Review: Jackie Mittoo – Wishbone

Jackie Mittoo

Wishbone

(Light in the Attic)

If you have ever listened to any reggae outside of the Bob Marley “Legend” compilation, chances are you have listened to the work of Jackie Mittoo. In the 1960s, he was a member of the crucial ska band The Skatalites and musical director at Studio One in Kingston, the nest from which nearly every great reggae moment hatched. In the last gasps of the 60’s, he immigrated to Canada to pursue a solo career, culminating in the resplendent 1971 lost treasure Wishbone, recently reissued by Light in the Attic Records. His reputation in the music community allowed him to command not only the finest session musicians but also members of the Toronto Symphony to make this a remarkable fusion of reggae and orchestral soul. The opening track “Satisfaction” erupts slowly like a sunset with a full soul-funk orchestra. “Love Life” holds tighter to his Jamaican roots, but pushes the often-monotonous reggae beat into glorious new territory. The real treat on this record is “La-la Girls and Cha-Cha Boys” where string and horn sections dart in and out like fireflies over his rock steady beat emanating somewhere beneath your feat. I you dig the recently unearthed Shuggie Otis soul classic Information Inspiration (and if you aren’t hip to it, get hip to it) then this will be a welcome addition to your library of lost classics. When everyone in the house party is bobbing their heads in unison to the keyboard onslaught at the end of “Dry Wine,” the hour will be yours.