Setenta
We Latin Like That

R.Zee Jackson, a born Jamaican spent his early childhood in Clarendon and later in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica, West Indies.In 1975, as a student, he moved to Canada with his Mom. There he met Oswald Creary of Half Moon label and studio. At Half Moon studio, he recorded the original tracks of ''Long Long Time'' released as a 12'' vinyl record on his own label ''Ital''. Esso Jackson also recorded at ''Dub World'', the dubplates cutting studio in Toronto. All the sound men from all over came to see ''Snipa'' the dub cutter; “It was great, dancehall was rocking in Canada. We have it lock with all the big sound systems and artists from all over the world”. One day, the keyboard master Jackie Mittoo say to Esso “you can't stay cold up yourself in Canada”. Because R.Zee had many family in the UK, it was easy. So he decided to see what was going on in London. In 1980 he released the album Trodding, produced by Mike Brooks (Teams / Coptic Lion). Few years later, he released "Ina South Africa", a heavyweight digital reggae to fight against Apartheid and also "At The Reggae Party", a pure dancehall anthem to mash up the dance. The songs were recorded at Utopia studio (London, UK) in 1985.

All Nations Records new instalment in 2021 is all about a sweet stepper riddim involving three new artists on the label. First comes the magnificent voice of Amelia Harmony from UK delivering a message of hope when all lessons get learned, followed by a dangerous dub version. Next is legendary underground Rastafari singer Ramon Judah, hailing Jah to come and deliver us from trials and tribulations. Last but not the least is female artist Jah 93 from Japan who reinterpreted the riddim with a mellow but strong line of melodica. The maxi 12” is wrapped up wisely by a straight version of the riddim built, arranged, mixed and mastered by Simon Nyabinghi.

No one had been through those doors in years. Unchanged, seemingly untouched, just a Guard watching over it, one wondered whether the place would ever see the light of day again. Built in the 70s by Scotch, there were only twenty such places in the entire world. Twenty studios, all identical. Most had undergone a digital makeover in the 80s, but not this one; situated in Lomé, this studio had stayed true to its original form. Silent and uninhabited but waiting for one thing, and one thing only: for the sacred fire to be lit once again. That of the Togolese Recording Office, is studio OTODI for those in the know. Through thick layers of dust, the console was vibrating still, impatient to be turned on and spurt out the sound so unique to analog. That sound is what Peter Solo and his band Vaudou Game came to seek out. The original vibrations of Lomé’s sound, resonating within the studio space, an undercurrent pulsing within the walls, the floor, and the entire atmosphere. A presence at once electrical and mystical sourced through the amps that had never really gone cold, despite the deep sleep that they had been forced into. In taking over the studio’s 3000 square feet, enough to house a full orchestra, Vaudou Game had the space necessary to conjure the spirits of voodoo, those very spirits who watch over men and nature, and with whom Peter converses every day. For the most authentic of frequencies to fully imbibe this third album, Peter Solo entrusted the rhythmic section to a Togolese bass and drum duo, putting the groove in the expert hands of those versed in feeling and a type of musicianship that you can’t learn in any school. This was also a way to put OTODI on the path of a more heavily hued funk sound, the backbone of which maintains flexibility and agility when moving over to highlife, straightens out when enhanced with frequent guest Roger Damawuzan’s James Brown type screams, and softens when making the way for strings. Snaking and undulating when a chorus of Togolese women takes over, guiding it towards a slow, hypnotic trance. Up until now, Vaudou Game had maintained their connection to Togo from their base in France. This time, recording the entire album in Lomé at OTODI with local musicians, Peter Solo drew the voodoo fluid directly from the source, once again using only Togolese scales to make his guitar sing, his strings acting as channels between listeners and deities…