There are many mysteries surrounding the origins of ska, the famous music-style born in Kingston in 1962, but this Bruno Blum selection puts an end to all the speculation. Ska and its signature offbeat (which later surfaced in reggae) derived from the little-known Ame rican R&B style called shuffle. This anthology has some dazzling illustrations of it, from the obscure, original version of the hit “My Boy Lollipop” to the classic song “Just a Gigolo” - as well as 27 shuffles recorded in Jamaica just before the creation of ska, not to mention some early Bob Marley - this is the original sound of Jamaican dancehall. Patrick FReMEAUX
