LADY ANN “Bad Gyal Inna Dance” LP vinyl / CD {OUT OF PRINT} – (JUMP080)

Barbara Smith, better known as Lady Ann, began sneaking into local dancehall sessions circa 1975-1977, featuring sound systems like Black Harmony and Soulatonie. Lady Ann’s closest musical cohorts in these early days were Little John and Ranking Toyan, but at the same time she was influenced by Clint Eastwood, Ranking Dillinger, Trinity, Barry Brown, and Sugar Minott. Lady Ann began her professional music career in 1978, recording her first songs, Plan Your Family (a combination with Ranking Toyan), as well as Shine Eye Boy, for Don Mais’ Roots Tradition Label. Continue reading LADY ANN “Bad Gyal Inna Dance” LP vinyl / CD {OUT OF PRINT} – (JUMP080)

DR RING DING – “Back and Forth” CD – (JUMP074)

DR RING DING’s began his professional career in 1987 playing trombone with EL BOSSO & DIE PING PONGS, one of Germany’s most famous ska bands. His experience in EL BOSSO lead to his life long love for Jamaican music. By early 1993 he had formed his very own band, DR RING DING & THE SENIOR ALL STARS, and over the next ten years they would release five albums, numerous singles, and two albums backing legendary Jamaican vocalists DOREEN SHAFER and LORD TANANMO. American releases on MOON SKA and JUMP UP helped solidify his fan base in the United States, and soon DR RING DING was enjoying a worldwide audience for his snappy vocal style and tremendous Continue reading DR RING DING – “Back and Forth” CD – (JUMP074)

MR SYMARIP – “The Skinheads Dem a Come” CD – (JUMP072) (OUT OF PRINT)

MR SYMARIP is ROY ELLIS – the legendary voice behind the original skinhead reggae band SYMARIP…and he is back from the moon! Fourteen tracks of classic Jamaican ska and reggae backed by an all star European band! Nothing watered down here – pure skinhead delight! Tight riddims, ruffneck energy, and catchy lyrics that could have been penned during the late 60’s when the skinhead movement was in full swing. That was when the driving beat of reggae was taking Britian by storm, and a little known group by the name of SYMARIP recorded Continue reading MR SYMARIP – “The Skinheads Dem a Come” CD – (JUMP072) (OUT OF PRINT)

BLACK CAT ZOOT – “Main Attraction” CD – (JUMP071) (OUT OF PRINT)

Calling all Chicks and Cats! It’s time to swing and skank to Germany’s hottest live act! Turn back the clock to the Swinging Forties and Fifties, add some Jamaican Ska to the mix, and in a nutshell you have BLACK CAT ZOOT! Formed in 2001, Black Cat Zoot has spent the past 5 years perfecting their unique swing-ska sound, playing over 60 live shows in Germany, Austria, and Italy alone! It’s no surprise that BCZ quickly came to the attention of the legendary DR RING DING, who offered to Continue reading BLACK CAT ZOOT – “Main Attraction” CD – (JUMP071) (OUT OF PRINT)

DEAL’S GONE BAD – “The Longest Happy Hour” CD – (JUMP069 – OUT OF PRINT)

Deal’s Gone Bad has been many things to many people. Watching numerous waves of ska, rock steady, and reggae music rise and fall before them, this is the band you count on to keep going, despite all the odds, membership changes, trips in and out of substance dependence, marriages, and even the birth of a child. For 11 years, DEAL’S GONE BAD has been the reggae pride of sweet home Chicago, evolving with new personnel and new ideas, but never losing the love Jamaican and American soul music, piracy, and the art of intoxication. Continue reading DEAL’S GONE BAD – “The Longest Happy Hour” CD – (JUMP069 – OUT OF PRINT)

THE DEBONAIRES – “Long Shout” CD – (JUMP068 – OUT OF PRINT)

The Debonaires incorporate soul, jazz and funk while remaining ever faithful to the Jamaican sounds of ska, rocksteady and reggae music. Born out of Riverside, California in 1995, The Debonaires released their debut album “Groovin’ After Sundown” on Rivercidal Syndicate Records in 1998 and quickly gained a devout following throughout Southern California1s healthy traditional ska/reggae scene. Witness one show and you1re hooked for life – a mix of James Brown popcorn funk, a heavy dose of Roy Ayers style groove, Afro-Caribbean rhythms straight out of Mongo Santamaria1s textbook – topped off with sweet Jamaican roots reggae and ska that would have seen the TROJAN or PAMA imprint back in the day. Continue reading THE DEBONAIRES – “Long Shout” CD – (JUMP068 – OUT OF PRINT)

FIREBUG (BRAZIL) “On The Move” CD (JUMP066 – OUT OF PRINT)

Brazil’s FIREBUG steps out of a music time machine every time they take the stage – vintage Jamaican sounds from the 60’s / early 70’s – the frantic pace of Ska, the soulful lyricism of Rocksteady, the depth of One-Drop reggae, and the psychedelic heights of Dub. Even with Brazil being the world’s second largest reggae market, the vast majority of Jamaican styles still remain unexplored with local fans and musicians. This is where Firebug comes in–creatively expanding on vintage riddims in order to keep the music’s history alive and vibrant for an entire new generation. Initially composed of two Brazilians and one relocated American, Firebug is singer/songwriter/guitarist Felipe Machado, Continue reading FIREBUG (BRAZIL) “On The Move” CD (JUMP066 – OUT OF PRINT)

THE DRASTICS – “Premonition” CD – (JUMP065)

THE DRASTCS are an instrumental dub reggae group based out of Chicago, formed in august 2003 from the ashes of rock-steady soulsters The Zvooks. Taking influence from the masters of the style (King Tubby, Lee Scratch Perry, Augustus Pablo) and adding influence from afro-pop, jazz, hiphop, dancehall, and R&B, The Drastics’ catchy, danceable sound is guaranteed to turns heads and move your feet. Continue reading THE DRASTICS – “Premonition” CD – (JUMP065)

STALKING ROXY – “Look in the Mirror” CD – (JUMP064 – OUT OF PRINT)

Stalking Roxy joined LA’s underground music scene in early 2001, with youth on their side and the love of punk, alternative rock, and bright third-wave ska in their hearts. Lead by Deziree Zuniga, a powerful and charismatic front woman, this 6-piece band has created the catchiest, ska-influenced music to have left California since the third-wave ska boom. Stalking Roxy’s heavy lean on rock while still blasting away with intense horns instantly brings comparisons to No Doubt, Save Ferris, and Mealticket –yet the band maintains the ska feel throughout with nods to Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug and Catch 22. Continue reading STALKING ROXY – “Look in the Mirror” CD – (JUMP064 – OUT OF PRINT)