In the mid-1970s when he was a teenager in the Kingston neighbourhood of Waterhouse, Mykal Rose was exposed to roots-reggae and the message of Rastafari which drove that sound. In the 1980s, he was the voice of Black Uhuru, one of the genre’s greatest exponents.

But before

Rose discovered Rasta-inspired music, he listened to ska, the jazzy, uptempo

beat that is the focus of Ska Ska Ska, his latest album.

The 11-song set was released August 30 by InnerCat Records, a Miami-based company that specialises in Latin music. It is produced by Venezuelan musician Dario Amarado who also played all instruments.

According to

Rose, Amarado had expressed interest in them working together for some time.

Last year when Amarado contacted him, Rose said that he was ready to go, but

wanted to do something different.

“Mi tell him: ‘Ska wi a go do, straight up’,” the 62-year-old singer recalled.

Rose cited

the lack of Jamaican ska acts as the reason for him making a change in course.

Most of the

recording took place at his home studio in South Florida. The result is a

collection of songs including Everybody Gwan Ska, the lead single, and Need

Love, a blend of Latin, ska and rock.

Mykal Rose is also known for reggae songs like Shine Eye Gal and General Penitentiary.

Fans around

the world are used to hearing Rose belt out hardcore reggae songs like Shine

Eye Gal, General Penitentiary and Abortion. He said writing

for Ska Ska Ska was a different proposition.

“Right now,

di world lacking joy, so there is a lotta pain an’ wrath. A song like Everybody

Gwan Ska a tell di people fi hold a joy ’cause di world get too savage an’

serious,” he explained.

Waterhouse

is synonymous with roots-reggae, having produced artistes like The Wailing

Souls, Don Carlos, Hugh Mundell, Lacksley Castell and Junior Reid. Guided by

Sly and Robbie, Black Uhuru exploded in 1979 and made an international impact

after signing with Island Records, the company that helped make Bob Marley a

superstar.

After

winning the first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985, Rose abruptly

left the group, which, at the time, included founder Duckie Simpson and

American Puma Jones. He has since released several solo albums for American and

European independent companies.

As he

prepares to assemble a band to tour in support of Ska Ska Ska, Rose

believes even his ‘bredrin’ back in Waterhouse will enjoy the album.

“Yeah mon! A

man can smoke him spliff an’ enjoy himself. Is all about holding a joy,” he

said.