As the names implies already the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble focus their music on Ska and Jazz music and a handful of related genres. And as with every good Ska album this one is also bursting full of energy. Step Forward is thus by all means a dance record that not only will please the purists of the genre but lot’s of punk-rockers and skinheads as well, since many of them embraced the genre when their was a small revival of Ska back in the eighties. Small but interesting enough for today’s punk and punk rock bands to pick it up and work with the style as one of their own.

“Step Forward” however brings you Ska-Jazz as it is mentioned to be, energetic, danceable and highly enjoyable. Record live in the record studio (no over dubs or long recordings sessions) this band proves once more their craftsmanship as musicians.  But what else did you expect from a band that is around already for more then a decade and whose group members come from great Ska acts like The Toasters, The Skatalites and The Scofflaws.  As with a band who texplores the boundaries between Jazz and Ska, it might not be a big surpise to find an opening tune originally record by Charles Mingus. “Boogie Stop Shuffle” immediately informs us what this album is all about. Great danceable music! Feel Da vibe is a self-penned composition that really kicks some ass, while “Welcome” the first sung tune on the album takes on a totally different approach.  Gentle as a gospel tune, this one is clearly more jazz then Ska. Much more self penned tunes are to be found on this album. Amongst the better once you’ll find “Wicked”, “Go Home” and the incredible tasty “Line Check Samurai”.  While “Go Home” takes on a more classic approach and digs deep into the roots of the genre, “Line Check Samurai” clearly has no problem with the modern approach and brings hard pumping ska grooves that will make you want to move your feet.
Amonst the covers you’ll find the inevitable “Take Five” and  a cool rendition of the blues classic “Kansas city”.

With nine albums on their list it I’ll be hard to say that this band is a new discovery but I can say that Step Forward is one of the better albums I’ve heard by these guys. The Newyorika sound is played out well and although they have been touring Europe and the States extensively I never had the honor to catch them live, something that is without doubt worthwhile.  But with their upcoming Live DVD “Live In Bilbao”, I will at least have an idea what it means to be around one of their performances.

Mr. Blue Boogie