Jump With Joey
Generations United
CD: Rycodisc
released in 1997

Exploring and expanding on the traditional sounds of Jamaican ska, Hollywood's Jump With Joey combine the form with jazz, jump blues, and Afro-Cuban rhythms to create their own unique blend of music. Although celebrated both in their native Los Angeles and on the worldwide ska scene, their records have never before been available in the U.S. Rykodisc is pleased to bring you the domestic release of their body of work to date.

Generations United, as the title suggests, brings together world-class musicians of all ages. The record features performances by two founding members of The Skatalites, Roland Alphonso and Rico Rodriguez, whose half-century careers span the entire history of ska. Rico later went on to play with the UK's 2 Tone leaders Madness and The Specials, appearing most recently on the Jazz Jamaica release Skaravan (HNCD 1397). Other guest musicians on Generations United include Gaz Mayall of The Trojans, Clappers Priest of Dread Broadcast Control, Lonnie Jordon of WAR, and Johnnie T. of Bad Manners.

The songs themselves run the gamut of the band's influences, from the slow groove of "Pigeon Dub" (a song celebrating the Pigeon Club, one of the band's favorite haunts in Tokyo's seedy Roppongi district), to the bright Fellini tribute "Ciao Marcello".

Jump With Joey's eclectic mix of authentic ska, dub reggae, jump blues and Afro-Cuban jazz at once celebrates ska's past and expands it in new directions. As Sir Coxsone has said, their music "has the potential to be a world sound, you know?" So get off your scooter, put on your pork-pie hat, and join the jam.

Source: Rykodisc 1997

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