Shake It! - R´n´B Gone Caribbean

Shake It! Rhythm And Blues Gone Caribbean (Koko Mojo) A compilation with a slightly different flavour comes by way of Shake It! Rhythm And Blues Gone Caribbean from Koko Mojo. Twenty-eight songs featuring various artists from the genre of rhythm and blues stemming predominantly from the 1940s, and leading up to the early 1960s. The research is certainly thorough given its track list because one inclusion, Benny Moten & his Orchestra, reaches as far back as the late twenties with, no doubt, the dust removed from the grooves of this particular record before adding it to Shake It! Rhythm And Blues Gone Caribbean. What is different about the rhythm and blues tracks selected by complier Sven T. Uhrmann, who also designed the artwork and wrote the liner notes for this album, is the decision to feature songs from the Caribbean or with a heavy Caribbean influence. It’s the instrumental ‘Ojai’ by Joe Lutcher & his Orchestra that begins this album and then followed by ‘Geechie Goomie’ from Marga Benitez, and real classy ‘Cat Music’ performed by Dave Bartholomew & his Orchestra. There are names here that will be familiar to many, but also plenty of obscurer titles and artists that will no doubt cause a few surprises and lead to further investigations from those with a penchant for traditional rhythm and blues and strong Caribbean flavours. This collection is music to enjoy and certainly share with others in the dancehalls where further instrumentals as ‘Harlem Rhumbain’ The Blues’ gives out some hot brass via Oran ‘Hot Lips’ Page, to a lively ‘Bongo Blues’ supplied by Dee Williams drive this album on further. A fascinating collection of songs that oozes class and will delight many with a passion for traditional rhythm & blues with a Caribbean influence. Nathan Olsen-Haines (Koko Mojo)