The Skatalites at Brooklyn Bowl

The Skatalites at Brooklyn Bowl, Jan. 3
Tickets: $17. 21+. Show at 8PM.

Before reggae, the dominant sound of Jamaican pop was ska and one of the first wave ska bands of the 1960's are The Skatalites. They're a mainly instrumental band who backed artists like Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and most of the singers of the day, including their original vocalist Doreen Shaffer. Their lineage is a storied one, including Lloyd Knibb (d. 2011), the original drummer, who was widely regarded as the creator of the ska beat as well as the "onedrop" rhythm that is the foundation of most reggae music. (The band's sound spawned the entire genres of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, two-tone, and 3rd wave ska.) Their original alto sax man Lester Sterling, although no longer touring, has recently recorded tracks with the band, along with Doreen Shaffer. The Skatalites bring their bluesy, jazzy ska for dancing to Brooklyn Bowl on Friday, Jan. 3.