Jackie Mittoo
The Keyboard King At Studio One

An essential man, a legend of Jamaican music, indisputably a myth: Jackie Mittoo.

The godfather of ska, of the offbeat rhythm, the one who in the early '60s with the Skatalites created a new genre, synthesizing jazz, r'n'b, calypso, and the deepest roots of Jamaican reggae. Mittoo and his organ between the '60s and '70s were the true parsley of all the most important and impactful Jamaican record releases, and in those years, his inimitable touch was a guarantee of success. From the Wailers to Alton Ellis to Sugar Minott: all the major figures of reggae and rocksteady music in those years collaborated with this genius with a killer groove. Mittoo's style is something special, magnetic; the groove that emerges from the notes of his Hammond knows how to shake, knows how to make you dance, in the same way, it is capable of rare moments of romanticism and sweetness, but also lightness, carefreeness: sir Jackie Mittoo reconciles you with the world.

His career mainly took place in the historic Studio One in Kingston, a true temple of Jamaican music, always a fertile ground for young talents. It is from the sessions in the studios of the memorable label that the recordings of this album originate: the tracks have been chosen by assembling the best of what emerged from his solo career. Defining the album in question or even discussing his production only in correlation to reggae, ska, or rocksteady, would really be too reductive. In "The Keyboard King at Studio One," there's indeed much more: there is r'n'b or American-influenced pop, as well as jazz and funk, there are the roots of dub, a magnificently assorted repertoire, capable of delighting the ears even of those who don't greatly agree with Jamaican music.

It should be noted that his vast experience as a virtuoso organist is also of seminal importance for the development of dub and the entire future reggae scene that developed at the end of the '60s and later saw Bob Marley as its ideal champion. Ultimately, a great album this is, and Mittoo an artist not to be missed, obviously for lovers of the genre, but also for those like me who are not die-hard fans of reggae and related things.