.One day you’re down.
Kings become beggars and beggars become kings.
It..s the way of things.
I..ve always got to repeat these words to myself.
Don..t freak out.Don..t freeze up. Just Keep playing. When you trip and fall, Get Back Up!”
-Next week our weblog (zonareggae.wordpress.com), marks 3 years in existence! We bring you this month BEST of 09 choices (just ONE month to go into another People Choices Voting Poll!), and you just won’t believe the selection I have in store for you! 100% Brand new, good for you!
Give thanks for the support!
Hayah Love!
I-Rick
Playlist available @