Bassist and producer
Joe Ferry has worked in the studio with the likes of
David Sanborn,
Art Blakey,
Ron Wood,
David Bowie and
Mel Tormé, but his love of vintage ska is what drives much of his current work behind the scenes at the
Shanachie label. On this mostly instrumental album he leads a group of friends and fellow scenesters through a lovely program of jazzy old-school ska, rocksteady and early reggae tunes, including a couple of fine original compositions, a slightly breezy arrangement of
the Abyssinians' roots classic "Satta Massa Gana," a great rendition of the
Jaco Pastorius standard "Portrait of Tracy," and a respectful tribute to the late
Tommy McCook in the form of
McCook's deathless composition "Swing Easy." There are times (such as in their rendition of
McCook's "Ska Boss") when
Ferry and