Show Notes
he link between jazz and what we now call reggae goes back 70+ years to the time of Count Basie and Duke Ellington’s big bands in the 1940s and ’50s, which were very popular in Jamaica. These records arrived through sailors, migrants, and sound-system operators like Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid, who travelled to the U.S. specifically to buy jazz and R&B 78s. The island absorbed these sounds and fused them with mento (Jamaica’s folk music), African rhythmic traditions, New Orleans R&B (Fats Domino, Rosco Gordon), and bits of Country and Gospel. Out of this blend came the foundation of what would eventually become ska.
More from Dubmatix Sticky Icky Reggae Mix
This week’s mix brings together legends and new artists from around the globe - from Linval Thompson, Prince Alla to Jah Garvey and Jar - this is a tossed salad of grooves ready for your ears.
This mix brings together a focused selection of reggae recordings from around 1976, a period when roots reggae was at its most confident and clearly defined. The songs reflect the era’s balance: strong rhythm sections, thoughtful lyrics, and a deep connection to Rastafarian beliefs, social commentary, and everyday life in Jamaica.
Aram Scaram returns with round two, picking up right where the last session left off. Blending reggae, dancehall, dub, afrobeats, and global grooves, this mix is a deep dive into sound system culture. Featuring selections from his weekly radio show Sound So Nice, airing Saturdays 9–10 PM EST on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Canada, and streaming online at cfru.ca.
This selection focuses on early Jamaican ska and rocksteady recordings, highlighting classic artists such as Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan, and Delroy Wilson. The tracks feature vintage rhythms, simple arrangements, and early deejay versions that shaped the foundation of reggae.