ARTIST: Augustus Pablo
TITLE: This Is...Augustus Pablo
LABEL: Above Rock Records
PRODUCERS: Clive Chin and Pat Chin
RELEASED: 1998 (originally released in 1974)


Augustus Pablo is generally considered the greatest melodica player in reggae history. THIS IS...AUGUSTUS PABLO is a perfect disc to understand how he came to get this reputation. On this wonderful reissue, which was originally recorded at Randy's in 1974, Pablo uses his mouth organ to lay down supple melodies and hooks over tight, funky rockers riddims. Produced by Clive Chin, who was one of Pablo's childhood friends, the record has a sunny, loping sound throughout. Produced in the years just before far out dub experimentation was in vogue, it comes across more like an instrumental jazz album than a spaced out dub jam.

This stripped-down sound lets you hear the individual players of instruments in all their glory. Along with Pablo (who plays organ, piano and clarinet besides his requisite melodica riffs), the featured musicians include Aston "Family Man" Barrett on bass and guitar, Lloyd "Drummy" Adams on (what else?) drums, and Errol Thompson on percussion. Thompson's presence is important in that he went on to engineer and produce some of the best dub and reggae of the rockers era that followed soon after Pablo's emergence. The sparse arrangements allow Barrett's bass and Adams' drumming to stand out on each track, while the melodica and organ licks ripple on top and bounce around in the spaces in between.

The sequence includes some very recognizable material, including "Java Original," Pablo's first success with Randy Chin. "Java" was voted the best instrumental track of the year when it was first released in 1972. Its Eastern influenced sound follows in a long line of reggae instrumentals, including the Skatalites' "Confucious" and followed later by Eek-A-Mouse and other singjays in the dancehall era. Also included on THIS IS... are instrumental versions of Alton Ellis' "Too Late," Burning Spear's "Joe Frazier," and the Heptones' "Guiding Star." Every track has its own surprises and superb moments.

THIS IS...AUGUSTUS PABLO is a must have for anyone who loves Pablo's trademark melodica sounds. This is...the birth of rockers music. This is...the dawn of dub music. This is...a great reissue. This is...Augustus Pablo.

NOTE: THIS IS...AUGUSTUS PABLO was reissued by Jammyland Records in New York. Contact Ira at Jammyland (888-NOISE NY) if you have trouble finding this release in your local store.

By Lem

Personnel: Augustus Pablo (melodica, organ, piano, clarinet), Aston "Family Man" Barrett (bass, rhythm guitar), Lloyd "Drummy" Adams (drums), Errol Thompson (percussion)

Songs: Dub Organizer; Please Sunrise; Point Blank; Arabian Rock; Pretty Baby; Pablo In Dub; Skateland Rock; Dread Eye; Too Late; Assignment No. 1; Jah Rock; Lover's Mood; Java Original; Guiding Red


REVIEWS & FEATURES

 :: More CD Reviews
:: More Features
:: More Concert Reviews