Gladstone Anderson

Gladstone Anderson – It May Sound Silly – Moodisc

The keyboard players of Jamaica came into their own during the rock steady era – the organ had more of a role than the piano – but with Gladdy at the keys it would have its moments during the next few years and this was one of them.

Reggae piano tends to be short bursts of melody – fragments - usually they are played at the bass end of the piano, and are slow.

Gladdy more or less invented this style. Other piano players like Lloyd Charmers also favoured this sound. Its roots tend to be in country music – and classical music. Harry Mudie, the producer of this album, always liked to experiment so it makes a lot of sense that he was the first producer to capture this sound.

His heavy rhythms are a perfect base for Gladdy to tinkle over, and Gladdy can tinkle. It’s just a shame that more producers have not given the piano players a chance to show what they can do. Still here is a very good foundation on which to build on.