Coyabalites

The Coyabalites stand among the most formidable ensembles ever assembled in Jamaican music. Instrumental support from the group appears on nearly every landmark ska and reggae recording. Bob Marley And The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Toots And The Maytals, The Mighty Diamond, Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Judy Mowatt, The Meditations, Culture, Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers, Rita Marley, Alpha Blondy, Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Wailing Souls, Yellowman, and U Roy all benefited from their studio presence. Between sessions the musicians maintain a steady schedule of hotel engagements across Jamaica, where they shape a light, airy, jazzy ska sound whose collective force exceeds any single contribution. Vin Gordon on trombone and Glen Da Costa on saxophone, both veterans of The Wailers’ horn section, anchor the front line, while the sweet tenor tones of Justin Hinds—one of Jamaica’s most illustrious singers—supply the vocal foundation. Dean Fraser on saxophone, Ernest Ranglin on guitar, David Madden on trumpet, and Harold Butler on keyboards round out the lineup. In 1997 the band issued its debut album, “Unhinged.” Alongside originals by Da Costa and Gordon (“More Scorcher”) and by Hinds (“Coyaba Ska/Carry Go Bring Home”), the set offered ska treatments of the Millie Small-popularized tune “My Boy Lollipop” and the “Bonanza” theme. Coyaba Ska reached stores in spring 2001.