| 08/02/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 is one of those obscure discs that will be a treat to uncover. They formed to create a fusion between Jamaican music, ska & jazz; and the hybrid bubbles with energy and excitement. Two instrumentals capture the imagination. The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" because it is a familiar tune given a totally new twist as a reggae jazz blast that is excellent. My other favorite is "Skavez" with its Cuban rhythms of piano mixed with a reggae beat. "Hillyard Street" sounds like a soul version of a Ramsey Lewis track. Eddie Ocampo of the reggae band Insteps does some fancy drum work on the driving "Father & Son." The title track is like a Jamaican Duke Ellington. "Ugly Man Blues" has a zany urgency combined with a Peter Gunn like theme. "Playtime" is a mostly instrumental explosion. Seek & you shall find! Enjoy!"