It’s Sunday night and Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood is teeming with night life. I’m hanging at the Nectar Lounge where The Skatalites are headlning. Skatalites are pure reggae ska. Although they list Jamaica as their hometown, the members hail from all parts of the globe. And with various guest performers joining them from time to time, there were as many as nine or ten performers on the stage at once. A constant is Doreen Shaffer singing many of the songs. She has a voice as rich as Godiva chocolate and as fine as a good Jamaican rum. The highlight of her performance was a version of the Wailers’ Simmer Down, a 1963 tune on which the Skatalites backed a then-unknown Bob Marley and his band.
The horn section was literally a kick to watch as they often kicked up their heels and danced about the stage. On top of their lively stage antics, they were totally adorable and seeped charisma from every pore. Skatalites played their classics such as Guns Of Navarone and Latin Goes Ska. At no time was there a still body on that dance floor. Besides the aforementioned Doreen Shaffer, the current Skatalites lineup is, Lester Sterling – alto saxophone, Azemobo “Zem” Audu – tenor saxophone, Andrae Murchison – trombone, Kevin Batchelor – trumpet, Val Douglas – bass guitar, Natty Frenchy – guitar, Cameron Greenlee – keyboards, and Trevor “Sparrow” Thompson – drums. The sound was exquisite. You could hear every instrument individually and collectively blended together in perfect harmony.
Playing before Skatalites was a Bellingham, WA ska band calling themselves Yogoman Burning Band. This was the first I’d heard of and seen this band and I thought I was on top of all the local ska bands. Yogoman was not as much an opening act, but part of a two band lineup. They played a very smooth but upbeat variety of ska with an emphasis on percussion and a touch of blues, Latin music and rock steady thrown in. The band is primarily led by Jordan Rain who bangs away behind a full drum kit while singing the main vocals. He had a mop of hair that he often whipped about as he drummed away. On backing vocals and bongo drums was one Jacqueline Rae who added the female harmony. Rounding out the sound was a very lively horn section of two trombones and a trumpet. They played a one and a half-hour set that was over with much too quickly. I am so going to seek out future shows from Yogoman. They were absolutely exquisite. There aren’t too many better ways to spend a warm Sunday night than listening to the level of fine ska and showmanship I saw from both bands.
Photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
Skatalites
Yogoman Burning Band
