LP – Black Vinyl

Jackie Mittoo, organ and piano maestro, was not only a founding member of the legendary Jamaican Ska groupThe Skatalites, but through the course of Jamaican musics long history has produced a body of work under his own name and of that with his various group incarnations,The Soul Brothers,Soul VendorsandThe Sound Dimension. His distinctive organ and piano sound and musical arrangements have all played a major part in Jamaica’s musical history.

Jackie Mittoo (born 1948, Kingston, Jamaica) began playing musical instruments at a very early age. Taught piano by his grandmother he was performing live by the age of 10 and recording by the age of 15. Two Kingston bands that he played with the Rivals and the Sheiks brought him to the attention of Studio 1’s founder Coxsone Dodd. Who at the time was putting a group of musicians together to be his studio band. Impressed by his skills on both the organ and the piano, Jackie was asked to join in what would become Jamaica’s foremost band The Skatalites. The fellow band members wereLloyd Brevett(bass),Lloyd Knibbs(drums),Don Drummond(trombone),Tommy McCook,Roland AlphonsoandLester Sterling(Sax),Johnny Moore(trumpet),Jah Jerry(guitar) andMr Mittoo(piano). This line up ruled the Jamaican scene between 1964 – 1965 as well as inventing the Ska sound, they also performed the backing duties for the other top labels of the time includingDuke Reid‘sTreasure IsleandJustin Yap‘sTop Decklabel.

1965 saw The Skatalites disband, and Jackie Mittoo move on to his next musical project The Soul Brothers. Formed with fellow Skatalite Roland Alphonso,this band would back all the hits coming out ofStudio 1for the next three years with Jackie Mittoo working as band leader and musical arranger. Around this time Jackie also had his own single released, a Ska underground classic called ‘Got My Bugaloo‘. Rare, as it also featuresJackiein the unusual role for him, as lead singer!!!!. 1966 saw the Ska sound evolve into Rocksteady, again with Jackie’s band at the helm, and his first hit single the Rocksteady cut ‘Ram Jam‘. The success of which would lead to a solo career and album releases under his own name such as ‘Now‘, ‘Macka Fat‘, ‘Evening Time‘, ‘In London‘ and ‘Keep on Dancing‘, to name but a few. In 1967 the hits at Studio 1 were still flowing when The Soul Brothers morphed into The Soul Vendors and began backing such luminaries asKen Boothe,Alton Ellis,Delroy Wilson,The Heptones,The Cables,The Wailersand many other of the labels solo artists.

By 1968 Jamaican music was ready for another change and Rocksteady rolled into a slower groove soon to be called Reggae. Jackie Mittoo would be at the forefront with his latest bandThe Sound Dimension. A line- up that includedLeroy Sibbles(bass),Roland AlphonsoandCedric Brooks(saxophone),Eric FraterandErnest Ranglin(guitar) andBunny Williams(drums). Being the house band at Studio 1 they backed all the leading names of the time,John Holt,Horace AndyandAlton Ellis, all of Studio 1’s output carried his sound. Jackie Mittoo emigrated in the late 60’s to Canada but travelled to Jamaica and London to record with many of the big new names, who were trying to redress Studio 1’s supremacy and needed his magic touch. Such producers asBunny Leeused Jackie Mittoo on many of his sessions,Sugar Minottamong others were always glad of his services.

For this release we have put together a selection of some of his finest recordings done with legendary reggae producer Bunny Lee. 1970s cuts that feature Jackies numerous talents, showing his ability to embellish tracks with a feel few could better. Musical arranger, band leader and all around studio ace.