Ska bands?

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Can anyone recommend some ska bands that are more dominant in jazz/rock than in punk (in other words, not so fast paced and with lots of easily-appreciated wind-works)?

 

[Techmonkey]

3 words:

the cat empire

 

[mellowgerman]

you might want to try out some of the old old original bob marley recordings(judge not, one cup of coffee, etc.) it's basically somewhat slower ska/raggae. pretty cool stuff. you might dig it.

 

[Sahm]

They're not jazz-ska, but The Slackers are awesome if you want something that's not fast-paced punk ska! They fall more into the rock-steady catagory.

 

[Mr.Bassie720]

3 words:

the cat empire

I think its 2 words. The Skatalites

 

[envika]

I think its 2 words. The Skatalites

The Skatalites are quite good, my dad plays for them once every year or so.

 

[SoLongJake]

Blue Meanies- Full throttle
Heres a band that walks the line between ska punk jazz and what ever else they can throw at you. Full Throttle is definitely the appropriate name for this album. I highly recommend it if you can find a copy.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

3 words:

the cat empire

Indeed!

Saw them live over the summer, what a great show.

Link Removed

 

[TehRoflCopter]

Big D and the Kids Table is certainly more Punk-based, but check out the track "How It Goes" from the album of the same name. It's an amazing instrumental with a great horn hook and a beautiful trumpet solo - it's very chill, sort of a cross between jazz and reggae. Another great number from the same album is "Sounds of Allston Village."

Check them out - they're a kickass band.

 

[DanGouge]

They're not jazz-ska, but The Slackers are awesome if you want something that's not fast-paced punk ska! They fall more into the rock-steady catagory.

+1
I've seen them live four times, amazing (one time one of the original Skatalites came on stage and played hand drums). Also check out David Hillyard and the Rocksteady Seven - sort of a side project of The Slackers. Also, check out the soundtrack to the film The Harder They Come. Not really jazzy, but laid-back early ska.

 

[worldfamousandy]

Skatalites, for sure. Essentially, it's Jamaican jazz.

 

[dubyaresee]

The Pietasters.

 

[LiamCohl]

my band fits that description quite well, check out Link Removed

 

[Jimmyplaysabass]

slackers
skatalites
STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO
catch 22
operation ivy
the specials (ghost town is so sick)
the toasters
desmond dekker
reel big fish is decent
many more that i just can't seem to pull out of my ass

 

[bigthemat]

Royal Crown Review
NY Ska Jazz Ensemble
Ska King Crab (if you can find any of there stuff)
Mephiskapheles (a lot of jazzy influence, again, if you can find anything)

 

[plastik-bass[?]]

The Aquabats
Bim Skala Bim
Buck-O-Nine
Fishbone
Five Iron Frenzy
Gold Finger
Less Than Jake(their old stuff,the new stuff blows ass)
Long Beach Dub Allstars(Eric Wilson from sublime!!! my fav band)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Mustard Plugs
Operation Ivy
Reel Big Fish
The Skalatones
Judge Dread
Madness
The Toasters
Prince Buster
The Ethiopians
The Skatalites

just my $0.02

 

[juancard]

Uhmm.....alot of the groups that have been mentioned in this thread play a style of ska that the original post was specifically not interested in...for intensely Jazz oriented ska, I think these records would definitely help:

The Skatalites- "Hi Bop Ska"
Ernest Ranglin- "Ska Wey Dat"
Jump With Joey- "Ska South of the Border"
Victor Rice- "America"
Rico Rodriguez- "That Man is Forward"
NY Ska Jazz Ensemble- "Mellow Mood"
Dave Hilyard and the Rocksteady Seven- "United Front"
Rotterdam Ska Jazz foundation- "Shake Your Foundation"
Pressure Cooker- "Burning Fence"

These records were written specifically to emphasize heavy instrumental composition work, showcasing intricate horn work, and melding Jazz forms with Ska's distinct rhythm...you can find Ska of all kinds, but if you want to listen to ska musicians tipping a big hat to Jazz, I think these artists have been the most successful...

 

[namraj]

3 words:

the cat empire

+ 10,000

 

[Drifta]

Skatalites, the slackers, hepcat, dave hilliyard and rocksteady 7, alton ellis, desmond dekkar.

Tokyo ska paradise ochrestra, new york ska jazz ensemble. all great bands. look at a lot of older jamacian ska/rocksteady. it is heavy jazz influenced, becuase thats where ska come sfrom.


definately check out erneest ranglin.

 

[Drifta]

you might want to try out some of the old old original bob marley recordings(judge not, one cup of coffee, etc.) it's basically somewhat slower ska/raggae. pretty cool stuff. you might dig it.

old bob is pure ska. think of 'simmer down' guess who backed him , petter and bunny? skatalites! before bob even had dreads..