*BACK IN!* Jamaican Ska Orchestra – A Recording Tribute To The Skatalites – Tip-A-Top CH LP

Episode 1 A recording tribute to the Skatalites

13 of Jamaica’s finest musicians gathered in a unique live recording at Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. The session was produced by Jay Schaetz and Herbie Miller as part of the ’60 Years of Jamaican Ska’ series.

Is Ska still a ‘thing’ in Jamaica?

Welcome to Episode 1, where the team explores the role of Ska today – in Jamaica!

To cut straight to the case: here’s the prove it absolutely is.

Tip-A-Top Records producer Jay Schaetz set off in summer of 2024 on a journey to Kingston, Jamaica, with the goal of recording local Jazz musicians for a tribute to The Skatalites.

The session took place at Tuff Gong Studio – formerly Federal Recording Studio – the legendary site where many of the original Ska recordings were made during the early 1960s. Despite interruptions caused by Hurricane Beryl, the team successfully captured 15 instrumental tracks, which were later mixed at Moonlitegroover Recording Studio in Switzerland.

To mark this special occasion, co-producer Herbie Miller – director and curator of the Jamaican Music Museum – assembled a lineup of distinguished local musicians. Mr. Miller is a respected historian, ethnomusicologist, and former producer for both Peter Tosh and The Skatalites, having produced their iconic ‘Stretching Out’ live recording in 1983.

During the same week, a second session was held featuring a brand-new eight-piece ska band made up of some of the top young Jazz talents in Jamaica. Their recordings of rare 1960s instrumental tracks are set to be released on vinyl as Episode Two, expected this autumn.

Stay tuned for more details.

Strictly limited edition of 500 copies.

artists:

Vivian Scott, Hopeton Williams (trumpet) / Avory Crooks, Everald Gayle, Romeo Gray (trombone) / Richard ‘Isax’ Howse (alto sax, flute) / Everton Gayle, Oshane Love (tenor sax) / Tafawee Buchsaecab (baritone sax) / Kenroy Mullings (guitar) / Jay Schaetz (piano) / Leon Duncan (bass) / Clayon Samuels (drums);

Herbie Miller, producer
Jay Schaetz, producer, arranger
Roland Mcdermott, engineer

Recorded at Tuff Gong Studio, Kingston, Jamaica, 2024.
Mixed at Moonlitegroover Studio, Zug, Switzerland, 2025.
Cover artwork by Alex Baillod

tracklist:

A01 Last Call
A02 Feeling Fine
A03 King Solomon
A04 Road Block
A05 Ska Ba
A06 Mesopotamia
B01 Garden Of Love
B02 Addis Ababa
B03 The Return Of Paul Bogle
B04 Good News
B05 Silver Dollar
B06 Cool Smoke