Various Artists

Talking about the foundation of Jamaican music, the Alpha Boys School in Kingston can be considered as one of the places where it all began! Back in the day, under the direction of Sister Mary Ignatius, the school was the place where young boys from the poor neighborhoods in Kingston could embrace an instrument (mostly brass and drums). Then history tells us that some of these kids became among the most influential musicians in the history of Jamaican Jazz, Ska, and Reggae. Joe Harriott, Dizzy Reece, Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Cedric Brooks, Rico Rodriguez, Johnny Osbourne, Leroy Smart and Yellowman are just some of the fruits of such a great community art project. Now this compilation contains some rare gems produced between 1959 and 1962 by Jamaican Jazz heavyweights such as Tommy Mc Cook, Don Drummond, Ernest Rangling, Lennie Hiibert, Cecil Lloyd and others. This is highly swinging music inspired by the Black American tradition with a unique and inevitable Caribbean flavour.

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Wilton Gaynair - Rhythm (1959)
• A2. Lance Hayward Feat. Totlyn Jackson - Old Devil Moon (1960)
• A3. The Eric Grant Orchestra - Let’s Fall In Love (1960)
• A4. Cecil Lloyd - St. Thomas (1961)
• A5. Lennie Hibbert - I Love Paris (1961)
• A6. Ernest Ranglin - Exodus (1962)

• SIDE B
• B1. Cecil Lloyd Group - I’ll Remember April (1962)
• B2. The Workshop Feat. Don Drummond - It Happens (1962)
• B3. The Workshop Feat. Tommy McCook - The Answer (1962)