Blue Riddim Band has a long and storied history in the music world. They toured for many years and their musical journey was highlighted with an opening slot for Bob Marley and The Wailers as well as several trips to Jamaica to perform in Reggae Sunsplash. Their Grammy nominated album "Alive in Jamaica" was recorded there Aug 6, 1982. The founding members are still pushing airwaves in Kansas City and have been in constant contact and perform when the opportunity arises. Like riding a bike they stepped into the studio in 2008 to track this horn heavy Ska blast. The result is nothing short of what you'd expect from the Reggae masters! Danceable and ever so hypnotic, Ska Inferno will re-ignite your passion for Ska music of Jamaica, the birthplace of Ska!
From the Pitch Magazine in KC......
Blue Riddim Band
Ska Inferno
(Markosa Records)
By Richard Gintowt
Published on June 16, 2009 at 1:09pm
The revival of the Blue Riddim Band has been one of this year's best surprises in the Kansas City music scene. The 30-year-old reggae-ska-dub collective is hard at work cooking up a vintage dub album to be released later this summer, but in the meantime they've given a proper release to Ska Inferno, a record that's been waiting in the wings for some time. With arrangements by Jack "Blacky" Blackett of songs like "Ska & Soda" and "Rosedale Ska" — plus a skanktified version of Paul Desmond's jazz classic "Take 5" — the disc veers away from the reggae that earned Blue Riddim the respect of the hardcore Rastas in favor of a sound more in line with the Skatalites. The original compositions are clearly the work of a band that knows the genre inside out. From the tightly arranged horn charts to the nimble bass lines and less-is-more guitars, Ska Inferno finds the Blue Riddim crew proving its skankin' mettle — and having a good time in the process. While most of the anticipation will center around the group's upcoming release, Ska Inferno also deserves its moment in the sun.
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