Although his best-known work will undoubtedly always be his recordings with
the Skatalites, Jamaican tenor saxophonist
Tommy McCook left an impressive legacy under his own name, including several sides tracked with trumpeter
Bobby Ellis for producer
Bunny Lee in the mid-'70s, several of which are collected here. With the crackerjack rhythm section of
Sly Dunbar and
Robbie Shakespeare on board, and with mixes by
King Tubby and
Prince Jammy, these are vintage low-key, mellow, and late- night instrumental dubs that are as soothing as they are slightly off-kilter and eerie. Fun stuff. ~ Steve Leggett