NEW YORK SKA-JAZZ ENSEMBLE – Skaleidoscope – LP

Label: Brixton Records
Catalogue number: BR-019-LP
Format: LP, album
Release date: 2005

Skaleidoscope, released in 2005, is one of the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble’s most accomplished and representative works. On this album, the New York-based band strikes a perfect balance between the street energy of Jamaican rhythms and the technical sophistication of jazz, creating a fresh sound that feels just as at home in a dance club as it does at an avant-garde jazz festival. Throughout the album, the group displays an impressive range of styles, moving with complete ease between traditional ska, roots reggae and the spatial textures of dub. The powerful horn sections and complex instrumental improvisations demonstrate the immense calibre of its musicians, many of whom hail from legendary bands in the genre such as The Toasters and The Skatalites. One of the major highlights of this album is the special guest appearance by the iconic soul singer Sharon Jones, whose powerful voice adds an extra touch of warmth and groove to certain tracks. In short, *Skaleidoscope* remains an essential and highly dynamic work within their discography, ideal for those seeking top-class instrumental music without losing the rhythm or the Caribbean soul.