• Solid Foundation: ‘An Oral History of Reggae’ by David Katz •
• Review by Tom Roebuck • Dubwise Vinyl •
If, like me, you’re a fan of reggae music but didn’t grow up around it then you probably find that your love for Jamaica’s greatest export has not only led you on a quest for musical discovery but also one for knowledge too. From an outsiders perspective the world of reggae can appear complex. It’s bewildering combination of riddims, producers, labels, sound systems, session bands, vocalists and endless dubs and reversions can take a lifetime to get your head around and there are surprisingly few written resources on hand to help and guide you on this journey. This is where Solid Foundation comes in. A weighty 600 page tome from celebrated reggae journalist, biographer and DJ David Katz that takes the evolution of the art form from its origins in ska though to modern day dancehall and the roots reggae revival.
One of the unique strengths and key differentiators to Katz’s book is that the story here is told first hand via interviews with the people that were actually there making the musical history happen. Speaking from personal experience of having waded my way through many confusing third party accounts online that offer differing and often conflicting narratives on reggae’s history I found this approach both refreshing and inspiring and, ultimately, a lot more helpful. The picture that emerges from Katz’s intrepid musical pioneers is of a thriving creative ecosystem that is in a constant state of flux driven not only by key artistic individuals but also by the intrinsic urge to keep progressing and moving forward. This process of continual evolution is powered by a competitive drive that can initially be traced back to the dubplate culture of the sound systems in their endless quest for the next big tune and its extension into the reggae scene as a whole has been the driving force behind the exceptional creativity that’s seen the development and rise of sub genres such as ska, rock steady, roots, dub and dancehall as well as propelling reggae itself into the world dominating force that it is today.
However, as the title of the book alludes to, for this reggae revolution to be successful and sustainable it needed to be built on solid foundations and these came thanks to the extraordinary concentration of incredibly talented individuals in Jamaica. As the book progresses the same names keep popping up ranging from behind the scenes session musicians who became the rhythm sections to the world’s biggest stars (Sly and Robbie) to idiosyncratic producers who changed the face of popular music (Lee “Scratch” Perry) to mixing desk geniuses who invented the remix (King Tubby) to sensational vocalists who have become global cultural icons (Bob Marley). The list goes on…. When it comes to talent reggae has it in abundance and this book does an excellent job of highlighting the impact these pivotal figures have had not only on building the solid foundations for reggae to thrive but in also in extending its reach and influence beyond the shores of Jamaica.
It’s also worth noting that this is a book as much about the evolution of a musical genre as it is about the evolution of a nation and Katz also does a great job in providing the socio-political context that accompanies each stage in reggae’s development, from the energy of ska that soundtracked Jamaica’s independence, to the increased social and religious awareness that accompanied the rise of roots reggae before a return to more secular concerns that came with the dancehall explosion. It also highlights the intriguing interplay between technology and creativity with new pieces of equipment often triggering unexpected musical innovations, whether that was the arrival of the multi-track mixing desk at King Tubby’s studio which enabled instrumentals to be turned into dub or the discovery of the Casio keyboard preset that created the Sleng Teng riddim which, in turn, prompted reggae’s conversion from analogue to digital production techniques,
Whether you’re a hardened reggae aficionado or a newcomer with a passing interest in Jamaican music and culture Solid Foundation provides a fascinating and informative read that you will come back to again and again. The interview style creates a series of engaging storytelling narratives that deliver first hand insights and nuggets of information in an easy to digest colloquial manner and Katz’s mastery of his subject enables him to effortlessly unravel the complexity of the reggae musical ecosystem joining the dots between the past, present and future leaving you wondering where the next step on the ever progressing journey of Jamaican music will be.
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• Solid Foundation: ‘An Oral History of Reggae’ by David Katz • Published by White Rabbit Deep Cuts Series • Out now •
• Purchase a copy on our Bandcamp store •
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