Roland Alphonso

Roland Alphonso – King Sax – Studio One

Roland like Tommy was in great demand in the roots era. Coxsone knew that the raw rhythms of the roots era always sounded a little better with some horns on them.

And with Roland being the resident arranger - certainly where horns were concerned - he was kept busy. Right at the very end of the roots era -1975 - Coxsone released this set.

It was a real taste of what was to come with Coxsone and Studio One. All his old rhythms from the rock steady and reggae eras were stripped down and horn added to them.

The bigger the rhythms, the better Roland played. It was a real challenge to bring something new to these old classics, but Roland did it time and time again.

The album is such a favourite, that some 15 years later Coxsone did the same thing again – overdubbing new percussion and new bass lines. A magnificent work!

Roland Alphonso – Roll On Wackies

There's still so very few instrumental albums released these days. And of those a good number are easy listening affairs. And yet Jamaica and reggae music in general as a great number of talented musicians.

Guitarists like Chinna, Willie Lindo and of course Ernest Ranglin. Keyboard players like Jackie Mittoo, Pablove Black and Augustus Pablo. The

list is endless. When we get to horn players its even worse. So many potential great albums. In the past Roland Alphonso showed the music how it should be done. Now its the turn of of Roland Alphonso and Wackies. 'Roll On' is superb, the cover, the melodies, the rhythms everything!