Low D wrote:I've just won tickets to see the Skatalites, tomorrow night!
Well, if there's one thing that could have put a smile on my face on this saddest of days, it's The Skatalites. And they did.
A few line up changes since i last saw them. Young blood includes Azemobo “Zem” Audu on tenor saxophone (i guess Cannonball has retired?) and Andrae Murchison on trombone were great. You don't get to play horn in this band otherwise! Doreen Shaefer wasn't with the group tonight, and while her silky smooth vocals were missed, Kevin Batchelor - who has been playing trumpet with the band for several years now - showed us that he has a stellar set of pipes, singing "Wings of a Dove", "Pheonix City", and "Message to You Rudi" (by request of former rude boy Lester Ska Sterling). Skatalites have always been a playful band, and Batchelor was a total ham. And a stellar player - for my money, he stole the show.
I thought Lester might be ready to retire himself. His normally staccato sax was quite perfunctory indeed. But like an old diesel engine, it just took him some time to warm up (hey, he
was born in 1936), and when he took the lead on "Take 5" he owned the place, and by the time he conquered "Guns of Navarone", his legendary status was reaffirmed. And yes, he threw "Three Blind Mice" in there.
The double-Lloyd (Brevett & Knibb) rhythm section were missed in spirit, but "new" drummer Trevor “Sparrow” Thompson (he's another old timer) and bassist of several years Val Douglas (of similar vintage) were as fine a Ska rhythm section as you could want. And my heart leapt when Thompson started singing a few numbers from behind the kit ("Don't You Know That I Want You" and "No Woman No Cry"). A singing drummer, on today of all days!
This band will always put on one of the best shows you'll be likely to see. If you get the chance - don't hesitate!
Anyways, he played the 
