REGGAE Jamaican Music

Musical characteristics Listen to this piece of reggae music and identify the musical characteristics and as many of the instruments as possible The Abyssinians

"Riddim" Reggae is characterized by a heavy backbeated rhythm, meaning the emphasis of the beat is on, for example, beats 2 and 4 (the skank), when in 4/4 time. This backbeat is characteristic of all African- based music and is not found in traditional European or Asian music. Reggae drummers also emphasize the third beat when in 4/4 time with a kick to the bass drum (one drop). The keyboards will often play a distinctive rhythm called the ‘bubble’.

Riddim The bass guitar plays melodic ostinato patterns that interlock with the drum patterns. Brass, percussion and backing vocals are often added. There are many distinct ‘reggae’ rhythms such as ‘sleng teng’, ‘nyabinghi’, ‘lovers’ and ‘one drop’.

Jamaica Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands. Throughout history the ports of Jamaica have been very important for trade.

Slave trade The Caribbean was part of the trade triangle that transported slaves from Africa to the Americas in exchange for raw materials to be taken to England. Slaves from all over West and Central Africa were put to work on the sugar, cotton and tobacco plantations in Southern America and the Caribbean islands.

African traditions The people of the Caribbean have retained a lot of the traditions, culture and music of their African heritage. This has been fused with the many other influences that have been part of the areas’ rich history.

Mento The origins of Reggae can be traced back to the many forms of folk music that were popular in Jamaica in the 1950's. The first recorded Jamaican music was Mento which drew heavily from all the forms of folk music. It was often referred to as Jamaican Calypso, however only some of the more uptempo Mento tunes sounded similar to Calypso. Mighty Sparrow- Lion and Donkey In the 1940's the phenomenon known as the 'sound system' began to replace live musicians, principally because it was cheaper. The sound systems played US R&B and later their own Jamaican-recorded R&B, which although initially copied the US style, evolved over a couple of years into a distinctively Jamaican sound. This sound drew from Mento as well as R&B and by the end of 1961 had evolved into Ska.

Sound systems Reggae Producers Some of the first producers of reggae music were: Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Prince Buster As they ran sound systems they started recording music to ensure a exclusive supply of records. They tested new styles of music on the sound systems, nearly all the Jamaican music - ska, rock steady, reggae, dancehall and a like has been created because of the competition between the sound systems for something new to attract a crowd. Sound systems equipment was also a competition between the sounds. As who had the heaviest bass or the most speaker boxes. This competition moved into the clashing of sounds. A clash is where 2 or more sound systems would compete against each other in a dance to find the best sound. The crowd would normally choose the best sound on the night. Sounds would have "Specials" produced for the sound system exclusively sometimes just for this one clash by reggae singers and DJ's in a bid to win the clash.

Ska By 1964, a distinctive Jamaican music had sprung up based around the sound systems called ska, which was fast and danceable. Ska's popularity grew steadily in Jamaica, alongside Rastafarianism, which spread rapidly in impoverished urban areas and among the often politically radical music scene. The lyrics of ska songs began to focus on Rastafarian themes; slower beats and chants entered the music from religious Rastafarian music, and ska soon evolved into rocksteady.

Rocksteady The Wailers and Toots and the Maytals dominated the charts, taking over from pioneers like Alton Ellis (who is often said to have invented rocksteady). Desmond Decker’s "007" brought international attention to the new urban beat. The mix put heavy emphasis on the bass line, as opposed to ska's strong horn section, and the rhythm guitar began playing on the up-beat (beats 2 and 4).

Ras Tafari Rastafarianism is a religion that is very common among Jamaicans of African descent. Many of the world's most famous reggae musicians practice this religion, and therefore many reggae lyrics reflect the beliefs and traditions of Rastafarianism. Rastafarians believe that Emperor Haile Sellasie of Ethiopia fulfils a biblical prophesy and is therefore a living god (Jah). (His birth name was Ras Tafari)

Marcus Garvey and Civil Rights Marcus Garvey was a civil rights leader who sought to improve the living and working conditions of Jamaica's poor. Through making African descendents proud of their ancestral heritage he started the civil rights movement in Jamaica. This approach dovetailed with the ‘back to Africa’ beliefs of the Rastafarian religion, and refusing to use western combs as a protest, their hair grew into ‘dreadlocks’. This was reflected in a ‘rootsier’ sound to the islands musical styles. Burning Spear

Reggae Rocksteady flourished until 1968 when it evolved into what is now labelled as 'Reggae'. Reggae became a term which encompassed the many developing styles of Jamaican music characterised by the trademark 'skank‘ offbeat played on the guitar. By the mid 1970's, Roots reggae had developed which concerned itself with the life of the ghetto sufferer, with reality, with truths and rights. Many Roots artistes drew on Rastafarian ideologies and indeed this dominated its lyrics.

Bob Marley Bob Marley is probably the most famous reggae musician. His music married his Rastafarian beliefs with different styles of Jamaican music and pop. He started out as a singer in a vocal trio singing R and B and ska before forming The Wailers in the 1960’s. Island Records turned him into a global superstar by the early 1970’s.

"Riddim" Reggae is characterized by a heavy backbeated rhythm, meaning the emphasis of the beat is on, for example, beats 2 and 4 (the skank), when in 4/4 time. Reggae drummers also emphasize the third beat when in 4/4 time with a kick to the bass drum (one drop). The keyboards will often play a distinctive rhythm called the ‘bubble’. The bass guitar plays ostinato patterns that interlock with the drum patterns. Brass, percussion and vocal harmonies are often added.

Dub By 1973, dub music had emerged as a distinct reggae subgenre, and heralded the dawn of the remix. Developed by record producers such as Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and King Tubby, dub featured previously-recorded songs remixed with prominence on the bass. Often the lead instruments and vocals would drop in and out of the mix, sometimes processed heavily with studio effects. King Tubby's advantage came from his intimate knowledge with audio gear, and his ability to build his own sound systems and recording studios that were superior to the competition. He became famous for his remixes of recordings made by others, as well as those he recorded in his own studio. DJ’s (toasters) would use the mixes to ‘chat’ lyrics over the top.

Listening Identify these Jamaican styles: DUB REGGAE SKA ROCKSTEADY MENTO TOASTING Toasting Rocksteady Ska Mento Reggae Dub