Tommy McCook & Friends | Horns Man Dub [Vinyl Album] LP

Tommy McCook was not only a founding member of the legendary Jamaican Ska
group The Skatalites, but also a brilliant musical arranger. His informed understanding
of Jazz, R& B and in fact most music styles would always add another layer to any
song put his way. This made him the go to guy for most of the Jamaican producers,
who would use his arrangement skills to pepper up there latest tunes.

Tommy McCook (b.1927, Havanna,Cuba) came to Jamaica with his mother from Cuba
aged 11 and entered the renowned Alpha Boys School for underprivleged children,a
school that placed great emphasis on musical tuition. At the tender age of 14, such was
his talent he had left to join Eric Deans Orchestra and took on stints with other bands led
by Don Hitchman and Roy Coburn. All the bands played in the Swing and Jazz style of the
times. He relocated to the Bahamas in 1954 where he further developed his Jazz technique
and on his return to Jamaica in 1962 began working with Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One and
became involved in the development of Ska. His knowledge of Jazz, R & B and Jamaican
musical forms helped set the tone for the group of musicians he was working with and would
name as The Skatalites. The group consisting of Don Drummond (Trombone),
Roland Alphonso (Tenor Saxophone), Jackie Mittoo (Piano), Lloyd Brevett (Bass),
Lloyd Knibbs (Drums) alongside Tommy himself on Tenor Saxophone.The group would
back all the major Ska vocalists of the day and also would go on to cut a catalogue of
instrumental music. The Skatalites split up in 1965 and Tommy McCook moved over to
work with Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle Studios where he formed The Supersonics.

A set of musicians under his guidance that consisted of Lynn Tait and Ernest Ranglin
(Guitar), Neville Hinds and Winston Wright (Organ), Gladstone ‘Gladdy’ Anderson (Piano),
Hugh Malcolm and Arkland ‘Drumbago’ Parks (Drums), Clifton ‘Jackie’ Jackson (Bass) and
Tommy and Hermon Marquis (Saxophone). The more laid back sounds from 1966 – 1968
would be given the name Rocksteady of which again McCook was at the forefront.The 1970’s
saw the sound of reggae mutate to a heavier feel lead by Bass and Drums with the or­­­gan
pushed to the forefront. The top producers like Bunny Lee would use the musicianship of
Tommy McCook and his arrangement skills to enhance this new sound.

We have compiled a great selection of rhythms that featured Mr McCook blowing over tracks
stripped of their vocals and replaced with some fantastic lead lines played by Tommy and some
of his fellow horns men. We hope you agree like we do that they do this in fine style.