Duff Guide to Ska Fast Takes: The Georgetown Orbits "The Ska-Jazz Single"

Self-released
Digital single
2020

(Review by Steve Shafer)

The magnificent new digital single from Seattle's Georgetown Orbits pays tribute to Jamaican ska's roots in black American jazz (that was readily evident in many of the recordings of The Skatalites and other ska musicians who attended the Alpha Boys School--most of whom started their professional careers playing jazz) by covering classics from two of that genre's greatest composers/musicians: Jelly Roll Morton and Charles Mingus. The Ska-Jazz Single features The Georgetown Orbits beautifully covering Morton's "New Orleans Bump" and Mingus' "Haitian Fight Song" in a 1960s trad ska style that would make Tommy McCook and company quite proud--and showcases The Orbits' formidable musicianship in the process. These recordings are very well done, indeed.

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