Ska and Reggae Spotlight: The Itals “In A Dis Ya Time/Harbour View Rock”

Welcome to another feature I hope to continue on this blog: the Ska and Reggae spotlight.  Really, it’s just going to be any music from Jamaica that I like.  I don’t really care about the labels.  Salana will not be contributing to this because she’s not a fan of Jamaican music.  Fair enough!  I am, though, so I’ll share with you some of my favorite tunes, including new discoveries.

Today’s installment is The Itals and their song “In A Dis Ya Time/Harbour View Rock”.  The first part of the song is “In A Dis Ya Time,” and judging by the name of the group and the use of the word Brethren, I’m guessing it has to do with Rasta.  It’s a slow, easy, soulful piece of music with some really great singing and harmonies.

But the true gem of this cut comes in the second part, “Harbour View Rock.”  It’s a dub mix of the first song with some really killer trombone playing!  I’m becoming a big fan of trombone in both jazz and ska, so this is right up my alley.  Trombone plays a huge part in the ska sound, with the famous Skatalite Don Drummond as the best-known ska trombonist. 

Check this out if you’re like me and you like some nasty trombone playing.