NOT many current dancehall/reggae producers know much about Jackie Mittoo, the music’s original beat master.
On March 29, Karen Morrison-Gayle of Brickrose Entertainment continues her drive to reintroduce the master keyboardist/arranger to contemporary fans.
In February, she staged a tribute to Mittoo at his alma mater Kingston College. Her latest effort is Tribute To Jackie Mittoo: Whodunit, a show scheduled for Jacob’s Place at King’s Plaza.
For Morrison-Gayle, the event is more than just a salute to Mittoo who died from cancer in Toronto, Canada, in 1990.
“This show to me means that more people will be aware of session musicians who made outstanding contributions to the popular music of Jamaica. And even though many of them are no longer with us, people will see the need to celebrate them and their legacy as long as reggae music continues to be a viable part of Jamaica’s culture,” she said in an interview withSplash.
Some of Jamaica’s veteran musicians will perform on the show, including keyboardist Robbie Lyn, guitarist Dalton Browne, and drummer Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace.
Morrison-Gayle, a singer known as K VibesBrickrose, said she discovered Mittoo’s music while signed to Studio One in New York during the 1990’s.
Mittoo made his name at that label’s Brentford Road base in Kingston during the 1960’s. He migrated to Canada in the early 1970’s.
Many of his instrumental songs are dancehall/reggae staples. They include
Ram Jam, Drum Song, Darker Shade of Black, and Whodunit.
Morrison-Gayle, who was born in New York to Jamaican parents, is not surprised Mittoo is unknown to Jamaican youth.
“I realised some of their parents were not aware of him either. Most times people never hear about the session musicians and the engineers behind the music provided for the singers — people like Jackie Mittoo and engineers like Sylvan Morris,” she said.
— By Howard Campbell
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