Credit to GaryTseTseFlyNYHC for recording this! I bought a compilation of his recordings off ebay in 1999 or 2000, so I'm sharing this footage with the people!
Caught them in the 90s, and just saw them again recently, they’re still on tour, somewhat different lineup: https://skatalites.com/tour Great to hear the classic sounds live, and an excellent crowd.
They are a new orchestra, they are good musicians, but they don’t have enough “sparkle” to connect with new rhythms and at the same time “to be likeable” by youngsters (and for me, to be proud African heritage and hold it in the music), if that maybe is a goal of them.
Caught them in the 90s, and just saw them again recently, they’re still on tour, somewhat different lineup: https://skatalites.com/tour Great to hear the classic sounds live, and an excellent crowd.
They are a new orchestra, they are good musicians, but they don’t have enough “sparkle” to connect with new rhythms and at the same time “to be likeable” by youngsters (and for me, to be proud African heritage and hold it in the music), if that maybe is a goal of them.