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Martin Campbell & The Hi-Tech Roots Dynamcis
meet Hot & Rich” …features Channel One (UK) recorded and
produced rhythm tracks by Martin and the Hi-Techs,
concentrating more on the Rock Steady and Reggae influenced
style rhythms, rather than the heavyweight Channel One Roots
styles, that they are best known for. With the former in
mind, Hot & Rich (multi-instrumentalists) blend their unique
style with a selection of specially adapted tunes on the
rhythms. Hot & Rich (Bob & Richard Ormrod) uniquely display
their musical skills, by highlighting and finding the right
tune to fit the rhythm! The track list reads almost as a
short history of Black Music; including Calypso: Vs of Lord
Melody’s “Happy Holiday”, plus great Reggae tunes by the
Kingstonians, Jackie Mittoo, Joe Higgs, plus Jazz standards
by Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef and Charles Lloyd. “Soul
Serenade” (King Curtis) and the popular classics, “Afrikaan
Beat”, “Summer Place” are long time favourites re “Big
People music”.
The traditional Turkish tune, “Iskhavar”
brings some of the Studio One type “Eastern Sound” to the
mix. Also featured are two originals from Hot & Rich: “Funk
For Louis” (dedicated to Richard’s son) and “Afro Blues”
which has a nod in the direction of the great John Coltrane.
Both tracks were improvised on the spot, in the studio.
Session notes: Hot played Alto & Soprano Saxes, Clarinet and
Harmonica. Rich played, Tenor, Soprano & Baritone Saxes,
flute and Swanee whistle! Rich features solo on “Wake Up and
Live” and “Morning” and Hot is solo on “Sufferer” and “A
Summer Place”. Otherwise, they equally share the honours on
all of the other tracks. “Sufferer” and “Wake Up and Live”
are the only tunes that are played on the same rhythm, as
both Hot & Rich originally both wanted to use them,
separately.
The final track of the album “Wake Up, Sufferer”
combines both parts of the former separate tracks and blends
together, highlighting Hot & Rich’s musical togetherness.
All Sax and instrumental parts were recorded and completed
in one day and in one studio session, and quite often some
tracks were completed in one take! This demonstrates the
freshness and excitement that they bring to studo sessions.
Their previous album: “Hot & Rich Rocksteady”
(with Lynn Taitt & the Jets/Beverleys All Stars) also
demonstrates the same approach to recording as this album
does. This album is currently out of press, we hope to
re-release it in the near future, but it was widely
acclaimed at the time, especially in the January 2005
edition of the French Reggae magazine “Ragga”, who stated:
“This album is one of the biggest musical shocks to come out
of England in 2004”. Prepare for some musical surprises!
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ACL 2010
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