Who could imagine that a child's toy instrument would launch not just a star, but a whole new musical style? Yet that is precisely what happened to
Augustus Pablo
and his melodica. The musician set Jamaica alight with
"East of the River Nile,"
the prototype for the new Far Eastern style, and cemented his reputation with the hot hit
"Java."
Initially,
Pablo
had recorded with producer
Herman Chin-Loy
, but eventually began working with two other members of the family,
Clive Chin
and his uncle
Leonard
. (The keyboardist also recorded with producers outside the
Chin
clan). By 1974, a debut album,
This Is Augustus Pablo
, was in the works, rounding up a dozen tracks cut with the
Chins
. An amazing roster of talent accompanied
on these recordings, including the
Barrett
brothers,
Earl "Chinna" Smith
,
Errol Thompson
, and keyboardists
Ansel Collins
and
Glen Adams
. Together the men created a simmering rootsy sound, percolating with
reggae
beats. In keeping with the Far East sound, many of these instrumentals are in a minor key, conjuring up a wondrous atmosphere which ranges from yearning to pensive. Although the album doesn't include
"Nile"
or
"Java,"
more recent singles were featured, including
"Pablo in Dub,"
which debuted
Leonard Chin
's new
Santic
label, and
"Lover's Mood."
Many of the melodies are variations on classic songs, or, in the case of
"Jah Rock"
(a version of
"Ol' Man River
), Hollywood greats. The music swings across the spectrum from the classically tinged
"Please Survive"
to the almost poppy
"Pretty Baby,"
encompassing the deep
dub
of
"Point Blank"
"Pablo in Dub"
to the jaunty
"Too Late."
All told, it's a masterful set of mood music, all featuring that winsome little melodica. ~ Jo-Ann Greene