Live Review: The Skatalites, Project Collective Ska, The Kava Kings

The Kava Kings set the mood of positive vibrations, and energetic vibes they were with an opening set that saw the young quartet mix ska, punky reggae and gypsy sounds into their song-based style.

They showed they’ve got the chops to switch between genres, sometimes within the same song, while their enthusiasm ingratiated them to the arriving punters.

Project Collective Ska numbered eight players and they filled the stage and the room with an impressively tight batch of songs with tasteful and well-placed solos from most members.

Horns play a central part in ska music and these guys showed their knowledge of the genre by allowing those instruments to lead the music melodically and emotively. From the first song the dance floor quickly filled, skanking, grinning patrons losing themselves to the rhythmic excursions. As an instrumental outfit they were the perfect support act for this bill, building the energy and party vibe of the room.

The Skatalites were celebrating their 50th anniversary on this tour and though innumerable players have passed through their ranks they still rate as the pre-eminent ska band and a rite of passage for the best players in the genre. Now they include musicians from New York, Nigeria, the UK and France as well as Jamaica, ranging from young gun horn players to 78 year old alto saxophonist Lester Sterling, one of only two original members still alive.

The band played a solid and near two-hour set that ranged from seminal cuts like Guns Of Navarone and El Pussy Cat to covers of Bob Marley and The Beatles. Singer Doreen Shaffer (the other surviving original member) came out for a batch of songs mid-set including a wonderful take on My Boy Lollipop. The thing that prevented the set from becoming one long jam was the band’s ability to break songs down, sometimes to just a raw drums and bass groove, before building back up to a ska party vibe that also showcased individual solos from all on stage. The Skatalites showed how positive, uplifting and irresistible ska music can be as a live, physical and entertaining experience.