Legends of Ska

Brad Klein screened his film, Legends of Ska, as part of the 2018 annual ska and reggae festival in Victoria BC, Canada. I didn't really have any expectations going in as the few documentaries on vintage Jamaican music I've seen have for the most part been fragmented collections of archival clips, random interviews, and some narration if you're lucky (If you've seen the BBC series Deep Roots you know what I'm talking about). That being said, I was pleasantly surprised that this film links all the elements cohesively and naturally into an entertaining and enjoyable whole that successfully illuminates the origins of this uniquely Jamaican musical form.

The Legends of Ska concert organized by the film's producers in 2002 that brought so many of the original musicians and vocalists back together again is at the heart of the movie and proves to be its greatest strength. The fact that it took place more than fifteen years ago doesn't make it any less relevant to my mind, and if the extended performance footage seems excessive to the more casual viewer, anyone more familiar with the original recordings will be ecstatic to see some of these truly legendary performers playing and singing so well.

There are obvious parallels with Buena Vista Social Club and although that film was artfully directed, I've always felt that the inclusion of Ry Cooder and his son seemed in some ways like an imposition. Legends of Ska puts the focus squarely on the incredible musicians that invented the art form and allows them to speak for themselves.

There are the requisite talking heads unfurling the narrative but the anecdotes are topical and keep the story going without becoming too mired in the minutiae of the incredibly convoluted history of Jamaican music and recordings (I would be happy to see a multi part series that delves further into the fascinating evolution of the music through the sixties and seventies). Thankfully we were spared the thoughts and opinions of celebrities with no real relation to the music that plague so many other music docs (I'm looking in Bono's direction). Keith Richards, however, does make a brief and slightly incoherent appearance to talk about his friend Justin Hinds.

As so many of these performers have now passed away, Legends of Ska represents a fitting memorial and tribute to their memories. Seeing Justin Hinds singing Carry Go Bring Come with the Skatalites backing him up in 2002 is such a gift, as is Stranger Cole's nostalgic rendition of Rough and Tough to name just a couple of my favourite clips of the many performances in the film. I really hope this movie finds wider distribution as I'm confident that music fans who have even a passing interest in the history of ska and its origins will love the film.