Jan 7, 2025
The Skatalites
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Ukraine
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from Japan
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Costa Rica
seen from China
seen from China
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from Türkiye
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
The Skatalites
Jazz Song of the Day 5/17/23
“Silver Dollar” by The Skatalites. (1964).
-DON DRUMMOND
Throwback Ska Thursday: The ‘97 booking of The Skatalites in downtown Bakersfield was exciting and truly bizarre. The band’s Winnebago rolled up and out walked original members: bassist Lloyd Brevett, saxophonist Roland Alphonso, drummer Lloyd Knibb, and singer Doreen Schaffer and the rest of the band to the stage for a quick line check. The band launched into “Freedom Sounds” and it was on for ska fans and curious Bako attendees who had no idea who they were. Legends! THEE SKATALITES 🇯🇲 ! Band was tight, Lloyd Brevett blew out the @madcaddiesofficial bass cabinet and Lloyd Knibb was mad at Cesareo’s drum kit 🤷🏻♂️. What a night it was.... The band hung out afterwards for autographs and chats. I hooked up Roland Alphonso with some Chinese food at Wing Wah (extra shrimp) and off they went to the next show far away from home. Still have the signed vinyl from that night (swipe left). Both Mad Caddies and Mento Buru released our debut albums this year. The Spikes venue became Downtown Joe’s (closed down after a drive by shooting,) and is now the amazing and delicious @ccnoodlebar .✌🏽😎 . . . . #mentoburu #bakersfield #bakersfieldska #skatalites #thirdwaveska #downtownbakersfield #bakersfieldmusic #skaflyers #madcaddies #moonska #throwbackthursday #1997 #californiaska (at Downtown Bakersfield) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_baBNAQsw/?igshid=1a3wlqgjatik4
A shuffle slapping. Infinite take-off by Don Drummond.
... Con amor.
trails
Morning heat is drying out the ragged
bits of snail trails on my front stoop. The gin
at last kicks in. I was throwing up blood
last night, leaving me cold and dank, my skin
waxy. I love how silver fades away
in heat. I sit on my stoop, run a thumb
over the trail. Lick it clean. An old stray
curls at my feet; her purring a rhythm,
one that I follow. My neighbor calls out,
heading for work. This is how everything
should end. I'm lost in the Skatalites, Toots
and the Maytals, Madness. We all burnout.
We all fade. Snail trails. A stray cat purring.
Some of us are stars; some only tributes.