Here's what probably happened: these guys, several of whom are members of Jamaica's reggae aristocracy, watched for awhile as young white American bands like
the Stubborn All-Stars and
the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble earned a living by drawing deeply on the old-school ska sound of the 1960s, and then they decided to show those kids how it's done. The result is an album of pitch-perfect traditional ska played by the masters, with the benefit of 30 years' experience and modern studio technology. Guitarist
Dwight Pinkney and drummer
Carl Ayton are both members of
the Roots Radics, one of the most important studio and backing bands in reggae history, and trumpeter
Bobby Ellis has worked with both
the Aggrovators and
Bob Marley.
Straight From Yard features great covers, including a fine version of the
Alton Ellis classic "Dance Crasher" and the calypso-flavored "Push Wood," but some of the best tracks are the old-fashioned originals, like
Pinkney's bopping "Wild Honey" and
Bobby Ellis's "Yard Jam." Essential for fans of traditional ska.